What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) today seems like a household word. But a few years ago, it was considered as an inexplicable procedure for infertility that produced test-tube babies. Unlike artificial insemination, IVF is a procedure where and an egg and sperm is fertilized in a laboratory and thereafter, the embryo is placed inside the uterus.

What is the rationale for Infertility?

When it comes to infertility, IVF is considered as a boon for couples.

· Endometriosis

· Blockage in the fallopian tube

· Low sperm count

· Ovulation Problem

· Antibody harming sperm or eggs

· The inability of the sperm to survive in the cervical mucus

Doctors never consider IVF as the first resort to infertility rather it is reserved for cases in which other methods such as artificial insemination, fertility drugs, and surgery have not worked. If a couple thinks that IVF could be the right option then first check out some of the fundamental questions associated with IVF such as the pregnancy ratio per embryo transfer, rate of twins or multiple births, and procedure cost, besides others.

What could you anticipate from IVF?

The very first procedure involved with IVF is injecting hormones to produce multiple eggs instead of a single egg each month. Thereafter a test is done in order to make sure that she is ready for egg retrieval. If everything is fine then an additional injection is given to develop the developing eggs. Some blood testing may be done to ensure that eggs are at the right stage of development. Special instructions are given by the IVF facility that needs to be followed the night before and the day of the procedure.

During the practice, an ultrasound machine is used to put follicles in the ovary and take away from the ovary using a hollow needle. Patient is given local anesthesia while performing this procedure. The complete process takes about half an hour, but it may take more than half an hour. Once the egg is taken out safely from the ovary, it is fertilized with a sperm in the lab. Once this process is successfully done, couples can return home.

The fertilized egg is kept under observation to make sure optimal growth. It takes about 4-5 days for the embryo to develop into its advanced blastocyst stage. Once the embryo is ready, couples are asked to visit the clinic again so that the doctor can transfer the embryo into the woman’s uterus. A tube, called catheter is entered into the vaginal passage and cervix and the embryo is positioned inside the uterus. In order to increase the chance of fertility, many experts deposit more than 2 embryos into the uterus and that is why it sometimes increases the chance of multiple pregnancies. Once the procedure is completed, she is allowed to stay in bed for several hours and then discharged later. Once the embryo is successfully transferred, it is monitored by the doctor for about two to three weeks.

There are several factors that determine the success rate of In vitro fertilization such as the sperm count, and age, besides others. However, age is one of the major factors among all other factors. For example a 35 yrs old woman undergoing IVF has a chance of 39.6 percent as compared to a 40 years old woman undergoing IVF (11.5 percent).