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).

Pregnancy During 30s

Late marriages are very common in the urban society. Unlike rural or semi rural society, women in the urban world choose to marry in their 30’s. In medical terms, late marriage is not a good decision because it may cause several complications while trying to get pregnant or during pregnancy such as infertility, gestational diabetes, birth defects, etc. However, most urban women think that late marriage is a good decision because they get enough time to build a strong financial backup for their family and kids.

Financial stability is a must, but one cannot ignore the fact that late marriages are not good in terms of health and well being. Infertility is one of the major causes among women who try to get pregnant after 35 years of age. However, my personal opinion is that if you are happy in life and able to balance both the worlds systematically then no complications will occur. So, the moral of the story is that keep yourself happy and the rest will follow accordingly.

Trying to Get Pregnant?

Getting pregnant and having a baby are effortless for some couples, but there are many other couples who need quite a bit of time and luck. The following article discusses the various aspects of pregnancy including how fertilization occurs, how to detect ovulation, and some do's and don'ts to follow while trying to get pregnant.

Every month, a mature egg is released from the ovaries -- this event is called ovulation, which is influenced by some specific hormones from the pituitary gland. The ovulation generally falls on or around the 14th day of the average 28 day menstrual cycle. However, in many women, this cycle may exceed from 28 days. If a woman is not having a cycle of 28 days or is irregular, the ovulation timing will vary significantly, but usually comes about 14 days before the first day of the next period.

When ovulation occurs, the egg travels through the fallopian tube. The egg then waits for about 24 hours to fuse with the sperm. Since sperm cells can survive in the reproductive tract for about 3 to 5 days, it is always advised to have intercourse during these days leading up to ovulation if one is trying to get pregnant. If the egg meets the sperm, it is fertilized and travels to the uterus in about 4 days. In the uterus, it implants in the uterine lining. Once this process occurs, congratulations, she is pregnant! Her body will begin supporting the embryo and the menstrual cycle ceases during pregnancy. However, if the egg is not fertilized, it will break down to come out of the body as menstrual fluid.

How to detect ovulation? Suppose a woman is having a menstrual period of 28 days. Mark the first day of her menstrual period as day one, the days between 10 and 18 should be her most probable ovulation date. However, if one is not having a 28 day menstrual cycle, it is best to calculate how long her average cycle is, and have intercourse between 12 and 18 days before she expects her next menstrual period to start because this is the probable time she is most likely to ovulate.

In addition, there are other methods used for determining the ovulation period such as cervical mucus method, basal body temperature method, and digital ovulation monitors, among others. In case of cervical mucus method, the thickness of the cervical mucus is determined, which has been found to be somewhat clear and slippery in nature when ovulation occurs. However, in case of basal body temperature method, the temperature of the basal body is slightly higher after ovulation, which is usually between 0.5 and 1.6 degree Fahrenheit. A woman is considered as most fertile between 2 and 3 days before her temperature rises. On the other hand, a digital monitor monitors the levels of hormones in the urine and predicts the ovulation date. Besides, online ovulation calculator is also readily being used for the same by many Internet users.

In order to increase the chance of becoming pregnant -- have sex regularly all through the month and at least once a day near the time of ovulation. Continue a healthy lifestyle -- take balanced diet, exercise regularly, and stay happy, always. Avoid tobacco, smoking, and alcohol drinking habit. And consult with a doctor for any kind of medication. Keep all these important points in mind for getting pregnant.