Infertility is reported to affect 10% to 15% of India's married couples, and it is difficult for them to conceive naturally. For most of them, assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) provide them with an opportunity to become parents. IVF involves fertilization of an egg outside the body and then its transfer to the uterus. It is usually the most suitable treatment option for couples with fertility issues due to age, medical conditions, or lack of any other reason for infertility. Advances in reproductive medicine continue to improve IVF success rates, enabling more families to experience becoming parents.
What Does IVF Treatment Do?
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a procedure included in modern reproductive medicine. The procedure consists of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, laboratory fertilisation using sperm, and uterine implantation of the produced embryos. Dramatic changes in IVF success rates over time have raised couples' chances of pregnancy.
Thanks to medical advancements, IVF has become a more efficient and generally accessible reproductive treatment that serves a wider spectrum of people, including same-sex couples and single parents.
IVF: Who Should Consider This?
Couples struggling to conceive naturally could find in vitro fertilisation (IVF) useful. It is generally advised for:
- Women whose fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged
- Issues with male infertility could be low motility or sperm count.
- Effect of endometriosis on fertility
- Unexplained Infertility following more than a year of trying.
- Genetically based disorders need prenatal genetic testing
- Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), another ovulation problem,
- Couples who have multiple miscarriages for unknown causes
For those who have tried every other fertility treatment, IVF presents a good substitute with more chances of success.
What Are the 3 Benefits of IVF?
IVF offers the following benefits to people who struggle to have a baby naturally due to health or fertility issues:
- Higher Chance of Pregnancy: IVF helps people who struggle to have a baby naturally. It increases the chances of getting pregnant.
- Helps with Genetic Issues: Doctors can check for genetic problems before placing the embryo in the womb. This reduces the risk of passing on certain diseases.
- Option for Many People: IVF helps couples, single parents, and same-sex couples have a baby. It also allows women to freeze their eggs for the future.
What Are the 5 Stages of IVF?
The in vitro fertilisation process consists of several stages. Each stage is important to increase the probability of pregnancy. Knowing these phases helps couples better equip themselves physically and emotionally for the road ahead.
1. Ovaries Stimulation
The first step involves taking hormone injections to help your ovaries produce more than one egg. Your doctor will monitor your progress with blood tests and ultrasounds to track how the eggs are developing. Having more eggs increases the chances of a successful fertilization. It's important to follow your doctor's instructions carefully when taking these medications to avoid side effects like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is a condition that can occur if the ovaries are overstimulated.
2. Egg Recovery
A minor surgical procedure called follicle aspiration removes the matured eggs from the ovaries using a tiny needle under anaesthesia. This least invasive procedure usually takes twenty to thirty minutes. Upon recovery, the eggs are examined and ready for fertilisation in a controlled laboratory environment.
3. Sperm Collection and Fertilisation
Now, you must have a question: how is sperm collected for IVF? The sperm comes from the woman's partner or a donor. Either naturally or by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which one single sperm is injected into an egg, the eggs are fertilised using controlled laboratory conditions with sperm. This treatment guarantees higher fertilisation success, especially in cases of extreme male infertility.
4. Embryo Culture and Selection
The fertilised eggs, at the stage of embryos, develop over several days. The best embryos for implantation are selected depending on their quality and viability. Sometimes, inherited diseases and chromosomal abnormalities are searched for using genetic testing (PGT).
5. Embryo Transfer
One selected embryo is transferred into the uterus using a small catheter. This phase causes no discomfort, and no anaesthesia is required. The way the embryo implants will determine whether it can effectively stick to the uterine lining and grow into a pregnancy. After the treatment, the patient is urged to follow post-treatment directions and momentarily relax.
Life After IVF: What to Expect?
Patients are advised to relax and follow particular lifestyle guidelines after the embryo transfer in order to encourage implantation. Two weeks later, the success of the procedure is evaluated with a pregnancy test. The patient visits routinely to track the pregnancy, should the result be positive. If the first one fails, couples could investigate frozen embryo transfers, more in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles, or other reproductive technologies. Appropriate oversight, counselling, and emotional support are absolutely vital during this period.
IVF Success Rates: Contributing Factors
Many factors influence the in vitro fertilisation success rate, including:
- Age: Women under 35 have more successful rates.
- Quality of Eggs and Sperm: Healthier eggs and sperm produce better outcomes.
- Underlying Medical Conditions: Conditions like PCOS or endometriosis might affect success.
- Embryo Quality: The stronger the embryo, the more likely conception will follow.
- Lifestyle: Among the lifestyle choices that might influence success rates are stress, alcohol, and smoking.
- Expertise: Advanced technology and qualified fertility experts raise the possibility of success in a clinic and medical expert capacity.
What Are IVF Pregnancy Risks?
IVF can be a life-changing solution for couples struggling with infertility. However, like any medical procedure, it comes with certain risks. It's important to be aware of these potential risks before deciding to move forward with IVF. Some of the key IVF pregnancy risks include the following:
- Multiple pregnancies and problems, including low birth weight and early birth, could follow from more than one embryo being implanted.
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), brought on by hormone injections, can cause bloating, stomach pain, and, in severe cases, fluid buildup in the chest and abdomen.
- Constant efforts, uncertainty, and the mental strain of the process could cause emotional stress for both partners.
- Rarely do ectopic pregnancies arise in which the embryo implants outside the uterus and call for medical attention.
At Apollo Fertility, we prioritize your health and well-being throughout your IVF journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you in building your family with expert care.
The in vitro fertilisation (IVF) fertilises an egg outside the body and implants it into the uterus, so raising the possibility of a successful pregnancy. It's among the better ways to conceive.
IVF lets couples facing extreme infertility problems produce a biological child, raises their chances of pregnancy, and makes genetic screening of embryos possible. It also offers treatments for those having issues with their reproductive health.
Following IVF, patients are obliged to follow specific care guidelines. Two weeks later, a pregnancy test is taken to confirm the result. Should the response be a yes, prenatal care begins. One must pay close attention to both emotional and physical health.
Following IVF, patients are obliged to follow specific care guidelines. Two weeks later, a pregnancy test is taken to confirm the result. Should the response be a yes, prenatal care begins. One must pay close attention to both emotional and physical health.
The means of obtaining sperm are ejaculation, surgical extraction, or frozen donor sperm usage. The best sperm is selected for fertilisation. Modern methods offer the best chance for success by means of sperm viability.
