Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Achieving Success: A Comprehensive Guide to IVF Treatment

admin Aug 23, 2024

Every couple wishes to become a parent in their lifetime. This dream sometimes gets halted or becomes challenging to some with fertility issues.

It is estimated that worldwide 1in 6 face fertility issues in their lifetime. To address this issue, medical science has contributed an assisted reproductive technique called invitro-fertilization (IVF). This technology was introduced in 1978, and today, with much more refinement and advancement, IVF is implemented in most countries across the world. To date, over millions of babies have been born through IVF, making the treatment successful.

Decoding Invitro-fertilization

Invitro is the term described as being outside the body, and fertilization is the fusion of sperm with egg under laboratory conditions. This union leads to the development of an embryo in vitro, and ultimately placed back into a female uterus for successful pregnancy.

Fertility issues: Addressable by IVF

Both male and female infertility affect the couple's inability to conceive. IVF treatment is recommended to a variety of fertility issues. Some of them include:

Endometriosis or uterine fibroids
Blocked fallopian tubes
Pelvic adhesions
Uterine abnormalities
Anejaculation
Poor sperm count
Retrograde ejaculation
Ovulatory disorders (Ex. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
Age-related infertility
Genetic disorders

Procedure:

The IVF treatment process is a complex journey, both emotionally and physically. It's natural to experience a mix of hope, anxiety, and tension. Understanding what to expect can help you prepare emotionally and seek support when needed. The physical demands of IVF, like hormone injections and procedures, can also be challenging. Knowing what's involved helps you manage side effects and feel more in control. It's also wise to be upfront about the financial commitment so you can plan accordingly. Here is a comprehensive overview of IVF treatment.

After performing a series of blood test such as hormonal test for women and semen analysis for men, the women are administered with hormonal injections to produce multiple mature eggs. The reason behind administering hormone injection is to produce more than one egg as naturally a women can produce only one mature egg per month in case of IVF more than one egg is encouraged to mature. Once the egg gets matured, they are retrieved and preserved under controlled conditions. Further all the retrieved eggs are administered with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. It is said that out of 10 eggs at least 7 eggs will fertilize to become embryos. These embryos are transferred to the uterus and out of all 50% of embryo achieve to progress the blastocyte stage which is initial phase of fetus development. After 14 days of embryo transfer your doctor may advise blood test to check for confirmation of pregnancy.

Duration of IVF process

IVF is a multiple process with many elaborate steps. The duration of IVF procedure usually takes 4 to 6 weeks including the initial test before IVF start and other steps starting from egg retrieval till pregnancy test.

Risks of IVF treatment

There are various associated with IVF procedure

Premature delivery
Pregnancy with multiple babies
Injection or bleeding in the uterus
Miscarriage
In some cases, the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus such as fallopian tube, cervix or ovaries which is called as ectopic pregnancy.

Factors affecting IVF procedure

Factors that may influence the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the considerations for patient selection.

Women who have pre-existing serious health conditions that would be further complicated by pregnancy such as severe hypertension, cardiovascular diseases or autoimmune disorders are often not the right candidates for IVF. In addition, pregnancy itself is an elaborate journey to the body physiologically and managing these conditions during pregnancies can be difficult. The desire to have a child is too strong, and unrealistic expectations about IVF success rates can only result in very nervous emotional distress. All Patients must fully understand the probabilities.

Financial preparedness is equally important. IVF involves costs related to medications, procedures, and monitoring. Patients need to be aware of these financial implications.

At the age of 40, women have a low rate for an ovarian reserve which means poor quality and quantity. Timeliness is critical for successful IVF in this age group.

IVF is a boon for couples who desire children. Even in cases where IVF has a higher rate of success, a patient should be aware not only about the procedure but even must prepare themselves for the realistic outcomes. If you are unclear and doubtful, consult with your doctor.