What To Expect From Your IVF Procedure?
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, is one of the more popular assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. It helps couples facing fertility issues to have children. It may involve several medical and surgical procedures, depending on the requirement of the patient. IVF procedure can generally take four weeks or more, and one may require multiple cycles of the treatment to achieve success.
What is IVF?
In vitro literally translates to ‘within the glass’. In this context, fertilisation occurs outside the body. IVF procedures involve retrieving eggs from the ovaries and fertilising them with sperm. The procedure happens outside the human body. Once the fertilisation process is complete, the eggs are transferred back to the uterus.
If you are experiencing difficulties in conceiving, or sustaining a pregnancy, IVF is one of the several available options. When consulting a doctor about your fertility and reproductive health, IVF may not be the first solution that is offered. IVF is usually considered when either or both partners are facing any of the following issues:
- Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
- Poor sperm production/function
- Poor ovarian function
- Unexplained infertility
- Genetic disorder
- Advanced maternal age (over 40 years)
IVF procedure is also opted for by potential parents who are looking to avoid passing on any specific genetic defects to their progeny. In case either of the parents is about to undergo treatments that may alter their fertility, such as radiation therapy, IVF offers a way to preserve their eggs/sperm for future use.
What to Expect from the IVF Procedure?
Fertility issues may lead one to seek out solutions that appear the most effective or those that ensure success. However, it is important to remember that there are various available solutions for most fertility problems. Based on the nature of what you are facing, your doctor is expected to guide you towards all available solutions, and you can choose what suits you the best.
The primary consultation may involve getting a better understanding of your health. Through a consultation, you should get a better understanding of what you can expect through the IVF procedure and how the process will be. Here is a glimpse at what you can look forward to.
- Preliminary Tests
You as well as your partner will be required to go through some tests to get a better understanding of your current health. This will allow for the tailoring of the course of the treatment to suit your needs. This may include blood tests for both partners, among other things.
- Ovarian Stimulation
The female partner may be prescribed an intake of stimulants and hormones to allow for ovarian stimulation. This is to encourage ample egg production so that multiple eggs can be used for further stages of the procedure. The patient may be required to self-administer the hormones over the prescribed duration.
- Egg Retrieval
As the process of fertilisation is made to happen outside the body, the eggs produced after the stimulation cycle will be retrieved. The patient usually undergoes sedation and eggs are retrieved with the aid of a hollow needle and ultrasound probe. At this stage, the patient can choose to save these eggs for later if they do not seek to begin the process of fertilisation at that point.
- Sperm Retrieval
After preparing the eggs, the male partner will be required to submit a semen sample. Of this sample, the healthier sperms are selected for the process of fertilisation. In case the male partner’s sperm was not suitable for this process, donors are usually chosen by the couple opting for the treatment beforehand.
- Fertilisation
The fertilisation process happens over the span of a few hours, but the embryos are observed over the next few days to ensure optimal health. During this time, the female who will receive these eggs is required to partake in the treatment where hormones prepare the uterus lining to receive and hold the fertilised eggs.
- Embryo Transfer
After monitoring the growth of the fertilised eggs, many of them are transferred to the receiving uterus when the timing is suitable. This is usually within three to five days of fertilisation. From among the rest of the embryos, suitable and healthy ones may also be chosen for cryopreservation. This allows for their use in the future, if necessary.
Things to Remember about IVF
- IVF can be a time-consuming procedure even in a single cycle. You may end up requiring more than one cycle of fertilisation.
- You can choose to preserve your embryos or even your eggs.
- While not all IVF cycles result in pregnancy, the transfer of multiple embryos in a single cycle increases the chances of multiple pregnancies.
- Depending on your age and health, the chances of a miscarriage are at least equally as high as natural pregnancy.
- Chances of having a successful IVF cycle drop as one progresses in age. Success rates for IVF treatments after 35 years of age are lower.
- There may be other options that are more suitable for you. With multiple fertility treatments available, consult your doctor and weigh your options.
Treatments like IVF offer hope to people who face obstacles in the journey of fulfilling their desires. But even when taking the help of the best technology, it is beneficial to understand what you can and cannot expect from this.
