Infertility has become a serious problem among young couples in the last few decades, and in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is one of the common fertility procedures, has gained much prominence as it can treat most infertility problems. IVF helps couples conceive a child for it gives better success rate of 30 percent to 50 percent. Nonetheless, many couples are reluctant to consider IVF pregnancy for a few reasons such as a complex procedure, fear of giving birth to an abnormal baby and seeing it as an unnatural process.
Why should you opt for an IVF treatment? This is the most important question one would like to have an answer for.
What is In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?
IVF is a procedure through which a woman’s eggs are fertilized using a man’s sperm in a specialized lab to develop into an embryo, and placed in the woman’s uterus or frozen for storage.
Also, Read: Who Needs IVF treatment
What is the IVF Procedure?
IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART), and the process involves several steps, which take a few months to complete. With the IVF treatment, the couples who face infertility problems increase their chances of conception. An IVF pregnancy requires a patient to undergo the following steps.
- The IVF treatment cycle starts by taking fertility medications for a few months to help a woman’s ovaries produce eggs that are matured and good for fertilization. During the ovulation induction, frequent blood tests and ultrasounds are conducted to monitor the egg production and check the hormone levels.
- On having the required matured eggs, the doctor through a minor surgical procedure retrieves the eggs from the ovary and follicles using a hollow needle.
- Next, the sperm cells are collected from the male partner or a donor, and they are joined with the eggs through an insemination procedure.
- The eggs and sperm that are stored in the petri glass undergo fertilization. Where the sperm have lower motility, they fail to swim and reach the cervix. In such a case, the doctor injects the sperm directly into the eggs to encourage fertilization.
- The fertilized eggs develop into embryos, which are then directly placed in the uterus.
- This helps the woman become pregnant.
Some Reasons Why You Should Opt for IVF Pregnancy
Though IVF is used to treat genetic or infertility problems after trying less-invasive treatment options, there are times when it is suggested by doctors as a primary treatment for certain health conditions, which are:
Fallopian tube blockage or damage: The obstruction in the fallopian tube makes it difficult for an egg to fertilize.
Endometriosis: When a tissue similar to the one in the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity, endometriosis happens. The tissue may be found on the fallopian tubes and ovaries affecting their function.
Ovulation issues: The problems such as no ovulation and infrequent ovulation will give fewer eggs for fertilization.
Unexplained infertility: The cause is unknown despite the infertility evaluation.
Uterine fibroids: These benign tumors are commonly found in women who are in 30s and 40s, and may cause obstruction to the fertilized egg.
Poor sperm mobility or quality: The sperm with poor mobility, low sperm count, or abnormalities in the size and shape can cause difficulty in fertilization. This may require your male partner to meet a specialist to treat them.
Tubal ligation reversal: Where you have had a tubal sterilization in the past to prevent pregnancy, and now you want to conceive, then IVF is considered to be the best option for tubal ligation reversal.
Preserving fertility before any treatment or surgery: IVF helps preserve your fertility for future use in case you are going to start a cancer treatment or surgery, and it may harm your fertility. Through IVF, women can have eggs reiterated from the ovaries and frozen unfertilized or fertilized to use them later.
Also, Read: Do I Need to Avoid any Foods During IVF Cycles
Why Should You Opt for an IVF Pregnancy in India?
With several hospitals in India specialized in IVF, one can find the most suitable hospital depending on their circumstances. The success rate of IVF in India is between 30 percent and 35 percent, and it is a decent one when compared to the success rate of 40 percent across the world. The advanced reproductive technology of using freeze-all method, where the generated embryos instead of eggs are frozen, has further increased the success rates of IVF in India.
The cost for IVF in India is lower than that of any other countries, and the doctors are highly skilled and experienced. This makes couples from countries abroad to come for IVF pregnancy in India. However, the success rate depends on the age of the female partner and other factors. The use of the latest technology like endometrial receptive analysis (ERA) can help those having implantation failures by evaluating the gene expression and ensuring the development of endometrial lining for successful implantation.
However, you can consult your fertility expert before deciding on the IVF treatment.
