Everything You Need To Know About In Vitro Fertilization

The options available to couples who desire to have children but cannot naturally conceive are far greater than they once were. It is becoming more common for couples to turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to expand their families. IVF is a modern infertility treatment that is considered to be a safe and effective option for many couples, albeit slightly cost prohibitive. Couples who are exploring IVF as an option should consider the following costs, success rates, and methods to decide if it is truly right for their family.

What Is IVF And How Does It Work?

In vitro fertilization is a fertility treatment that manually combines a woman’s own (or donated) eggs and sperm in a laboratory culture dish. Once an embryo emerges, it is transferred into the uterus, whether your own or a gestational carrier. IVF is a common option for women who have damaged fallopian tubes or have had their fallopian tubes removed.

For women who have been suffering from endometriosis or if sperm are unable to survive in their cervical mucus, they are usually considered good candidates for IVF. For men who have decreased sperm count or poor sperm quality, IVF is usually recommended to them. A typical IVF cycle takes between four to six weeks to complete. Since 1978, thousands of IVF babies have been born, with that number rising every year.

Prescription Medications Involved In IVF

The in vitro fertilization process typically comprises of five stages for most couples. The first stage involves fertility medications. Women are prescribed medications to stimulate egg production. These self-administered injections contain gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), also known as the folic stimulating hormone (FSH) are given daily. In some cases, a luteinizing hormone is also given. These drugs stimulate the ovaries to release more eggs than usual. Many eggs are necessary for the IVF process since not all will fully develop or fertilize after retrieval. During this stage, ultrasounds are done to check the ovaries and blood tests are done to check hormone levels. A third round of GnRH medications is injected to suppress ovulation. Female patients or their partners help to administer these injections for approximately 10 days.