In vitro fertilization, also called IVF Treatment, is an assisted reproductive technology for Infertile Couple (Male/Femail) that can not conceive in traditional way. IVF is a treatment for infertility, a condition in which you can not get pregnant after at least one year of trying for most couples. IVF also can be used to prevent passing on genetic problems to a child.
During IVF, mature eggs are collected from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then a procedure is done to place one or more of the fertilized eggs, called embryos, in a uterus, which is where babies develop. One full cycle of IVF takes about 18-20 days.
IVF can be done using a married couple own eggs and sperm or using a component donor. Your chances of having a healthy baby using IVF depend on many factors, such as your age and the cause of infertility. If more than one embryo is placed in the uterus, it can result in a pregnancy with more than one baby. This is called a multiple pregnancy.
When IVF is Required ?
In vitro fertilization is a treatment for infertility or genetic problems. Before you have IVF to treat infertility, you and your partner might be able to try other treatment options that involve fewer or no procedures that enter the body. For example, fertility drugs can help the ovaries make more eggs. And a procedure called intrauterine insemination places sperm directly in the uterus near the time when an ovary releases an egg, called ovulation. Sometimes, IVF is offered as a main treatment for infertility in people over the age of 40. It also can be done if you have certain health conditions as follows:
Fallopian tube damage or blockage:
Eggs move from the ovaries to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. If both tubes get damaged or blocked, that makes it hard for an egg to be fertilized or for an embryo to travel to the uterus.
Ovulation disorders:
If ovulation does not happen or does not occur often, fewer eggs are available to be fertilized by sperm.
Endometriosis:
This condition happens when tissue that is like the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis often affects the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.
Uterine fibroids:
Fibroids are tumors in the uterus. Most often, they are not cancer. They are common in people in their 30s and 40s. Fibroids can cause a fertilized egg to have trouble attaching to the lining of the uterus.
Previous surgery to prevent pregnancy:
An operation called tubal ligation involves having the fallopian tubes cut or blocked to prevent pregnancy for good. If you wish to conceive after tubal ligation, IVF may help. It might be an option if you do not want or can not get surgery to reverse tubal ligation.
Issues with sperm:
A low number of sperm or unusual changes in their movement, size or shape can make it hard for sperm to fertilize an egg. If medical tests find issues with sperm, a visit to an infertility specialist might be needed to see if there are treatable problems or other health concerns.
Unexplained infertility:
This is when tests can not find the reason for your infertility.
A genetic disorder:
If you or your partner is at risk of passing on a genetic disorder to your child, your health care team might recommend getting a procedure that involves IVF. It is called preimplantation genetic testing. After the eggs are harvested and fertilized, they are checked for certain genetic problems. Still, not all of these disorders can be found. Embryos that does not appear to contain a genetic problem can be placed in the uterus.
