The In’s And Out’s of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is the process of inseminating a woman’s eggs outside of the uterus. The term “in vitro” is Latin for “in glass”, referring to the dish used to contain the fertilized eggs. The technique has been in use with a fairly good success rate since 1978, when the first recorded “test tube baby” was born in England.

If your doctor determines that you have exhausted all possible natural methods of conception without success, he will usually recommend that you try IVF. The first step in the process is administering fertility drugs to stimulate egg growth in the ovaries. IVF can be done without the use of fertility drugs, but the use of drugs will usually greatly increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Your doctor will decide which course of drugs is best for you and carefully monitor your health while you are taking them.

You blood hormone level will indicate when your eggs are mature and ready to be harvested. At this point your doctor will use a fine, hollow needle to retrieve the eggs and will combine them with your partner’s sperm in a dish which contains a nutrient medium to promote growth.

In approximately two days, fertilized eggs will have developed into a tiny embryo. To increase your chances of successful conception, two or three embryos will usually be transferred into your uterus. The number of embryos will depend on several factors including age. Younger women will normally receive two embryos while those over 40, who have a reduced chance of conceiving, will receive three. If the process is successful one or more of the embryos will implant in the uterus and continue to grow.

The biggest risk of IVF is the possibility of multiple births due to the implantation of excess embryos. Generally, about 25-30 percent of couples undergoing IVF will have multiple births, as opposed to one in 90 of those couples who conceive naturally. Multiple pregnancies can result in significant complications and there is a greater risk of one or more of the babies not surviving. There is also some concern that the use of fertility drugs during IVF can increase a woman’s chances of developing ovarian cancer, though that risk has not been scientifically proven at this point. IVF is also known to increase a woman’s chances of having an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants outside the uterus.

Despite the risks, IVF is still the most proven and most reliable of all methods of assisted conception and it offers a treatment option for women with damaged or dysfunctional fallopian tubes, who would otherwise be unable to have children.

If you are experiencing infertility issues, talk with your doctor and try not to panic. There are plenty of options available, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to start a family of your own.