In recent years, the visibility of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproduction technologies has grown immensely. While some may prefer to keep this information private, celebrities have been more than willing to share their experiences with the world.
With that said, if you’re struggling to conceive or know someone who is trying and failing to get pregnant, you might be curious about IVF and whether it’s right for you. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about IVF as well as other assisted reproduction technologies that are similar but different. Let’s dive in!
What is IVF?
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure used to treat infertility by fertilizing eggs outside of the body. The process requires women to take a series of hormone pills to stimulate their ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Doctors then take those eggs and inject them with sperm in a lab to grow embryos.
After a few days, doctors transfer those embryos into women’s uteruses or fallopian tubes where they can hopefully implant and grow into healthy babies. IVF is used when a person’s reproductive system has trouble naturally combining an egg and sperm or has issues with embryo development. IVF is used for a variety of reasons, including: Women with low quality or quantity of eggs. Men whose sperm doesn’t move well. Women whose fallopian tubes are blocked or have adhesions.
Is IVF right for you?
There are so many factors that go into determining whether IVF is the right choice for you. To start, you’ll want to ask yourself some of the following questions: Do you and your partner have trouble getting pregnant? Do you have difficulty with embryo development? Is there a genetic risk of passing on a genetic disorder? If you answered yes to any of these questions, IVF may be right for you.
That said, you’ll also want to consider when IVF isn’t the right choice. For example, if you and your partner are able to get pregnant but have trouble with embryo development, IVF may not be the right treatment for you. Similarly, if you have a high risk of passing on a genetic disorder, IVF may not be the right choice for you.
When is IVF not the right choice?
If you answered no to all of the above questions, IVF may not be the right choice for you. That said, you may want to consider other assisted reproductive technologies like artificial insemination, IUI, or frozen embryos. These options are less invasive and often less costly than IVF.
How does IVF work?
You likely know that IVF is a medical procedure used to treat infertility. However, you may not know exactly how the procedure works. During IVF, doctors will take your eggs and inject them with sperm in a lab. After 24 hours, the fertilized eggs (also known as embryos) will be placed in a special solution and incubated for 2 to 3 days. During this time, embryos will either grow or die based on their ability to survive.
Once the embryos have reached the correct stage of development, they will be transferred into your uterus or fallopian tubes. If the embryos are placed in your uterus, they will implant 8 to 12 days later. If they’re placed in your fallopian tubes, they may be transferred to your uterus 2 to 3 days later if they are not naturally implanted.
What is the success rate of IVF?
The success rates of IVF vary greatly depending on the cause of infertility. Women who are trying to conceive are infertile only if they have not conceived after one year of unprotected intercourse. The infertility statistic above refers to the number of women who ultimately become pregnant from the treatment. Overall, the pregnancy rate from an IVF cycle is around 34%, which can be broken down into the following success rates:
Women under 35 with mild to moderate infertility: 48% Women 35 to 40 with mild to moderate infertility: 41% Women 40 to 42 with mild to moderate infertility: 30% Women over 42 with mild to moderate infertility: 14%
Who should consider IVF?
If you’ve tried all other infertility treatments and nothing has worked, IVF may be the best option for you. Additionally, IVF is often recommended for people who have: Diseases that affect fertility, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disease, diabetes, or hypertension.
Certain types of pelvic surgeries, such as a hysterectomy, a removal of one or both fallopian tubes, or a removal of the uterus. Problems with ovulation, such as irregular menstrual cycles, uterine fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, or polycystic ovary syndrome.
How much does IVF cost?
The cost of IVF varies widely based on several factors. For example, the cost of IVF in the United States ranges from $9,000 to $16,000 per cycle. Similarly, the cost of IVF in India ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 per cycle. The cost of IVF also varies from clinic to clinic. For example, the average price of IVF in New York City is $12,300 per cycle. Similarly, the average cost of IVF in Los Angeles is $12,100 per cycle. The cost of IVF in Houston is $9,650 per cycle.
Alternatives to IVF
If you’re struggling to conceive and have tried all other treatments with no luck, you may want to consider IVF. However, there are also other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that you can also explore. Artificial insemination: During artificial insemination, a doctor takes sperm and puts it directly into your uterus or fallopian tubes using a very thin needle. Artificial insemination offers the chance of pregnancy for couples who are having trouble getting pregnant due to male infertility.
IUI: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure used to treat infertility. During IUI, your doctor will take sperm and combine it with your partner’s egg. The doctor then puts the fertilized egg back inside your uterus. IUI is also often used for couples who are having trouble getting pregnant due to male infertility. Frozen embryos: Frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a procedure where embryos from an IVF cycle are transferred back into your body. You may consider frozen embryo transfer if you have previously gone through an IVF cycle that resulted in a lot of embryos.
Final Words
IVF is a very powerful, but expensive procedure that can help many couples conceive a child. If you’re struggling to conceive and have tried all other infertility treatments with no luck, you may want to consider IVF. However, there are also other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that you can also explore.