In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) 

In vitro fertilization (IVF) simply means ‘fertilization in glass,’ more simply explained as ‘test tube baby’. In the IVF process, eggs are removed from the ovaries of the female, at the same time sperms are collected from the male partner. The eggs and sperms collected are made to fertilize in the laboratory and the fertilized egg (embryo) is then implanted in the woman’s womb to make her conceive.

The IVF process involves:

1.       Stimulating multiple follicles and eggs to develop

2.       Egg retrieval to get the eggs

3.       Fertilizing the eggs in the laboratory

4.       Embryo transfer to the uterus

Fertility experts believe that age must not be a factor of consideration when going for IVF process as we see a lot of couples who are below 30years of age who think that they are too young to go for IVF method and it’s a last resort not even knowing the statistical figures which clearly indicates that the success rate of IVF or any fertility procedure decreases with age.

IVF treatment method emerged in 1970s and was mainly used for females having tubal blockage but with the newly emerging technological and scientific knowledge and with increase in complications faced by infertile couples, IVF technique is now mainly used following cases:

1.       Women with both fallopian tubes blocked

2.       Women with single tube blockage and

3.       Inadequate male sperm count

4.       Esoteric infertility cases

5.      Coupled who have failed the traditional treatments like timed intercourse, follicular monitoring, IUI and lots more.

Gone are those days when age was a barrier to experience motherhood and menopause hurdle came along with the stigma of inability to reproduce. IVF has been a breakthrough providing hope for the young and older couples have lost hopes of motherhood.