Are you suffering from infertility issues and contemplating undergoing IVF? Then, here is an article that can help you make the final decision regarding the procedure.
IVF (In vitro fertilization) is one of the most common ART (assisted reproductive technology) procedures that fertility doctors recommend when all other fertility treatment options do not help you achieve pregnancy.
Though the procedure is hailed for its success rate, many people have misconceptions and doubts about it. This article aims to help you understand the advantages and average success rate of the treatment.
What Are The Advantages Of IVF?
Since the birth of the first IVF baby in 1978, IVF has become a beacon of hope for millions of couples and individuals worldwide to have their own babies.
People who have been previously diagnosed as infertile and reported to have no chance of conceiving have achieved pregnancy through the procedure. It has several advantages, and below are some of the most common.
Increased Pregnancy Success Rates
Among all other fertility treatments, IVF is known to be the best, with higher success rates. This success rate is mainly attributed to the steps involved in the procedure.
Here are some factors that play a part in the high success rate of the fertility treatment.
- The hormonal injections during the first step of the procedure stimulate egg production and ensure you produce more eggs for fertilization.
- Unlike natural pregnancy or IUI, IVF fertilization happens in a laboratory under the supervision of an embryologist. This ensures that fertilization happens.
- The fertilized egg will be monitored for development and will undergo genetic testing to determine its quality. Only the best embryo(s) will be chosen for embryo transfer.
- Your uterus will also be well-prepared to receive the embryo for implantation.
Your fertility doctor will also stay with you throughout your pregnancy and ensure you have a successful childbirth. All these factors significantly increase your success rate with IVF treatments.
Overcoming Infertility Challenges
IVF also helps you overcome infertility issues that might otherwise pose a challenge during natural pregnancies. It includes infertility issues like
- Your and your partner’s age.
- Ovulation issues (anovulation, PCOS, etc.)
- Uterine abnormalities (fibroids, polyps, adhesions, etc.)
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.
- Poor egg, sperm, or embryo quality.
- Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
- Low sperm count, motility, and morphology.
These are some of the most common infertility issues that make pregnancy difficult. During IVF, your fertility doctor will assess your condition and identify the issues that cause infertility. You will only start IVF once the issue has been rectified.
Genetic Testing And Screening
Genetic testing and screening procedures are the main perks of an IVF procedure. Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities are two of the major causes of infertility.
During an IVF treatment, you, your partner, and the developing embryo will undergo certain screening procedures to ensure you have no such issues.
- The eggs and sperm will undergo screening to analyze their quality and chromosomal makeup.
- You and your partner will undergo blood tests to check for any genetic or health conditions.
- The fertilized eggs (embryos) will undergo preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to identify any abnormalities. The best of them will be used for embryo transfer.
All these tests ensure the developing embryo or the parents don’t have any issues that will potentially affect the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Fertility Preservation
Did you know? You don’t have to rush into a pregnancy anymore just because you are aging and your fertility is decreasing. With IVF, you can preserve your fertility and choose to get pregnant when you are ready for it.
This procedure is called cryopreservation, in which the eggs, sperm, or embryos are stored under freezing temperatures. Here are some situations where fertility preservation can benefit you.
- If you wish to delay pregnancy due to education, career growth, etc.
- If you have a medical condition and want to preserve your fertility.
- If you are undergoing cancer treatments that can potentially harm fertility.
You don’t necessarily have to be undergoing IVF to undergo cryopreservation. Anyone can choose to freeze their sperm/eggs and preserve their fertility.
Single Parenthood And Same-Sex Couples
IVF is a great choice for single parents or same-sex couples who wish to have their own baby. These people can choose to use donor eggs or sperm to fertilize their eggs or sperm and achieve pregnancy.
Single women or same-sex female couples can use donor sperm to fertilize their eggs and undergo embryo transfer for pregnancy. They can also choose to hire a surrogate to carry their baby.
Single men or same-sex male couples can use a donor egg to fertilize with their sperm and hire a surrogate to carry and deliver their baby.
IVF Success Rate
The success rate of an IVF treatment differs from person to person depending on their age, fertility, and several other factors. So, there is no guarantee that you will have the success rate that others have in this treatment.
However, here is the average IVF success rate that patients can expect based on their age group.
| Age | Live birth per egg retrieval |
|---|---|
|
Younger than 35 |
54.5% |
|
35-37 |
41% |
|
38-40 |
26.5% |
|
41-42 |
13% |
|
Older than 42 |
4.2% |
Conclusion
IVF is an effective fertility treatment that you can choose to overcome your infertility issues and hold your dream baby in your hands. It has several advantages over other fertility treatments and can be a one-stop solution to help you realize your dreams.
Still not convinced about undergoing IVF? No worries. Consult an expert fertility specialist to understand the IVF procedure. They will tell you all about it and help you decide whether you want to undergo the treatment.
To improve the effectiveness of IVF and increase the chances of pregnancy, your fertility doctor will use the following techniques.
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)
- Assisted embryo hatching
- Frozen embryo transfer
- ICSI/IMSI
- Embryo glue
No, IVF does not guarantee a 100% success rate. Several factors, like your age, infertility condition, and embryo quality, play a role in your IVF success. All these can affect your success rate in the treatments.
Yes, IVF does reduce your chances of miscarriage. A miscarriage usually happens if the embryo quality is low or your uterus is not ready to carry a baby. In IVF, your fertility doctor will analyze all the factors and ensure you are in the best condition to conceive and deliver a healthy baby.
