In Vitro Fertilization Procedure
Almost everyone has heard of someone famous or knows someone
personally who has had the in vitro fertilization procedure done to try to conceive a
baby. But besides knowing that it is a kind fertility treatment,
there are many people who do not understand what the procedure actually is or know what it involves. If you
are having problems getting pregnant naturally and are interested in a more aggressive approach, then you may
want to try in vitro fertilization.
A huge number of people all around the world are diagnosed with infertility every
year. If you are one of them, you understand the heartache that is involved with not being able to conceive a child
on your own. Thankfully many people are able to have the children that they have been waiting so long for
with
the help of reproductive technology. While it is not the only procedure that
you may try as a means to get pregnant, the in vitro fertilization procedure can often be the best
and last chance for many couples finally conceive.
One reason that the in vitro fertilization procedure is not the first choice may be
that there are other options like natural fertility treatments that couples may prefer to try first. One of the big
reasons for this is that even though pregnancy can be achieved as a result of an in vitro fertilization procedure,
money issues can stand in the way. If the in vitro fertilization
cost is what is holding you back from seeing if it will work for you, it may be time to take a break for a
moment and make a plan.
Like many things in life, finding the money to make our dreams come true may seem
impossible. Unfortunately, there are not many insurance companies willing to cover assisted reproductive procedures
such as in vitro fertilization, otherwise known as ivf. Many people end up borrowing money, or taking a few years
off from trying to get pregnant in order to save up the money, to have an in vitro fertilization procedure
done.
If money is a concern for you, but you are not able to save up the
money or do not have the time to save up the money, talk with your doctor about your options.
The in vitro fertilization
procedure involves many different steps and if they do not all work out just right the cycle may end up being
unsuccessful. The very first step in the process involves the woman being evaluated to see what the chances are of
the ivf cycle actually working. The chance of success is something that will vary from woman to woman, but may also
be determined by the ivf success rate of the clinic and doctor doing the procedure.
Without going into extreme detail, here are the basics of what
happens throughout the entire in vitro fertilization procedure. As determined by a doctor, the woman takes hormone
shots on certain days of her cycle to boost the number of follicles produced by her ovaries. If the number of
follicles is enough to proceed with the procedure, then the follicles are removed during an in office procedure
called egg retrieval and then joined with the sperm in the lab, which ideally would have been collected the same
day.
If there is a known issue with the sperm, such as low motility, the
doctor may recommend intracytoplasmic sperm injection. After the embryos have developed, the woman will then return
to the doctor’s office where they will be transferred to the uterus. While every doctor is different, the typical
number of embryos that are transferred is no more than two. If more than two embryos result from the fertilization
procedure in the lab, many couples choose to freeze them for future use either by this particular couple or they
may also be donated if previous cycles end up with a live birth.
Even at this stage in the process, there is no guarantee that the embryo will
continue growth. The next step is a test that more people will be able to relate to when trying to conceive, the
pregnancy test. Because the embryo or embryo will not always take the test will provide a negative result and the
cycle would be considered unsuccessful.
Thankfully, the in vitro fertilization procedure is sometimes successful and former
fertility patients then become expectant parents.
This is obviously the result that all patients hope for, but only
certain couples actually become parents. It is not uncommon for those who are unsuccessful the first time to keep
trying though. If you are considering going forward with this procedure, keep in mind that you may have to do it
two or more times to get the child that you so desperately want. Remember, do not feel discouraged if it does not
happen the first time around, but prepare yourself to get ready to do it again.
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