Planning To Go Ahead With IVF? Here’s What You Should Expect

For some, the journey to motherhood is smooth sailing and for some, it’s a long and painful journey. You may be one of the lucky ones where a single ‘tumble in the sack’ propels you into the family way. There are others who spend years trying to conceive. There are a number of options available to couples who are unable to conceive naturally. – fertility drugs, IUI, IVF, surrogacy and adoption.

Very recently, director and producer Karan Johar joined the daddy ranks through surrogacy. Unmarried and single, he thought that he was ready to start a family and he took the surrogacy route. There are others like actress Sushmita Sen who adopted even though she’s not married. These are all personal choices and it depends on what you want for yourself.

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For couples who really want their own offspring, IVF or in vitro fertilization is the most common form of assisted reproductive technology.

What is IVF

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IVF is the process of fertilization where an egg from ovaries and sperm are combined manually in a laboratory dish, and then the embryo is transferred to the uterus. This is a long-drawn-out and costly process with one IVF cycle taking between 4-6 weeks. The success of IVF cycle depends on the age of the woman, quality of sperm and eggs and the nature of infertility problem.

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Who Should Opt For IVF

• If you have ovulation problems
• Your egg quality is poor
• The fallopian tubes are blocked
• Suffer from endometriosis
• If your partner has issues with his sperm count or motility
• If you’re using donor eggs

What To Expect When You Agree To IVF

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The entire process involves the following

• Pre-evaluation of the uterus, ovarian function and sperm quality
• Ovulation induction – During this process the medication you are injected with, stimulates your ovaries to develop multiple mature eggs for fertilization. Once the eggs are completely matured then the eggs are ready to be retrieved.
• Ultrasound monitoring – A vaginal ultrasound is done along with some blood tests to determine the maturity of the eggs.
• Egg retrieval – This is an invasive process but not a surgical one. However, the patient is sedated during the procedure. A Transvaginal ultrasound aspiration is used to retrieve the eggs. A thin needle is inserted through the wall of the vagina into the follicle and taken out. The patient normally recovers in about an hour. You should be prepared for some pain or cramping after this procedure.
• Collection of sperm – This is the part when your partner will be required to do some work.
• Fertilization – Eggs can be fertilized by one of two methods.  The sperm can be put in the petri dish with the eggs or sperm can be injected directly into the eggs. This is when the eggs get fertilized and become embryos.
• Embryo culture – The embryos are cultured or watched to make sure that all is well in the IVF laboratory for 2-6 days.
• Embryo transfer – The embryos are placed in the uterus with a thin catheter under ultrasound guidance.  This procedure is not done under sedation and is not painful.  The number of embryos to transfer will depend on the patient’s age and embryo quality.

Your first IVF cycle is complete. If the treatment works, an embryo implants in your uterine wall and continues to grow into a baby. Keep in mind that if more than one embryo has been implanted, your chance of being pregnant is higher. About 20 percent of babies born through IVF are twins or triplets.

Pros of undergoing IVF

• It has an extremely successful track record.
• With advancement in technology you can freeze your eggs and use when convenient.

Cons of undergoing IVF

 

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• It’s a costly and long drawn process with no guarantees that it will work in the first cycle of treatment.
• You will probably have multiple kids.
• There is a high risk of an ectopic pregnancy here. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when embryo implants in a fallopian tube or the abdominal cavity rather than in the uterus. You cannot sustain this pregnancy as it could be lethal for you.
• Be ready for an emotional roller-coaster. You and your partner need to be very strong during this emotionally draining time.

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