When other fertility treatments haven’t worked, a healthcare provider may suggest in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help couples become pregnant. A fertility specialist tests you and your partner to assess the factors affecting fertility before proceeding with IVF treatment. Here is more information about in vitro fertilization and why it’s needed:
What Is In Vitro Fertilization?
Also known as IVF, in vitro fertilization is a type of fertility treatment where eggs are combined with sperm outside of your body. It can be done using a couple’s eggs and sperm, or sperm and embryos from a known or unknown donor. This form of fertility treatment involves many steps and is useful when natural conception is a challenge. The process begins with retrieving eggs and combining them with sperm in a laboratory to allow them to fertilize. Several days after fertilization, a professional places an embryo inside the uterus, allowing it to implant into the uterine wall.
Why Is IVF Needed?
In vitro fertilization is helpful for many reasons, including infertility issues or when one partner has existing health conditions. During a consultation, the fertility doctor examines the couple’s medical history and discusses how in vitro fertilization can help them overcome their individual conditions. Here are a few reasons why in vitro fertilization is needed:
Blocked or Affected Fallopian Tubes
When tubes are blocked or damaged, they can prevent natural conception because they do not allow eggs to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. If the tubes have an obstruction, the sperm cannot reach the egg, preventing fertilization. During in vitro fertilization, a doctor harvests eggs and fertilizes the embryos outside the womb. Once the embryos are ready, one or more are transferred into the uterus, bypassing the fallopian tubes entirely. In vitro fertilization allows couples to freeze their embryos after fertilization and use them when they’re ready in the future.
Ovulation Disorders
Ovulation disorders occur when a woman cannot release eggs regularly or at all, which makes fertilization challenging. During in vitro fertilization, a doctor prescribes medications to help the ovaries produce multiple eggs for successful fertilization. After transferring the embryos, a professional monitors the patients through blood tests and ultrasounds to determine if a pregnancy has been attained. To enhance the chances of implantation, a fertility specialist provides hormone supplements to prepare the uterine lining for attachment.
Genetic Disorders
During an IVF procedure, an expert tests embryos for specific genetic conditions before they are placed into the uterus. This helps couples avoid passing on known genetic conditions to their newborns, promoting a healthier start to life. A qualified fertility specialist assesses embryos for their quality and conducts biopsies in the cells to look for chromosomal abnormalities. By selecting the healthiest embryos, genetic testing reduces the number of IVF cycles needed.
Schedule an Appointment for IVF
Couples dealing with fertility issues and reproductive health problems may choose in vitro fertilization. Specialists monitor the entire process, choose quality embryos, and prescribe medications to attain a successful pregnancy. To become a parent, call a trusted fertility clinic today to learn more about IVF.
