Today, in vitro fertilization is the last hope of infertile couples who want to have a baby. This procedure has been successfully applied for any form of infertility. However, it was originally planned to be used for women whose fallopian tubes are impassable or absent.
For the first time in vitro fertilization was successfully applied in 1978 in England. Today, millions of children all over the world have been conceived by this method.
Despite the fact that in vitro fertilization (IVF) leads to pregnancy in only 35% of cases, nevertheless, it is very widely used. However, often the couple has to make several attempts before the long-awaited pregnancy. It is not only quite expensive, but also very difficult morally.
The essence of this method is that the process of fertilization occurs outside the woman. Mature eggs are taken from her ovaries, and a man passes sperm.
Upon successful fertilization, the embryos are inserted into the uterus, usually three of them. This is done in order to increase the chances of becoming pregnant. However, in 5% of cases, all embryos take root, and in 15% twins are obtained.
Planting more is not allowed. If a woman does not want to bear several fruits or this is undesirable for medical reasons, then the extra ones will be removed.
IVF procedure consists of 4 stages:
- stimulation of ovulation with the help of special drugs under the supervision of ultrasound;
- selection of eggs and sperm, placing them in a special environment where fertilization takes place under the supervision of specialists who can help the process with low sperm motility;
- development of embryos over several days, assessment of their quality and quantity;
- transferring them into the uterus using a special device under the control of ultrasound.
Next, a woman should limit physical and emotional stress, take special medications. After 2 weeks, a test for chorionic gonadotropin is given, with a positive result, ultrasound is performed after 7 days. If all is well, then the woman carries the baby.
A difficult question is the choice of embryos. However, today there is a genetic diagnosis that allows you to identify many hereditary diseases and determine the gender of the child. This procedure greatly simplifies the choice of embryos, however, due to the high cost, units make it. The price of this diagnosis is almost the same as the entire program.
In addition, tests must be done within two months before IVF. For a woman, this list is quite long.
The only manipulation in which anesthesia is used is egg collection. Short-term intravenous anesthesia is used.
IVF is also suitable for those patients who do not have ovaries or do not function properly, however, in this case, you will have to use a donor egg. Moreover, a woman will not be a biological mother, but she will be able to bear a child and give birth to a child.
However, today there are not so many donor egg banks. This is due to the fact that women fear for the consequences. Often, donors become patients who themselves participate in the IVF program, some medical centers give them a discount for this.
The fact is that after stimulation of superovulation, a woman can take up to 15 eggs. They will probably be needed, not all, especially if the first attempt is successful. In addition, the woman will already pass all the necessary tests.
IVF is also used if a woman cannot bear a child. However, then you will have to turn to a surrogate mother. Although biologically it may be her child.
Thus, in vitro fertilization has received widespread over 30 years. It gives hope to infertile couples to become parents and helps millions of babies be born. The program is constantly being improved, which increases the likelihood of pregnancy.