In vitro fertilization is a technique for conception of a human embryo outside the mother’s body. The process begins with the woman taking fertility drugs to increase the number of eggs that are released at ovulation. In IVF, a female egg is fertilized with a sperm solution and returned to the uterus through the cervix. Several, or eggs, are removed from the mother’s body and placed in special laboratory culture dishes and then the sperm from the father are then added. If fertilization occurs, a fertilized ovum, is either transferred to the mother’s or a surrogate mother’s body for normal development in the uterus.
Eggs can also now be frozen and fertilized later. This technique was first developed by Drs. Patrick C. Steptoe and Robert G. Edwards of Great Britain. This was where the first “test-tube baby” was born under their care in 1978.
the technique was invented for use in cases of infertility caused by the damage of the woman’s fallopian tubes or the man’s low sperm count. It is also now used to enable prospective parents with other reproductive problems to bear a child. In embryo donation, frozen embryos that are not needed by the mother are donated for implantation to a woman or couple who are infertile but wish to have, and are capable of bearing, children. A couple is considered infertile if the woman does not conceive a child after one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse or she has been unable to carry a pregnancy to a live birth. Women under the age of 35 are usually advised to try for 12 months before consulting a physician. Various infertility treatments are normally recommended after six months of trying to conceive.
Infertility is not always a woman problem. It is a medical problem of the male or female reproductive system. In 40% of cases, the cause is traced to the woman, another 40% of cases are traced to the man. The rest of the cases are caused by unknown factors.
Statistics show that 6. 1 million women 15-44 suffer from impaired ability to have children. The number of married couples who suffer from this imparity are 2. 1 million. Most of these women or couples turn to infertility treatments for results. Nine point three million of them have used infertility services.
The number of women that are currently using some type of infertility treatments are 9. 3 million. IVF can be a good option if the woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked or if she has endometriosis. IVF is also a good choice when the male partner has a low sperm count. IVF can also be used when the cause of infertility is unknown. An Assisted Reproductive Technology, IVF is a good option for many couples.
Although most of the women who undergo this procedure are satisfied with the results, there are some that may not be so succesful. Clinical pregnancies refers to women whose positive pregnancy tests were followed by identification of a fetus on ultrasound at about seven weeks gestation. Some miscarriages can be expected at that point. Since you presumably want to know what your chances are of having a baby from IVF, live birth data will give you a better picture than clinical pregnancy rates. An ongoing pregnancy is different from a clinical pregnancy.
It is one which has reached the second trimester and is therefore quite likely to result in a live birth. According to IVF succes rates, 45% of the women who sustain this procedure give birth to a child. Women under 40 are more likely to have a succesful pregnancy that a woman who is over 40. Concisely, it is obvious that In Vitro fertilization is a possible resolution to infertility problems in the United States.
Thousands of women have obtained positive results due to the outcome of this technique/ surgery. This procedure will hopefully improve so that all women can enjoy parenthood.