“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
Are you thinking of getting IVF because you have tried everything else and failed.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the joining of a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. In vitro means outside the body. Fertilization means the sperm has attached to and entered the egg. Normally, an egg and sperm are fertilized inside a woman’s body. If the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the womb and continues to grow, a baby is born about 9 months later. This process is called natural or unassisted conception.
IVF is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This means special medical techniques are used to help a woman become pregnant. It is most often tried when other, less expensive fertility techniques have failed.
How does IVF work?
First, you take medication that makes several of your eggs mature and ready for fertilization. Then the doctor takes the eggs out of your body and mixes them with sperm in a lab, to help the sperm fertilize the eggs. Then they put 1 or more fertilized eggs (embryos) directly into your uterus. Pregnancy happens if any of the embryos implant in the lining of your uterus.
IVF has many steps, and it takes several months to complete the whole process. It sometimes works on the first try, but many people need more than 1 round of IVF to get pregnant.
What’s the IVF process?
- Taking fertility medications for several months to help your ovaries produce several eggs that are mature and ready for fertilization. This is called ovulation induction. You may get regular ultrasounds or blood tests to measure your hormone levels and keep track of your egg production.
- Once your ovaries have produced enough mature eggs, your doctor removes the eggs from your body (this is called egg retrieval). Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure that’s done at your doctor’s office or at a fertility clinic.
- You’ll get medicine to help you be relaxed and comfortable during the procedure.
- Using an ultrasound to see inside your body, the doctor puts a thin, hollow tube through your vagina and into the ovary and follicles that hold your eggs. The needle is connected to a suction device that gently pulls the eggs out of each follicle.
- In a lab, your eggs are mixed with sperm cells from your partner or a donor. The eggs and sperm are stored together in a special container, and fertilization happens.
- About 3-5 days after the egg retrieval, 1 or more embryos are put into your uterus the doctor slides a thin tube through your cervix into your uterus, and inserts the embryo directly into your uterus through the tube.
Pregnancy happens if any of the embryos attach to the lining of your uterus. Embryo transfer is done at your doctor’s office or at a fertility clinic, and it’s usually not painful. The hormones make it easier for the embryo to survive in your uterus.
Infertility and In Vitro Fertilization
Today, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is practically a household word. But not so long ago, it was a mysterious procedure for infertility that produced what were then known as “test-tube babies.”
Unlike the simpler process of artificial insemination – IVF involves combining eggs and sperm outside the body in a laboratory. Once an embryo or embryos form, they are then placed in the uterus. IVF is a complex and expensive procedure; only about 5% of couples with infertility seek it out. However, since its introduction in the U.S. IVF and other similar techniques have resulted in more than 200,000 babies.
IVF is never the first step in the treatment of infertility except in cases of complete tubal blockage. Instead, it’s reserved for cases in which other methods such as fertility drugs, surgery, and artificial insemination haven’t worked.
Is IVF pregnancy different from normal pregnancy?
For most women, the answer is no: after the first few weeks, an IVF pregnancy is the same as a “regular” pregnancy in every respect, at least insofar as any two pregnancies can be compared. Every woman and every pregnancy are unique, no matter how the baby is conceived.
How long does it take to get pregnant with IVF?
One cycle of IVF takes about two months. Women younger than age 30 will get pregnant and have a baby with their first IVF egg retrieval and subsequent embryo transfer(s) about half the time.
What are the side effects of IVF?
Like all medications and medical procedures, IVF has some risks and possible side effects. These include:
- bloating
- cramping
- breast tenderness
- mood swings
- headaches
- bruising from shots
- allergic reaction to medicines
- bleeding
- infection
Your doctor can talk with you about any questions or concerns you have about IVF risks and side effects.
IVF can also be difficult emotionally, both for the person having the procedures and for their partner and/or family. Many people doing IVF treatments struggle with depression and anxiety throughout the process.
What Are the Success Rates for IVF?
Success rates for IVF depend on a number of factors, including the reason for infertility, where you’re having the procedure done, and your age. The CDC compiles national statistics for all assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures performed in the U.S., including IVF, GIFT, and ZIFT, although IVF is by far the most common; it accounts for 99% of the procedures. The most recent report from 2016 found:
- Pregnancy was achieved in an average of 27.3% of all cycles (higher or lower depending on the age of the woman).
- The percentage of cycles that resulted in live births was 22.2% on average (higher or lower depending on the age of the woman).