IVF is a ground breaking technique applied for resolving the most complicated infertility issues and it is also one of the most widely used techniques today. Despite its widespread use, there are numerous questions about the procedure which patients are still concerned about. Some of these questions are “good” ones, which specialists would like to answer and clarify their doubts; on the other hand, there are some questions which result in more confusion rather than put an end to it.
A patient is absolutely entitled to bring up queries about the procedure but they should definitely steer clear of the ones which are useless. Therefore, it is crucial to know the difference between the two kinds. Here are some key questions about an IVF treatment and pregnancy, which patients would like to ask their fertility specialist.
When would IVF be regarded as the most feasible Assisted Reproductive Technique for me?
When a couple approaches an infertility clinic for treatment, they are never recommended IVF at the first instance. The patients are first scanned for the causes of infertility and simpler options such as fertility medications and artificial insemination are explored first. Conditions such as endometriosis, ovulation problems, cervical mucus hostility, low sperm count, antibodies which harm sperms/eggs, tubal blockage and unexplained fertility make the couple a candidate for IVF technique.
What should I expect from IVF?
IVF is a complicated procedure which involves a series of steps to reach the stage of a successful pregnancy. The treatment starts with ovarian stimulation, during which hormonal injections are administered to the patient so that she may produce multiple eggs.
Next comes, the stage of egg retrieval, which involves the collection of ripened oocytes at the time of ovulation. Patients should expect the specialist to be extremely cautious about the timing of the egg retrieval, as it must be done right before the eggs emerge from follicles. Blood tests and ultrasound scan can be used to determine the right time for this. The procedure of egg retrieval is a painful one and the patient is generally given sedation as well as pain medication during it.
Right after the retrieval, the eggs are combined with male sperms (the sample is taken on the same day) in the IVF lab. The fertilized eggs are then cultured in the lab for a period of three days or five days, depending upon the clinic’s protocol. The cultured embryo is finally transferred to the uterus, where it may or may not implant itself.
The specialist may transfer a single embryo or more of them to maximize the chances of success, though it also elevates the risk of multiple pregnancies. The patient now has to go through the 2ww (two week wait) after which a simple pregnancy test would be used to confirm pregnancy.
Would I need ICSI along with IVF?
ICSI or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is a technique which is used in conjugation with IVF, for such couples where the male sperm count is miserably low. This process involves lab fertilization of the egg with a single, viable sperm which is extracted from the semen and injected directly into the egg. Once the egg is fertilized into a healthy embryo, the rest of the procedure follows just like IVF.
What is the success rate of IVF?
The success rate of IVF is determined by a myriad of factors; the age of the woman, the level of complication and competence of the infertility clinic being the main amongst them. Over the years, the fertility treatment has shown considerable rise in the success rate, with the current average reaching up to an encouraging 30% depending upon these factors. Similarly, about 22% of women undergoing IVF have reported live births.
What are the risks related with IVF?
Though IVF is regarded as a safe technique, there is still certain health risks associated with them:
- Since more than one embryo is normally transferred during IVF, there is always a risk of multiple pregnancies with it. This can lead to complications such as premature birth and low birth weight in the babies
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a condition when fertility drugs can cause enlargement and pain in the ovaries. symptoms such as fluid retention, blood clot formation and shortness of breath may also be manifested
- There is also a risk of infection during the surgical procedures such as egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
Do I need to take any extra precautions during IVF pregnancy?
A healthy IVF pregnancy is as good as natural one and no additional precautions are required for it. The fact is that patients spend a good deal of money on creating an embryo in the lab, which justifies their concern while they nurture the resultant pregnancy. They may be tempted to think that bed rest may improve the success rate but the reality is that an embryo conceived in an IVF lab has as many chances of implantation as does the one made in the bedroom.
What parameters should I consider while selecting a clinic for performing IVF?
It is very important to find the right IVF centre in Delhi for the procedure as it increases the chances of success to a great extent. Patients need to consider factors such as experience and expertise of the medical staff, success rate, IVF cost and competence of the IVF lab before they finalize the fertility clinic to serve them. Also, it should be ensured that too many tests are not recommended by the clinic as they can cause wastage of money and time.
In addition to these questions, some other issues may crop up if the treatment fails to yield results. Patients who have failed in their IVF attempt may get curious about options such as donor eggs, sperms and embryos, so that they can explore these in subsequent attempts.
Gaudium IVF is a reputed infertility clinic, which is well known for its excellence in the field of IVF. Additionally, the clinic provides feasible answers to all the questions of the patients. Visit here for a free second opinion from the leading infertility specialist, Dr. Manika Khanna.
