Many medical procedures save or sustain life, but IVF is that incredible procedure that can bring new life into existence. Though nothing short of a miracle, this artificial reproductive science is quite complex.
IVF is a life-changing process, and when you are undergoing this process, there are a few things you should know. Your chances of having a healthy baby through IVF will depend on many factors like your age or the cause of infertility. IVF is also a time-consuming and invasive procedure and can result in multiple pregnancies.
Your doctor could best help you understand how IVF works, the potential risks of the process, and whether infertility treatment is right for you.
In-Vitro Fertilisation- A Gift To Motherhood
IVF or In Vitro Fertilisation is a more advanced form of Assisted Reproductive Technology. During IVF, a woman’s egg is retrieved from her body and fertilized with a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilized egg (embryo) is then placed into the mother’s womb for further development. IVF can be done using the couple’s sperm and egg or a donor’s sperm or egg. The process can also involve a gestational carrier- a woman who carries your baby in her womb for you.
IVF is the best option to have a biological child when all other options fail. Though the fertilization process of an egg is artificial, all the other aspects of the pregnancy will be as real as possible. The anticipation of the child to be born and the baby’s first cry will invoke the same emotion for the couple who have opted for IVF treatment.
5 Hidden Facts About In-Vitro Fertilisation Treatment
As per the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, infertility affects 10 to 14% of the Indian population. This makes IVF a sought route to parenthood. But before you decide to go for this treatment, there are a few facts you should know about IVF that will change your perception forever:
- Multiple Pregnancies:
IVF has a high risk of multiple pregnancies as more than one embryo could be transferred into the mother’s womb. Considering an average of all age groups, the odds of having multiple pregnancies through IVF is nearly 30%. Though they are primarily twin pregnancies, the chances of having triplets are also present in IVF.
Multiple pregnancies also increase the risk of low birth weight and early labor.
2. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
The use of injectable fertility drugs to induce ovulation can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, making ovaries swollen and painful.
Symptoms of Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may last a week in which you’d experience mild abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. However, if you become pregnant, your symptoms may last several weeks. It is also possible to develop a more severe form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome that can cause rapid weight gain and shortness of breath, but this condition is infrequent.
3. Long Term follows up for IVF Babies:
Test tube babies born with IVF have increased risks of lower birth weights, premature delivery, and congenital disabilities. However, the exact statistics for this are not known. Yet, more commonly seen is that the babies born with IVF procedure need more follow-up at a doctor’s clinic than others.
The mother’s age also plays an important role in developing congenital disabilities among children, whichever way the child is born.
4. Side Effects of Fertility Drugs:
In rare cases, fertility drugs could have some severe side effects. Discuss them with your doctor before you start with IVF treatment. It is also advisable to discuss all concerns with your practitioner during the treatment rather than get into medical harm or danger.
Some of the concerns of fertility drugs are allergies, vision changes, mood swings, weight gain, among others. Most of the side effects should subside with the pregnancy, but there are risks of particular cancer that could increase with IVF treatment.
5. Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is when the fetus develops outside of the uterus. In this case, the pregnancy has to be immediately terminated. Women with IVF treatment are known to be at a larger risk of ectopic pregnancy than otherwise, with 1-3 cases in 100 of ectopic pregnancies reported in this treatment.
However, it has been argued that ectopic pregnancy is an outcome of the infertility issues faced by the women and is not directly related to IVF procedures.
Conclusion
IVF is a complex and expensive procedure that could affect both mind and body. Yet, the success of the treatment would by far surpass the problems.
Medical science is continuously evolving, and a lot depends on the technology used for this treatment. Astha Fertility Clinic is amongst the most advanced IVF clinics in India offering this treatment. The clinic uses the latest technology and has experts working with them for your assistance.
Whether you are looking at the various fertility treatment options like IVF, IUI, or ICSI or you want help in natural conception, Astha Fertility Clinic and their team of doctors will best guide you in your journey towards parenthood.