In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Continued
Who gets in vitro fertilization?
While infertility affects up to 10% of the population of the United States, less than 5% of infertile couples attempt in vitro fertilization. The types of patients most commonly helped by this procedure are women with blocked, damaged or missing fallopian tubes, those suffering from endometriosis, and men who suffer from low sperm counts, unhealthy or immotile sperm. IVF may also be a viable option for women who have had a tubal ligation and wish to become pregnant without going through surgery to repair their fallopian tubes.
How the procedure is done
In vitro fertilization is a multi-step process. First, the woman must undergo two weeks of intensive hormone therapy, blood tests, and ultrasounds to determine the optimum time to retrieve the oocyte, or egg. The eggs are extracted by means of a needle that enters through the vaginal wall. Many patients suggest that this process leads to a discomfort level on par with that of an endometrial biopsy or Pap smear.
Once the eggs have been removed, they are kept until ready for fertilization, then combined with sperm in the laboratory. Once the eggs have been fertilized, they are maintained in laboratory dishes until the cells have divided two or three times, at this point being called “pre-embryos” or “pre-implantation embryos.” Finally, the pre-embryos are introduced into the uterus approximately two days after fertilization.
Possible Risks
Apart from a 60-75% chance of failure with in vitro fertilization, the risks tend to be minimal when compared with the risks inherent to any pregnancy. The greatest risk comes from potential allergic reactions to the “fertility drugs” used to induce egg production. There is no increased risk of birth defects with this procedure. There is, however, an increased chance of multiple pregnancy for individuals who attempt in vitro fertilization. One in four successful IVF cycles results in twins, while one in fifty can result in three or more babies. In the rest of the population, twins occur at a rate of one in 80 births.
By Matthew Bendert
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