IVF Treatment: The Important Facts

Written By Unknown on vendredi 22 juin 2012 | 03:31

By Thelma Kent


There are a number of things about IVF treatment Chicago couples need to know if considering this option as a solution to their fertility problems. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process in which an ovum is fertilized by a sperm while outside the body. After fertilization a zygote is formed and this is then transferred to the uterus where it starts to grow as a foetus.

IVF is recommended for persons that have tried other fertility treatment options but have been unsuccessful. This includes, for example, women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes in which the sperm and the ovum cannot meet naturally for fertilization to take place. They have to be assisted to facilitate this process. Males with minor sperm problems may also be beneficiaries.

The treatment procedure begins with a series of fertility medication for the woman. Follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormone injections are given daily for twelve days. These hormones stimulate egg release from the ovaries. At the same time, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (or GnRH) analogues are given to suppress normal menstrual cycle.

By closely monitoring hormone levels in the blood as well as performing frequent ultrasound scans, fertility specialists are able to know when the eggs are mature and whether or not they are ready to be retrieved. Once the eggs have been collected, they are mixed in a dish with semen (this may be from the male partner or a donor). The sperms have to be washed first and only the most viable are extracted and used for fertilization. The mixture is then cultured in an incubator

Fertilized eggs will transform into balls of cells known as embryos. The healthiest of these are selected for transfer. The number of embryos to be transferred depends on the age of the woman. Whereas younger women may achieve a pregnancy with just a single embryo, the older ones may use up to three with no success. In these older women therefore, there is higher chance of multiple pregnancies. In order to prepare the uterus for implantation, progesterone is given in advance.

The complications related to IVF treatment Chicago couples need to know include the increased incidence of multiple pregnancies. This is particularly higher in the older women who often require several embryos. The chance of ectopic pregnancies in the fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity is also high. Lastly, birth defects are fairly more common compared to the entirely natural pregnancies. These include cleft lip, spina bifida and cleft palate.




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