IVF is the scientific approach to getting pregnant. Originally
termed "test-tube" babies by the Press, embryos are fertilized
in the lab, removed from a human body. One attempt at pregnancy
through IVF is termed a cycle, and can be divided into 5 general
phases.
1. Preparation
You're body is manipulated with drugs. Doctors prescribe a
medication such as Lupron to shut down your ovaries for two
weeks.
2. Stimulation
Following the Lupron series you will receive a set of up to 14
shots of another medication, such as pergonal, to hyperstimulate
egg production. At the conclusion of these shots you will be
given a final medication to boost maturity of your eggs.
3. Harvesting
Once the eggs have reached maturity you are heavily sedated and
between 5-15 eggs are suctioned from your ovaries via ultrasound
guided vaginal retrieval.
4. Fertilization
Egg and sperm meet each other for the first time in the lab.
Approximately 100,000 motile sperm are introduced to each egg.
Fertilization is documented and the growing embryos are
carefully observed in vitro for up to 6 days. The growing trend
is to observe growth longer, past the 6-8 cell stage, and
blastocyst or advanced stage embryo transfer is not uncommon.
There are several benefits to a blastocyst transfer, you might
wish to ask your Reproductive team about them.
5. Embryo Transfer
Mom comes back in the picture as 3 or 4 growing embryos are
transferred back into your uterus in a procedure that resembles
a PAP smear. With any luck a new baby begins growing. On average
it takes 3 IVF cycles to establish a pregnancy.
This is a very brief draft of a typical IVF cycle, and it can be
an expensive, invasive procedure. But for couples who are having
trouble conceiving, IVF is a well-established, proven method to
overcoming infertility. There are a million people out there who
walking proof it works.
About the author:
Dan Todd, esq. is a full-time father. When they had trouble
conceiving thier youngest daughter, Victoria, Dan and Donna
began investigating fertility and reproductive issues. Today
they run thier website
http://www.vasectomy-reversal-cost.com
from thier home in Tennessee.
