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The world of IVF can be a minefield, this post will give you all you need to know on, what is IVF and how is it done?
Just mention the letters – I-V-F – and the subject is instantly overwhelming and emotional. Not to mention the expectation of lots of jargon and technical sciencey terms. This can leave you feeling like you need to be a biologist to get to grips with all this stuff!
Don’t worry, as I’ve been there myself and I’m here to be your friendly guide. 😀
This post is the beginner’s guide to what IVF is and how it is done. Jargon-free and in bite-size chunks, grab a cup of tea and let me give you the low down!
What Is IVF And How Is It Done
According to the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK, IVF or In vitro fertilisation is: One of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby.
During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman’s womb to grow and develop. It can be carried out using your eggs and your partner’s sperm, or eggs and sperm from donors.
SOURCE: Author-NHS -Title- Overview – IVF -Online -The NHS Website Is Commissioned By NHS England And Delivered By NHS Digital –Date Published -15 August 2019 -Date Viewed By Blog- 29-July 2022 – Url https://www.nhs.uk/about-us/about-the-nhs-website/
How Is The Treatment Done?
Here are the nuts and bolts of IVF and how IVF treatment is done!
Once the fertility assessments are completed by an IVF clinic. See Blog Post: What is the preparation for IVF treatment? Hormone medication will be given to a woman to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs.
These egg/s are collected under sedation and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory by an embryologist. If an embryo is created it is transferred into the womb.
If there are any leftover embryos these can be stored safely and used for another cycle.
Embryos are usually transferred one at a time to reduce the chances of multiple births.
Multiply Birth can present a high risk to the mother and baby according to the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, (HFEA). The HFEA ran a campaign called One At A Time, in which professionals and patients were informed of the importance of transferring one embryo at a time and by doing this the birth rate is not affected.
SOURCE: Author-Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, (HFEA) -Title-Our campaign to reduce multiply births -Online – -Date Published -23 February 2017 -Date Viewed By Blog- 29-July 2022 – Url https://www.hfea.gov.uk/search/?search=one+at+a+time
Here Is IVF Broken Down In Stages?
Confusing and super overwhelming, but don’t worry. so what are the 5 stages of IVF?
IVF treatment will vary from person to person however, approximately 7 weeks is the timeframe of the treatment from the start of medication until the pregnancy test.
Here are the 5 Stages of IVF treatment as explained by Care Fertility:
- A woman’s ovaries are stimulated with fertility drugs to produce multiple mature eggs.
- The eggs are collected at the optimum time which we identify through regular monitoring.
- The eggs are then fertilised with sperm from a partner or a donor in the embryology lab.
- The resulting embryos are cultured for three to five days.
- One of the embryos is transferred back into the uterus.
SOURCE: Author-Care Fertility -Title-IVF Treatment -The Care Fertility Website -Date Viewed By Blog- 29-July 2022 – Url https://www.carefertility.com/treatments/ivf-in-vitro-fertilisation/
Why do people get IVF Treatment?
Whether it’s your first IVF or you’re struggling to add a new addition to your family, The Big Question Is ❕ why do people get IVF treatment???
When I started my IVF journey babies were everywhere! Everywhere I turned there was a pregnant woman!
Okay, I sound a teeny bit jealous, but I have always wondered if all these brand new little ones were entering the world through natural conception or through In Vitro Fertilisation.
Babies seemed to be coming out of people at such ease! Well maybe not easily – but you know what I mean. 😵💫
So why do people, including myself, need IVF treatment? From my POV, it seems that some people are able to pop babies out, Don’t get me wrong, lovely reader, I am happy for said people but at the same time, why am I struggling so much?
Here are some of the reasons why people get IVF Treatment:
- Single Women (like me) that need IVF with donor sperm or eggs or donor embryos.
- Single people or couples using a surrogate.
- People who have tried to conceive through unprotected sex for two years or more and have been unsuccessful.
- Those who have tried several rounds of other fertility treatments such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) have not been successful.
- Older woman, due to the decline in a woman’s fertility as she gets older.
- Men with a low sperm count or reduced motility (how well the sperm can swim).
- Those having chemotherapy for cancer that are having eggs or embryos stored in a laboratory for future use.
- People with a family history of certain genetic diseases.
- People with some chromosomal abnormalities.
- Women with certain gynaecological conditions like endometriosis (where the womb lining beings to grow outside of the womb).
- Suffers of fibroids (non-cancerous tumours that grow in and around the uterus),
- Those with PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome (can further cause ovulation issues as PCOS consists of underdeveloped small sacs – follicles – where eggs as developed. Those with this condition can struggle to release an egg. (I am a victim of both PCOS and fibroids).
In A Nutshell
- IVF involves medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. These Egg/s and sperm are fertilised in a lab. The created embryo is placed into the woman’s uterus.
- The fertility clinic will do the necessary blood tests, scans and other pre-treatment checks before the IVF treatment starts.
- There are tons and tons of reasons why people get IVF treatment. Ranging from those that struggle to conceive with unprotected sex – single people – those using a surrogate – PCOS and ladies with fibroids – those with embryos/ eggs stored due to having treatment for cancer or older ladies with fertility that has declined. This is to name a few reasons. 🙃
This post is a beginner’s guide to what IVF is and how it is done. We then looked at how the treatment is done and the 5 stages of IVF treatment. Lastly, we discussed why people get IVF and broke down the reasons.
I love being able to provide information about this often secret society. The more we share the more we know. 😜
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