Many people who are unable to conceive naturally, opt to try IVF treatments. Depending upon where you live and who your insurance provider is, these treatments can cost up to twenty thousand dollars. This article will briefly explain the IVF process so you can decide whether or not you would like to pursue them.
IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization. This phrase means that the egg will be fertilized outside of the woman's body and then placed back into the woman's body. Ideally, when the fertilized egg is placed in the woman's body, it will implant in her uterus and develop into a fetus.
The first step of IVF treatments is finding a clinic. Many of these clinics work on a for-profit model. In order to attract more clients, they like to have a high rate of success. To ensure they maintain that rate of success, they will turn away clients that are the least likely to get pregnant. This usually includes women over forty-five and women who are obese. However, if you get rejected from one clinic, you will often be able to find a second choice that is willing to accept you.
Once you find a clinic, the doctor will examine you. He will give you drugs that will make your ovulation cycle predictable and drugs that will increase your egg count. These drugs will need to be injected daily into your butt check. When you begin to ovulate, the doctor will extract your eggs with a needle. Then, he will collect a sperm sample from your partner. He will fertilize the egg with the seed in a petri dish. These will be allowed to develop for a few days. Then, the doctor will choose the best looking eggs, and he will insert them into the woman.
Each clinic has a different policy about how many eggs they will implant during IVF treatments. Some will only implant three or fewer, and other clinics will implant many more. The problem with implanting too many eggs is that if they all develop into fetuses, it will be impossible to carry all of them to term. Thus, many women have to get selective abortions where one or two or three fetuses are aborted and the others are left intact.
Although there are possible complications, the shots can be painful, and the entire process may be stressful and expensive, IVF treatments are a great option for many couples. It allows them to have their own biological baby that may not have been possible without the treatments.
James Copper is a writer for HeresHowToGetPregnant.org where you can find information on fertility treatments and ivf.
