IVF: Process | Consultation | Embryo Transfer

Beginning the IVF treatment process can be an intriguing and nerve-wracking experience. Generally, the IVF process only occurs after other fertility treatments, like IUI, have failed. You may have been trying to conceive for months or, more likely, for years.

But this isn't always the case. Sometimes, IVF is the very first treatment tried.

For example, IVF can be the primary choice if:

• A gestational carrier is needed.
• An egg donor is used.
• If a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked.
• There are severe cases of male infertility.
• When previously cryopreserved eggs are used.

Still, even in these cases, IVF may come after years of trying to conceive and undergoing several fertility tests.

Just looking over the schedule of ultrasounds, blood work, and medications can have you feeling fragile. Add to that the cost of IVF, particularly if you're paying out-of-pocket, and it's no surprise if you're feeling anxious.

The fertilized egg then attaches itself to the wall of the uterus, or womb, and begins developing into a baby. This is known as natural conception.

IVF has been used since the late 1970s. On 25 July 1978, the first “test-tube baby,” Louise Brown, was born. Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, who helped develop the process, are considered pioneers of IVF treatment, which has now advanced significantly with new methods to improve IVF success rates and reduce treatment costs.

DNA sequencing technology allows doctors to screen embryos created through IVF to select the ones most likely to result in a successful pregnancy. In Vitro Fertilization Basics:

IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization. "In vitro" means “in the lab,” and fertilization refers to conception. Generally, IVF treatment involves taking multiple eggs and placing them in a petri dish with specially washed sperm cells.

If all goes well, some of the retrieved eggs will be fertilized by the sperm cells and become embryos.

In some cases, the sperm cells need more help with the fertilization process. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used, which is an assisted reproductive technology that involves injecting a single sperm cell into an egg.

IVF Success Rates:

Your best chances for success may come from repeated treatment cycles. A study found that after six IVF cycles, the total live-birth rate was 65.3%. These six cycles typically took place over two years.

Age plays a crucial role in your chances of success, as does the cause of your infertility. Be sure to discuss your odds of success with your doctor before starting treatment. While your doctor cannot guarantee whether treatment will work for you, they should have an idea of your chances compared to other cases similar to yours.

There are ways to reduce the cost of or get financial assistance for IVF treatment, and you should explore all your options before deciding whether you can afford the treatment.