IVF isn’t only for infertile couples. This treatment is an excellent option for many, not just infertile couples.
The woman’s age and other factors contributing to her infertility can put her at risk.
Nowadays, many people are opting for IVF treatment as it is one of the easiest ways to conceive. For example, if you are a single woman and need to conceive, you can choose IVF treatment.
Many people in the LGBTIQA+ community choose IFV treatment. You’re mistaken if you think this treatment is only for infertile couples. Anyone can benefit from IVF irrespective of male or female infertility.
This article will show you who can opt for IVF fertility treatment.
In this Article
What Does IVF Treatment Imply?
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is an assisted reproductive technology developed for infertility cases. It is especially beneficial for women suffering from fallopian tube blockage.
IVF treatment includes retrieving eggs from the ovaries and fertilising them in a lab using sperm. The process of egg collection takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Your fertility doctor uses a tiny needle to collect follicles from your ovaries.
The follicles are then immediately transported to the embryologist. The embryologist counts the eggs in the fluid and prepares them for fertilisation with your partner’s sperm. You may experience some discomfort after the transfer.
Once the eggs are fertilised, they are implanted into the woman’s uterus, where the baby grows. This treatment is helpful in male and female factor infertility and many other cases.
Why Is IVF Treatment Done?
IVF procedure was developed in 1978 when Louise Brown became the first woman to give birth to a child through in vitro fertilisation. Doctors Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards are often credited as the pioneers of the procedure.
In a natural pregnancy, the female ovary produces an egg, which sperm travel through the fallopian tube to find. The fertilised egg attaches itself to the uterus wall, where it begins to develop into a baby.
IVF treatment is done to help men and women who cannot conceive naturally. It can help to treat male and female infertility as well. If you are looking for safe and effective assisted reproductive technology, IVF is the best option. Here are some reasons why IVF treatment is done.
- Fallopian tube damage or blockage
- EndometriosisOvulation disorders
- Unexplained infertility
- Uterine fibroids
- Impaired sperm production or function
- Previous tubal sterilisation or removal
- A genetic disorder
- Fertility preservation for cancer
Why Is IVF Treatment Not Just For Infertile Couples?
If you are an infertile couple, IVF treatment is one of the best alternatives. However, it’s not just for infertile couples, and there are many reasons why. In fertility, couples are not able to conceive naturally.
However, many people cannot conceive naturally, and infertility has nothing to do with it. For example, people in a same-sex relationship cannot conceive naturally despite being fertile. In such cases, they can use IVF to conceive.
Apart from that, many single people want their own child. They can use their relative’s eggs and sperm to conceive using IVF treatment. It is one of the best ways to have a child of your own.
The treatment can help you get pregnant, even if you don’t have a low ovarian reserve. In fact, it can even stimulate the development of healthy eggs. Couples suffering from genetic disorders can use this treatment to prevent complications.
Although there are risks involved, IVF treatment can provide a better chance of having a live birth than other infertility treatments. The success rate of IVF treatment is near 50%, which is comparable to natural conception.
Can Single or LGBTIQA+ People Use IVF?
Yes, single and LGBTIQA+ people can benefit from IVF treatment. Thousands of LGBTQ and ally individuals undergo IVF treatment every year. These individuals are often denied access to traditional methods of conception. However, with IVF treatment, these couples can conceive naturally.
The co-parenting option allows single or LGBTIQA+ couples to use the sperm and egg of a relative to achieve conception. The egg donor is not a legal parent but a relative of the intended father. The other parent is the biological mother. Depending on the circumstances, this procedure can produce high-quality embryos.
While the IVF process can be used by heterosexual couples, the options for LGBTIQA+ couples are limited and complicated. In some cases, one partner’s eggs are used for embryo development in a reciprocal cycle. This way, each partner’s eggs are genetically related to the future child. While this may be risky, both partners can be genetically related to their intended parents.
Also, single men and women can also benefit from this treatment. If you want a child but don’t want to follow the natural approach of male and female intercourse, you can always go for IVF treatment.
Who Should Opt For IVF Treatment?
If you’re unable to conceive naturally, you can go for IVF treatment. It is an alternative treatment for natural conception. Infertile couples, as well as many other people, can opt for this treatment.
During the process of IVF, the eggs are retrieved and fertilised with the help of sperm. After that, the eggs are implanted into the uterus. While IVF treatment is mostly done to treat infertility problems, many other people can benefit from it.
IVF is an effective fertility treatment. The doctor uses fertility drugs to fertilize the eggs in a laboratory. The embryos are then implanted in a woman’s uterus and grow. With IVF, you may be able to get pre-implantation genetic testing of the embryos. Here are some people who can opt for this fertility treatment.
- Infertile men and women
- Single men and women who wish to have a child
- Families who wish to have additional children
- LGBTIQA+ couples
- Men and women suffering from a genetic condition
What Can You Expect During IVF?
IVF procedure covers ovulation induction, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, and fertilisation. Here’s what to expect during your first IVF session.
#1. Step 1: Ovulation Induction
Ovulation induction during IVF is a treatment to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs in one cycle. This increases the chances of success of the fertility treatment. Because some eggs are not fertilised after fertilization, it is important to harvest several eggs during a cycle. Fertility doctors use hormonally-active shots or pills to stimulate the ovaries and prepare the eggs for harvesting.
#2. Step 2: Egg Retrieval
After undergoing ovulation induction, doctors retrieve healthy eggs from a woman’s body. Some women experience decreased egg quantity or quality. In such cases, the treatment may not be successful. A physician will determine if a woman’s ovarian capacity is at an acceptable level before undergoing tubal ligation. If the ovarian capacity is adequate, the woman will be able to conceive a baby with egg retrieval.
#3. Step 3: Sperm Retrieval
A process known as sperm retrieval during IVF is used to fertilise the eggs. The sperm are retrieved from other parts of the reproductive tract and then used in the process of in vitro fertilisation. During an IVF cycle, the sperm is combined with the egg in a laboratory dish. Once these two components are combined, an embryo is formed and transferred to the woman’s uterus.
#4. Step 4: Fertilization
When sperm are injected directly into the egg, the process of fertilisation takes place. It is known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertilisation occurs during the third stage of IVF, and several embryos are implanted to improve the chance. In some cases, multiple embryos may be implanted in some cases, while others may be frozen and used later. This prevents repeated egg stimulation and retrieval in the future.
#5. Step 5: Embryo Transfer
During IVF, a thin, flexible tube is inserted into a woman’s vagina or cervix and gently pushed into the uterus. This procedure is painless, and the woman is usually left to rest in a supine position after the embryo transfer. In this process, the embryo is transferred into the woman’s body. If IVF is successful, the woman will give birth to a healthy baby.
What Is The Success Rate of IVF?
The success rate of IVF treatment varies from clinic to clinic, but overall, it is much better than other methods. The percentage of live births per egg retrieval is forty-three per cent for women under 35, fifty-four per cent for women aged thirty-three, and seven per cent for women over forty-four.
The percentage of live births per embryo transfer is lower for older women, but it doesn’t decrease. That means the chances of conceiving are higher than those of younger women. First, remember that the success rate of IVF varies by age. While women who started the process at age 35 had a 40% chance of conceiving after just one cycle, they had a 54% chance after two rounds.
However, if a woman started IVF at age 40, her chances were just 13%. The odds jumped to 21% if she had two rounds and 25% if she underwent three. While success rates aren’t the same for every round, a woman who opted for three rounds had a greater chance of conceiving than those who had only one round of treatment.
Conclusion
IVF is one of the most popular fertility treatments for conception among infertile couples. However, anyone who wishes to have a child can undergo this treatment. It is beneficial for the LGBTIQA+ community as well as single people who wish to have a child of their own. You can consult a doctor and understand the procedure to know whether it is right for you.
FAQs
Who Cannot Do IVF?
Despite the high success rates of IVF, there are certain people who cannot do it. Women with serious health issues, infectious diseases, reproductive tract infections or severely damaged endometrial lining cannot undergo IVF treatment.
Can You Do IVF Without Infertility?
Yes, you can do IVF treatment without infertility. If you are fertile but still cannot conceive naturally, you can do IVF. For example, same-sex couples can take advantage of this treatment.
How Much Does IVF Cost?
The cost of IVF treatment varies depending on the clinic that you choose. However, you should look beyond the price when choosing a clinic. Not only should you look for a clinic with the lowest fees, but you should also consider the success rates of previous patients.
