The advent of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), especially In-vitro Fertilization (IVF), has ignited hope in the minds of individuals and couples struggling with infertility. Exactly thirty-nine years ago, medical science made a breakthrough with the birth of the first test-tube baby – Louise Brown.
Since then, the day has been markedly celebrated as World IVF Day globally to celebrate the birth of the world’s first IVF baby, who was born at Bourn Hall.
We will discuss more on that and the significance of World IVF Day 2022 to shed more light on ART and its impacts on the lives of people struggling with infertility.
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In this Article
What is the World IVF Day 2022?
As we mentioned, World IVF Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the first IVF baby, born in 1978. Since that breakthrough, over 3 million babies worldwide have been born, thanks to varying forms of ART, including IVF.
The primary intent behind celebrating World IVF Day is to raise awareness surrounding infertility concerns and the physical and emotional turmoil they bring to individuals struggling with the issues.
Given that discussions surrounding infertility causes and treatment is still a major taboo across multiple countries worldwide, it isn’t surprising that there is a significant rise in the need for open discussions and eradicating the prevalent stigma surrounding these subjects.
World IVF Day is celebrated on July 25 each year. Several events are held across India and worldwide to raise awareness surrounding infertility and the safety and prevalence surrounding the varying ART treatment options.
How to celebrate World IVF Day 2022?
World IVF Day 2022 is another year that we focus on highlighting the importance of open discussions about fertility struggles and why there is no shame in getting relevant treatment.
Some of the best ways to celebrate this day are by:
- Being vocal about infertility struggles and the need for treatment to correct the issues
- Attend an online or offline event arranged to celebrate World IVF Day
- Walk a marathon to celebrate the day
- Attend online or offline seminars to gain further knowledge about the concepts
- Raise your voice on various social media platforms to eradicate the stigma surrounding infertility and the conversations surrounding it
More about Assisted Reproductive Technology
Ever since the first IVF baby, medicine has evolved and grown multiple folds, offering more advanced and refined treatment options to individuals in need of it.
The prevalence of ART in the current world is a beacon of hope for individuals and couples struggling with infertility. ART includes varying types of fertility treatments, including:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- Fertility preservation techniques
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
- Cryopreservation of Gametes, etc.
The techniques are becoming more refined with each passing day as medicine gets more advanced. However, despite the growth and accessibility of varying fertility treatments in India, people are still skeptical about discussing the concerns or getting the treatments they need to correct the complications and conceive their biological child.
Let us walk you through each of the known ARTs known in the present world:
IUI
IUI or Intrauterine insemination is a type of infertility treatment where the washed and concentrated sperm is placed directly into the uterus of the intended mother during the time that they are ovulating. It takes around 6-12 days after a successful IUI for the female patient to get pregnant. The procedure is much less invasive and affordable than other fertility treatment options.
IVF
When talking about ARTs, IVF is the crown on top. In-vitro fertilization is a fertility treatment that involves the in-vitro or lab-based fertilization of the egg and sperm in a petri dish. A successful fertilization results in a viable embryo, which is then transferred into the womb of the intended mother, where it leads to conception after successful implantation.
IVF is an invasive procedure and is quite expensive compared to the other forms of ARTs that are practiced worldwide. In India, over 40,000 cycles of fertility treatments are done each year – the numbers continually rising every year.
Cryopreservation of Gametes
In the modern-day world, men and women prefer waiting until they are ready to conceive a biological child. However, since women’s fertility is often age-bound, most women prefer to preserve their fertility early on in their lives through cryopreservation procedures. This involves freezing the eggs and even the sperm cells in the case of men.
Not just individuals who wish to conceive later, most cancer patients undergo fertility preservation with cryopreservation techniques before they kickstart their rigorous cancer treatment regimens with chemotherapy and radiation.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
Another crucial ART technique that is worth mentioning is PGT. This is a crucial part of the IVF technique and involves the genetic testing of the fertilized embryo before it is transferred into the female patient’s uterus.
PGT allows the embryologist to pick the healthiest embryo in each IVF cycle to ensure that the baby born through the procedure is safe and healthy.
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Why is IVF the Most Preferred Form of ART?
The prevalence of different types of assistive reproductive techniques is becoming more and more mainstream globally.
Although most couples start their fertility treatment journey with a “less invasive” procedure like IUI, the popularity of IVF is at its peak.
The primary reason behind that is the higher success rate it brings along compared to the other fertility treatments. The success rate of live birth with IVF is around 40-50%, which is comparatively much higher than the other fertility treatment options.
Conclusion
World IVF Day is celebrated each year, and as a community, we need to come together and encourage open discussions about infertility struggles and the advancements in treatment. It is time we break down the prevalent stigma and raise more awareness about the physical and emotional turmoil most individuals and couples go through due to infertility struggles.
FAQs
Why is World IVF Day celebrated?
World IVF Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the world’s first test tube baby, who waas born on July 25, 1978.
Is there an Infertility Awareness Month?
June is celebrated as Infertility Awareness Month. You can read more about it here.
Which is the most common type of infertility treatment?
Amidst all the available infertility treatment options, IVF and IUI, along with cryopreservation of gametes, are some of the most commonly availed fertility treatments globally.
