Pros and Cons of IVF

Are you a couple who are opting for IVF to conceive your baby? For many couples, the whole process can be daunting both physically and financially. But thanks to the revolution in the medical sector, nowadays IVF has become the go-to option for couples who have tried many other options to conceive a pregnancy like timed intercourse or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).

But before choosing IVF, you should have a clear idea about the pros and cons of this whole process.

So, what is IVF?

In Vitro Fertilization or IVF is a medical process of assisted reproduction in which medications are used to help stimulate the development and release of a woman’s eggs. The eggs and sperm are collected and combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. Then the embryo or embryos is/are transferred to the woman’s uterus to implant and develop naturally. In this process, normally 2 or four embryos are placed in the woman’s uterus at one time and each attempt is called a cycle.

Advantages of IVF

• Fallopian Tubes Not Necessary

It has been observed that if the woman has a history of having any pelvic infection such as appendicitis or chlamydia, her fallopian tubes may get blocked. In such cases, IVF is the only possible option for couples who are wishing to get pregnant.

• Low Sperm Count

Are you worried about your or your partner’s sperm quality or low sperm count? Relax! IVF can help you to overcome this problem as it injects the sperm directly into the egg by ICSI (Intracytoplasmatic Injection of the sperm into the egg), which fertilizes the egg successfully.

• Lowered Chance of baby Abnormality

It has been observed that if both the partners carry the gene for Cystic Fibrosis, they are at high risk of convincing a baby with an abnormality. In such cases, you can trust IVF as in this process, the embryos can be tested for the condition before they are implanted into the uterus. This process is called Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis.

As someone has famously said, “Every coin has two sides”, IVF also has some disadvantages. They are as follows:

• Multiple pregnancies

Though it may not be a problem or disadvantage to some couples, the objective of IVF is to give you one baby at a time. So, it may come with some complications for the babies as well as for the mother.

• Quite expensive

IVF is a costly process and its success rate is also not 100%. In fact, less than

50 to 60 percent of all the couples opting for the IVF cycle achieve a pregnancy.

• No/Fewer Eggs Collected Than Expected

It is so important to understand that every follicle, seen in an ultrasound scan, may not have an egg. It is mostly expected that nearly 80 – 90% of follicles will yield an egg. In such cases, there are no or fewer eggs collected than the expectation.

So, before you take any final decision please do research well. You should always make an informed decision as a small decision can have a big impact on your life.