IVF or in vitro fertilization meaning, is a medical process that is used to help people with fertility issues. This process is also used for those who have difficulty conceiving a child. Furthermore, this process can also be used to prevent the passing of genetic problems to a child as well,
In this process, mature eggs are taken from the ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. After the eggs are fertilized, the eggs, now called embryos, are put back into the uterus. The baby then develops naturally in the uterus. One full cycle of IVF takes roughly two to three weeks. That said, depending on the specifics of the circumstances, the time can be extended by another week.
Although there are many other types of fertility treatment, in vitro is one of the most effective ones. There are many aspects of IVF, one of which is that it can be an effective means of treating infertility for both males and females. In this process, the eggs and sperm can come from the couple themselves or a donor. The donor of both egg and sperm can be an unknown or an unknown person. Furthermore, in some cases, a gestational carrier might even be used. A gestational carrier is a person who carries the embryo implanted in the uterus.
As for the chances of having a healthy baby, it depends on various factors. This includes your age and the specific cause of infertility. That said, this process is time-consuming and a bit invasive as more than one embryo is placed in the uterus. This can result in a pregnancy with more than one baby.
Therefore, before taking on this process, getting a personalized consultation with experts like Hardik IVF and the fertility center, one of the best IVF centers in Nepal, is extremely important.
The key reason why IVF is done is to treat infertility or genetic problems. At times, IVF is also offered as the primary infertility treatment for people over the age of 40. Additionally, you can also do IVF if you have specific health conditions. Some of the common health conditions in which IVF is conducted are as follows:
In these circumstances, the fallopian tube is blocked or damaged. This hampers the process of fertilization. Furthermore, this process also makes an embryo travel to the uterus.
If the process of ovulation does not occur or doesn't happen regularly, IVF is one of the best treatment procedures for pregnancy. This is because ovulation disorders result in fewer eggs. IVF completely bypasses this problem as it selects the best eggs for fertilization.
This condition is signified when a tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This problem typically affects the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes, and IVF helps in bypassing this problem.
This condition is essentially tumors in the uterus. Although they are tumors, they typically are not cancer and are common in people in their late 30s and 40s. They can cause fertilized eggs to have problems attaching to the lining of the uterus.
If you have had an operation called tubal ligation that involves the cutting of fallopian tubes or blocking to prevent pregnancy, then IVF is one of the best ways to bypass surgery. It is an ideal option if you cannot get the surgery to reverse tubal ligation.
If the male partner has a low number of sperm or if the sperm is of low quality, unusual shape, or size, then IVF is conducted. In this process, the best quality of sperm is selected before being combined with the egg, which bypasses this problem.
IVF is also conducted if the doctors cannot determine the reasons for infertility.
If one or both of the partners is at risk of passing on a genetic disorder, then it is conducted. Before the IVF process, Preimplantation Genetic Testing is conducted to ensure that the eggs and sperm have a relatively low chance of passing on the genetic disease. Then, the best-quality eggs are transplanted into the uterus, minimizing the risk of passing on the genetic disorders.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can affect the overall fertility of the patient. If a patient wishes to preserve their fertility, their best quality eggs and sperm can be preserved for later use.
Before starting anything, you must find a reputable fertility clinic in Nepal like Hardik IVF and Fertility Center. Once you do this, the next step is to talk to the representative in the clinic and ask for detailed information regarding the cost of each step and procedure. Furthermore, before the process begins, you will likely need to pass various tests. Some of these tests may include the following:
This process involves getting blood tests to determine how many eggs are available in the body. The results of these blood tests are often used together with the ultrasound of the ovaries to aid in determining how the ovaries respond to fertility medicines.
In this process, the semen is checked for the quality and amount of sperm. In this process, the reproductive experts also check the shape and movement of the sperm. This is typically the initial part of the fertility evaluation of the in vitro fertilization IVF cycle.
Both you and your partner go through the screening to ensure that there is no infectious disease like HIV.
In this process, the doctors do not place real embryos in the uterus. It is primarily done to figure out the depth of the uterus. Furthermore, it also helps determine the ideal technique when one or more embryos are placed in the uterus.
This process checks the internal lining of the uterus. This process can involve a process called sonohysterography. The doctors send the fluid through the cervix into the uterus using a thin plastic tube. This fluid aids in the ultrasound images of the uterine lining. Additionally, this exam may also include hysteroscopy. In this process, a thin, flexible telescope is inserted through the vagina and cervix to see inside it.
Besides preparing for these tests, you can also prepare in other ways. The general guide on how to prepare for the IVF process in Nepal is as follows:
In vitro fertilization is a multi-stage process, and it involves several steps. Following is an overview of what you can expect from the in vitro fertilization process.
In this process, you meet with the fertility specialist. Here, you discuss all your medical history and undergo the necessary tests. Furthermore, you also determine the best plan for your situation.
In this process, the female partner receives hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. Doctors also conduct regular checkups through blood tests and ultrasound to track follicle development.
Once the eggs reach the required maturity, the doctors conduct a minor surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs from the ovaries. This is typically done through a thin needle guided by ultrasound. Egg retrieval is conducted 34 to 36 hours after the initial shot of fertility medicine and before the ovulation process begins. Some of the key points to note in this process are as follows:
In this process, the doctors collect the semen on the morning of egg retrieval or ahead of time. If the sperm is collected ahead of time, it is frozen.
Typically, the sperm is collected through masturbation. However, if there are issues with this method, other methods, such as testicular aspiration, are used.
Two typical methods can be used to fertilize eggs through sperm. These methods are as follows:
Healthy sperm eggs are mixed in a controlled environment in conventional insemination.
A single healthy sperm is injected into the egg in an Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
That said, the doctors may also use other procedures depending on the circumstances. These processes include the following:
In this process, one or more embryos are transferred from the incubator into the female patient's uterus. This typically happens between two to six days after the eggs are collected. In this process, you may be given a mild sedative to help you relax. Therefore, this process is typically painless.
After this, the doctors insert a long thin, flexible tube called a catheter into the vagina through the cervix. The syringe contains one or more embryos in a small fluid at the end of the catheter. The embryos are then placed into the uterus.
If the process is successful, the embryo attaches itself to the uterus lining six to ten days after the egg retrieval process.
After the embryo transfer process, you can resume your regular activities. However, we do not recommend you to engage in strenuous activities. Furthermore, engaging in sex may also cause mild discomfort. Some of the side effects may include the following.
After twelve days of the egg retrieval plans, the doctors conduct a blood test to test whether you are pregnant or not. If you are pregnant, the doctors will likely refer you to an obstetrician or other pregnancy specialist. However, if you are not pregnant, you will stop taking progesterone and will likely get your period within a week. You should contact an expert immediately if you face any problems during this process.
Furthermore, although the chances of getting pregnant with the in vitro fertilization procedure are high, the result will vary depending on several factors. Some of these factors are as follows:
The younger the age, the higher the chance of pregnancy.
IVF treatment is one of the best solutions for couples facing infertility issues. While it is not the only treatment, it provides several benefits. Some of these benefits include the following:
Although IVF is not always successful, its success rate is relatively high, averaging around 70% to 80%. While the specifics do vary depending on your circumstances, the success rate is rather high.
In the IVF process, the eggs and sperm are fertilized outside the body. Therefore, IVF is ideal for infertility of both men and women.
IVF enables genetic testing of embryos since the experts can conduct preimplantation genetic testing to check the embryos for any form of genetic abnormalities. This allows for the selection of healthy embryos to transfer and decrease the risk of genetic disorders.
IVF can enable successful pregnancy in women over age 35 or 40 who may have decreased ovarian reserve and egg quality. It compensates for age-related fertility decline.
IVF enables fertility preservation techniques like egg/embryo freezing for parents who want to delay childbearing. These frozen eggs or embryos can later be thawed and used for IVF.
IVF allows detailed evaluation of the uterine lining and any potential implantation problems preventing pregnancy. These issues can then be addressed to improve implantation.
Although IVF is generally a safe procedure, IVF does contain a few risks for the body and mind. These risks can be both short-term and long-term risks. Some of these risks include the following.
One of the rather hidden risks of IVF is stress. This process can be draining to the body, finances, and mind. Therefore, it can cause deep and lasting stress until the child is born. During circumstances like this, seeking consolation from friends and families is advised.
A process is completed to collect the eggs after taking medications to enhance the growth of sacs in the ovaries. These sacs contain the eggs, which is called egg retrieval. In this process, the doctors use ultrasound images to insert a needle through the vagina and into the sacks to harvest the eggs. Although typically safe, it can cause bleeding, infection or damage to the bowel, bladder or a blood vessel. Furthermore, there are also risks to the medications.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a condition where the ovaries become swollen and painful. It can be caused by receiving shots of fertility medicines such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).
These symptoms can last up to a week. Some of the symptoms include the ones such as following:
If the pregnancy is successful, the symptoms can last a few weeks. Although rare, some people may also face a form of HCG, which causes rapid weight loss as well.
Although the in vitro fertilization success rate is relatively decent, there is still a risk of miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage is around 15% for pregnant people in their 20's and 50% for those in their 40's. The rate of miscarriage rises with the increase of the patient's age.
This condition is where a fertilized egg attaches to tissue outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube. You should note that the embryos cannot survive outside the uterus. Although the risk is small, there is a small percentage of people with IVF who might have an ectopic pregnancy.
Another common risk associated with IVF is multiple pregnancies. There is a decent risk of having more than one baby. This leads to you facing issues associated with multiple pregnancies, including ones such as high blood pressure, diabetes, early labor and delivery, low birth weight, and birth defects.
The price of in vitro fertilization in Nepal varies. That said, you can get in vitro fertilization at the price range between Npr 2,50,000 to Npr 4,00,000 at Hardik IVF center.
In vitro fertilization definition is a form of fertility treatment where the eggs and sperm are combined to form an embryo in an artificial facility within an incubator.
This process is typically recommended for couples who are facing fertility issues such as fallopian tube blockages, male infertility, endometriosis, unexplained infertility, etc.
Yes, VF babies are typically normal and healthy. That said, there is a slightly increased chance of heart disease. Besides this, the baby's health is determined by influences like the age and health of the parents.
The specific time to start the IVF process depends on the individual circumstances. Therefore, you should consult fertility specialists before deciding, as they can help you determine the right time to start the process.
Yes, IVF is safe for the mother. However, like any other medical process, IVF does carry some risks and potential side effects like Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), multiple pregnancies, and ectopic pregnancies.
The five stages of IVF are as follows:
The duration of the IVF process varies depending on specific circumstances. However, they typically last for three to four weeks.