Cons and pros of IVF: description of the process, advantages and disadvantages, medical advice

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The problem of infertility in couples is becoming more acute every year. And the number of such families, unfortunately, is increasing. Today, 30% of all couples cannot conceive a child. Therefore, in vitro fertilization (IVF) for such spouses is the solution to this problem. This is a complex and expensive procedure, but despite this, people come to the decision to perform such an operation and find the money to pay. When there is a question about such a difficult decision, you need to learn about all the pros and cons of IVF.

What is artificial insemination?

In the modern world, not all women can boast of absolute he alth. This is due to environmental pollution, frequent stress, genetic diseases and other factors that affect he alth.

But fortunately, discoveries in the field of medicine have made it possible to solve the problem of infertility through artificial insemination. So, there was a reproductive technology - IVF.

IVF fertilization - what is it?The essence of this process lies in the fact that conception itself does not occur in the female body, but in a test tube. The fertilized egg is then implanted in a woman or a surrogate mother.

Indications for fertilization with a donor egg

• Absence of fallopian tube.
• Inflammation and other gynecological diseases.
• Irregular menstruation, no ovulation.

Thanks to artificial insemination, many children have been born. This significantly reduced the demographic problem in the country, as the birth rate increased.

Before introducing the embryo into the uterus of a woman, it is carefully examined for the absence of pathologies and any genetic abnormalities. Therefore, you can be sure that children conceived through the IVF procedure will be absolutely he althy.

IVF conception process

The IVF procedure is used for the purpose of not only conception itself, but also for a successful outcome in childbirth. A woman first needs to take a course of hormonal drugs prescribed by a doctor.

Attention: it is necessary to choose the clinic where the procedure will be carried out carefully. After all, a woman risks not only he alth, but also life. When a doctor takes an egg, bleeding can open, and an unqualified specialist can also infect. There are cases when the embryo is implanted incorrectly, an ectopic pregnancy occurs.

Step by step processinsemination IVF:

1. Female ovum retrieval.
2. The egg is artificially fertilized.
3. The inseminated egg is placed in the incubator.
4. An embryo is forming in it.
5. The embryo is introduced into the woman's body.
6. The development of the baby in the womb.

But things don't always work out right away. Couples have to turn again and again to repeat the procedure until there is a positive result. Since this is the only way to get pregnant, a woman on the way to fulfilling her dream, especially if it drags on for a long time, may face psychological trauma, she may experience depression or neurosis. But, after carefully weighing all the pros and cons of IVF, couples still choose this method.

In order for a woman to produce several eggs, she needs to start taking special pills. She must undergo an ultrasound examination, which will monitor the increase in follicles. And also the doctor observes and evaluates the hormonal background of the woman and its changes. The specialist analyzes how many fertilization attempts were made, the age of the patient and other indicators. So he concludes which of the methods of stimulation is suitable for a woman.

The egg is grown in a special environment that is as close as possible to the natural one. As soon as the egg is mature, it is taken from the uterus by a puncture in the wall of the abdominal cavity (laparoscopy) or using a new method - through the vagina.

Then, after 2-3 hours, the egg is combined with the sperm and thefertilization. The embryo is then attached to the wall of the uterus.

If the procedure was successful, then in a couple of weeks the woman can take a pregnancy test, which will show a positive result. When the patient visits the ultrasound room, the specialist will tell her how many embryos have taken root and what their development period is.

Pros and cons of IVF stimulation

The greatest advantage of the artificial insemination procedure is, of course, the birth of a child. This is an advantage of IVF, but there are also disadvantages. They are mainly related to the he alth of the mother. So, for example, at the very beginning, a woman should take hormonal drugs that affect the increase in the number of eggs. This can result in vomiting, dizziness, malaise, weakness, abdominal pain, and even weight gain.

The IVF procedure negatively affects a woman's body in the following:

• Impaired functioning of the thyroid gland - it can not cope with the hormones that have increased in the body.
• Negatively affects the permeability of blood vessels.
• Violation of the heart and vascular system.

Also, the high cost can be attributed to the disadvantages of the IVF procedure. Not every childless couple can afford this method.

Embryo freezing during IVF: pros and cons

Embryo freezing (cryopreservation) helps to preserve most of the biological material. Key benefits:

• A woman does not need to undergo hormon altherapy.
• Suitable for those who cannot tolerate overstimulation.
• Frozen embryos keep long enough.
• Significantly cheaper to freeze once than to go through all the stages every time.
• Recommended for people with cancer to collect material before chemotherapy exposure.
• Embryos can be offered to other couples.

These were the pluses of frozen embryos after IVF, and the minus is that during freezing and thawing, not all embryos are preserved and survive.

To do or not to do, that is the question

There is a lot of controversy about the benefits and harms of artificial insemination. Some argue that children conceived using the IVF method often suffer from cancer. And others say that such children will also have problems with conception later. IVF fertilization pros and cons have not yet been fully explored, but there are features worth paying attention to:

• First of all, this is an artificial stimulation of the strengthening of the ovaries.
• Women are deliberately induced to temporarily go through menopause.
• A woman experiences mood swings from taking hormonal drugs.
• The embryo is examined at the genetic level.
• Chromosomal abnormalities should definitely not be.
• It is possible to get the desired gender of the baby or babies.

When the level of hormones is disturbed in the body of a future mother, she may experience various ailments, headaches,vomiting and nausea. Often, IVF fertilization is a multiple pregnancy, that is, several embryos take root in the uterus at once. But bearing a woman is not always feasible because of the weakening of the body by hormone therapy.

It happens that the doctor decides for medical reasons to remove some of the embryos. And such a procedure does not always end favorably, a miscarriage may occur.

Indications

Usually, couples who do not conceive naturally due to any disease apply for IVF fertilization. So, for example, pregnancy can occur if the fallopian tubes are damaged, the partner has low sperm activity, or there is an abnormal structure of the genital organs. And they can also become parents of couples who have genetic abnormalities, diabetes mellitus or endometriosis. Even the environment in the uterus that is not suitable for conception will not affect the successful outcome.

Contraindications for IVF

And yet, not all women can do artificial insemination. The pros and cons of IVF in these cases do not matter. There are the following contraindications to the procedure:

• An expectant mother has a mental disorder.
• There are damages on the walls of the uterus, due to which it is impossible to fix the embryo.
• A malignant tumor was diagnosed in the organs of the reproductive system.
• Inflammatory processprogressing.

These contraindications apply to women. Absolutely any man can become a father. The main thing is that there are active spermatozoa in the seminal fluid.

Why should I do IVF?

Today, if attempts to cure infertility are unsuccessful, then IVF is the most effective method. Even if the pregnancy did not occur from the first time, then from the third or fourth it should definitely work out. Couples need to be patient and wait.

Children after IVF are born he althy and do not differ at all from those who are conceived naturally. It even happens, on the contrary, that such children are smarter and stronger.

Pros, cons of IVF and feedback from real people suggests that some have to do 5 to 8 attempts, and yet the result is positive. Others manage to get pregnant right away, and this does not affect the course of pregnancy or childbirth in any way. Children, judging by the reviews of parents, are born he althy and strong.

After all the pros and cons of IVF have been considered in detail, it is worth doing such procedures for all infertile couples unambiguously. As you can see, the disadvantages are only in the general condition of the woman and weight gain. But these problems are temporary and completely solvable, and the birth of a small copy of two loving people is something worth a little patience.