Fertility IVF is done to help couples conceive a child in an unconventional way. Usually, this is the last resort for couples who have had failed attempts repeated times. Due to the advancement in medical and technological facilities, it is now possible to bear a child through the help of science. It is generally safe for the parents although some complications for the woman may arise including intra-abdominal infection, bleeding and multiple pregnancies. The offspring can also have low birth weight and birth defects in some cases.
Although fertility IVF is still a controversial issue among Catholics, it is beginning to find its way to be accepted. The Catholic Church still prefers that couples consider adoption rather than undertake fertility IVF.
Why Have Fertility IVF
Fertility is affected by many factors among men and women. A complete family background, physical examination and laboratory tests are required to know the best option for fertility IVF procedures.
For females, the main concern is age since successful pregnancy is harder to achieve as the woman ages. Also, ovarian problems can prevent the ova from maturing, while uterine issues, like endometriosis and cysts, can cause failure in implantation. Abnormal uterine conditions would lead to embryo arrest as no nutrient is passed on to the developing embryo.
For men, the main concern is the quality and number of sperms per ejaculation. Semen analysis is a must for all men during the IVF process. These are the average sperm count and quality ideal for a man to conceive:
- 40 million sperm/ 2 mL per ejaculation
- 75% should be alive
- 30% should have normal shape and swimming forward rapidly, or 50% if sluggish
There are also couples that need to undergo genetic testing, especially those who have high risk of inherited diseases. Furthermore, there are some chromosomal disorders which do not allow embryonic development. In these cases an egg or sperm donor is needed.
Couples having problems with any of those conditions mentioned above can choose to have fertility IVF. The egg and the sperm fertilization are achieved through combining both in a fluid medium outside the woman's womb. It would take 3 to 7 days before the formed embryo is transferred to the mother's uterus. During this blastocyst stage, embryologists can measure the consistency in growth making it more possible to establish pregnancy.
Results of Fertility IVF
The IVF process does not end there. After the embryo is transferred transvaginally, certain factors can affect embryo development. The most common reason for unsuccessful treatments is implantation failure, which means that the embryo was not able to properly attach itself to the uterine wall. There is no blood and nutrient circulation, thus causing embryo arrest.
Recent research has also shown relation of the embryo arrest to the immune activity of the woman. It is said that the embryo is treated as an antigen, therefore, antibodies attack and reject it. Medical experts are formulating an injection that can weaken the immune system to prevent it from damaging the embryo.
Fertility IVF has a success rate of over 35% for women between 21 to 35 years of age. This age range is considered as the reproductive stage. Meanwhile, donor IVF can reach up to 50% success rate.