Infertility may be considered by some couple as a huge burden, especially expectant couples. While it is just natural that some couples would want to have offspring of their own, but sometimes, out of unfortunate circumstances that involves certain physical conditions, the infertility occurs, thus, making it hard for both parties in a relationship to reproduce. Defined as the inability to conceive baby after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse, infertility continues to become a baffling polemic even until today, especially to those in their supposedly reproductive age. But due to the development of technologies and advanced researches as time progresses, several fertility treatments are developed and offered as solutions to counter the infertility issues.
Here is where the role of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) kicking in. So basically, Assisted Reproductive Technology is a group of fertility treatments that involve both of the egg and the sperm. And In Vitro Fertilization is just one of them. Being one of the most common methods chosen to overcome infertility, IVF includes the process of ‘uniting’ or fertilizing the egg with the sperm outside of the body, using the means available provided by the clinical laboratory. If the fertilization is success, the doctor will implant it back inside the woman’s uterus in hopes and expectations for a successful and healthy pregnancy.
That’s basically the gist of it, now we will move on to the specific section explaining about the ivf process. The overall cycle of this assisted reproductive method usually takes four to six week to complete, or more, depending on the condition of the woman and other factor surrounding the man’s condition and other aspects necessary for a successful pregnancy. The overall ivf process involves five steps in its series of treatments:
- Ovarian stimulation. The first step involves the use of external stimulants. It comes in forms of triggering hormones to stimulate the production of several eggs from woman’s ovaries per menstrual period, instead of just one egg like it usually does. This step may be taken over a time span of 8 up to 14 days. Successful in Vitro Fertilization usually needs the fertilization of multiple eggs, some of them may not develop normally or fertilize after the attempts of fertilization. The physician in charge of this process will use blood testing or ultrasounds to determine whether the eggs are ready for retrieval and when it will happen.
- Retrieval of the eggs. Once the multiple of eggs deemed ready for retrieval from the owner’s body, the doctor will perform a Trans-vaginal Ultrasound Aspiration. It is a surgical procedure needed a modicum amount of anesthesia, for example, a mild sedative. The ultrasound will be used again in this second step to locate the mature follicles in the ovary. After it was done, the doctor will insert a needle into the said follicles and do a suction to remove all the necessary eggs for the procedure. But here’s the catch, there are some cases where the ultrasound can’t locate or access the ovaries, if that ever happens, then the doctor might have to perform a laparoscopic surgery, a technique which include small incision on the abdomen and tiny fiber optic lens to locate and access the ovaries. The latter technique will definitely include a stronger anesthesia.
- Insemination. After the aforementioned step, the doctors will examine the eggs and choose which of them bear the most potential and chance for a successful pregnancy. They will be placed in the incubator while the doctors choose the best sperm from the father’s semen to be added to the mix later
- The Fertilization process and embryo culture. Within the span of hours, the chosen sperm will usually penetrate an egg and successfully fertilize it in the end. A day later, the doctor will confirm whether fertilization occurs by examining the signs or appearance of two Pronuclei. These things called Pronuclei are the basis for the future embryo formation. They will unite to create the nucleus of the zygote and after that will divide into an embryo. In most cases, they will need to be observed for two up to three days to determine whether they develop normally or not. Many embryos usually won’t be observed for too long, though. They are ready to be placed in the uterus as early as one day-span or as late as six days after the process of fertilization.
- The Transfer. This is referring to the resulting embryos transfer. Approximately for two until three days after the fertilization occurs, the doctors will take the necessary measures to transfer it. The doctors will suspend them in a drop of fluid substance and pick it with a transfer catheter, which is a thin, long, and flexible tube that has a syringe attached in one of its end. The said catheter will be inserted into the vagina, past the cervix area, until uterus. It goes without saying that the patient will be both required and encouraged to stay in a resting position for an hour or two to prevent the stress from taking its toll on the body. If any of the embryos attach itself to the uterine wall, then the test will come out as positive.
After the said long-winded process reaches its completion and is successful, then the only thing left needs to be done is to wait patiently as the embryo grows into a baby, but while the fertility treatment may be successful, there are still a lot of risks looming in the threshold of the overall time span of pregnancy that need to be taken care of. One of the challenging phases and risks available will be the stress resulted from the treatments. If you are experiencing stress during treatments then some of the things you can do are to share the stories your treatments with your most lovable ones or trustworthy confidant / confidante.
And you also have to remind yourself a lot that no matter how depressing or how doom and gloom the treatments seem to you, that this is only a cycle, a phase, it will eventually finish and pass as long as you are patient and don’t lose hope. Look out for the better days and expect for the best. You also have to keep in mind to rest a lot as your body will need it. And last but not least, do not stress or over-think over the small things. Don’t stress out over being stressed as it is just natural and it can be coped up with. Always remember that you are not alone and you've got people to support your back, after that, expect the best of things to happen. Good luck!