IVF or In Vitro Fertilisation, has been touted as a medical miracle that provides despondent couples with hope. There could be a lot of factors, including infertility, why a couple might clash to conceive a child naturally and think the IVF route.
Late parenthood, a usual decline in egg quality in women, and a rise in lifestyle disorders are a few reasons why couples, more than ever, are turning to assisted methods of conception.
No doubt, IVF has gained popularity and is promising higher success rates. However, you would also want to arm yourself with as much information as possible before making up your mind about it.
Read about infertility specialists and seven things you need to know about IVF treatment.
Things You Need To Know About IVF Treatment
Here are seven things that you need to know about IVF treatment before opting for IVF treatment.
1. The Success Rate
An IVF treatment is a complicated process whose success depends on various factors. The couple’s age and health and the procedure’s timing play an important role, among others. Which means that there is a chance of the procedure failing.
The worldwide average success rate of an IVF cycle is around 35% in the first cycle and around 55-57% by the eighth cycle. Being aware of this rate prepares you for the results better.
2. Your Age and Health Matters
One of the huge factors deciding the outcomes of the procedure is the age and health of the couple, especially the woman. A woman’s chances of getting pregnant through IVF decrease significantly after age 35.
A woman trying for success via IVF should also have healthy diet habits, moderate daily exercise, and a positive outlook. If there are other medical illnesses, the chances of getting pregnant will be lower greatly.
3. The Physical and Mental Side Effects
One of the unknown sides of IVF is that it is a long process and can be overwhelming for your body and mind. It includes several strong medications that control the hormone and the reproductive cycle to get the highest success rate.
The medications can lead to many physical side impacts such as bloating, breast tenderness, abdominal pain, etc. There’re also side effects that impact one mentally. These include being emotional and moody.
The best IVF treatment is the one that set up you for these changes and supports you through the process so you can manage them better.
4. The Expense
The cost of the IVF procedure depends on the different tests and scans one has to undergo. It may not be equal for all as each has a different journey. The IVF procedure is usually cost-intensive. Several expensive medicines, tests, scans, and equipment are involved.
5. The duration
The time taken to conduct a successful IVF procedure can be apart from one person to another. It is usually a long procedure and can take 4-5 weeks for one cycle. It involves removing the egg from the ovaries, fertilizing it, stimulating the body for egg collection, etc.
The effectiveness of the medication may also vary from one person to the next, which can lengthen the procedure. Before you set out for the IVF procedure, be prepared for more adequate time.
6. The Number of Cycles
An IVF cycle generally lasts for 4-5 weeks. But, not every cycle may be successful. The chances of the IVF procedure succeeding are only 35% in the first cycle. One must understand and be prepared for various mental cycles, as they can get mentally and physically taxing.
7. Choosing the Right Clinic
The fertility clinic you pick greatly impacts the success rate. You need to understand this before setting out for an IVF procedure.
Various fertility hospitals and clinics claim sky-high success rates, which can oft be misleading. Your best bet to keep away from these traps is to research and be as informed as possible.
Consulting with reputed infertility specialists can help you form realistic expectations and understand whether IVF is indeed for you. Also, It helps you know what methodology they use and whether or not they provide specialized consultations for mental and physical health, insurance coverage, etc.
Compassion and care are the twin pillars of fertility solutions. It’s in your best interests to select a clinic that displays these qualities.
Read Also: Female Infertility: Symptoms, Treatment, and Testing