Before proceeding with fertility treatments, a brief idea on this filed would help couples set up their expectation. Therefore, here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about IVF or In Vitro Fertilisation.
#1. IVF literally means “fertilization in a glass”
In Latin, the term ‘in vitro’ means “in a glass.” This word was used to name this procedure as all experiments outside the body are conducted in Petri dishes and other glass containers.
#2. There are side effects; however, they are rare
Women opting for IVF can experience side effects, like headaches, mood swings, tiredness, and bloating. In extremely rare cases, some may experience painful fluid build-up in their abdomen.
#3. You may still need it after a natural pregnancy and birth
Fertility issues are not limited to people who haven’t been pregnant before. Even women, who gave birth naturally in the past may not be able to conceive later and thus may require IVF for their next pregnancy.
#4. IVF can affect parents emotionally
The treatment is a long one and quite stressful. Therefore, it can affect the couples, who undergo the procedure. Common psychological problems are anxiety and depression.
#5. IVF disturbs the hormonal balance
Women, undergoing IVF, are given regular hormonal shots which will result in them having the urge to have sex or experiencing menopausal hot flashes.
#6. The process is a long one
IVF takes about 2 months or more to impregnate a woman. The process usually starts on the first day of her period, followed by blood tests on the 2nd and 3rd days. Hormonal shots, egg retrieval, testing of embryos, and injection follow next.
#7. There are chances it may not work
Due to various factors, like the age of the patient, there is a chance that IVF will not work, or it may take a long time.
#8. There are things one can do to increase the success rates
You can increase the chances of getting pregnant using IVF by maintaining a healthy diet and weight, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol intake.
#9. Women should think about fertility and IVF early
As a woman ages, her eggs’ quality decreases, which can make it harder to conceive, or affect future pregnancies.
#10. The oldest mothers in the world gave birth at 65-72 using IVF
In 2005, a Romanian woman named Adriana Iliescu gave birth to a daughter when she was a few months shy of 66. A year later, Spanish woman Carmen del Lara gave birth to twin boys at the age of 66. The oldest woman, so far, Daljinder Kaur from India, gave birth to a boy in 2016. All of them used IVF to get pregnant.
IVF is a great way to ensure your lineage progresses despite fertility issues. It has helped thousands of couples to have offspring despite their reproductive problems. Therefore, IVF is an option to consider when all hope might seem lost.