Choosing The Right Fertility Treatment
Fertility treatment is the next step for persons struggling with infertility. Infertility affects 12% of couples in America with equal rates between men and women. A range of fertility treatments fall under assisted reproductive technology or ART. With ART, 2 healthy treatment options are GIFT and IVF. With a doctor’s help, women or couples can decide which treatment will bring the best results.
The steps to a successful IVF
IVF or in vitro fertilization is a set of steps that combines technology and medicine to help with pregnancy. IVF can be complicated and often requires more than one try or cycle. A fertility clinic extracts eggs and sperm from the couple or donors. In most cases, the woman takes fertility medication to increase egg production. The clinic then combines the eggs with donor sperm to create an embryo. From there, a doctor implants one or more embryos into the uterus via the cervix. At this point, all parties will wait for signs of pregnancy. IVF works best for women with reproductive issues that block fertilization and infertile men.
Higher success with different techniques
IVF has evolved over the years to improve the procedure’s success. For example, IVF still requires the sperm sample to fertilize the egg without assistance. ICSI is a type of IVF where the clinic injects a single, healthy sperm directly into each egg. ICSI works best for severe male factor infertility or multiple failed IVF cycles. Other IVF variants use donor eggs, donor sperm, or surrogates.
The GIFT of pregnancy
GIFT is short for gamete intrafallopian transfer. The goal of GIFT is to implant both eggs and sperm into the woman’s fallopian tubes. At this stage, natural fertilization should take place. The embryo can travel unassisted to the uterus for implantation. To start the process, the fertility clinic extracts multiple eggs from the ovaries. The eggs are then washed along with the sperm sample. A doctor then embeds the prepared gametes in the fallopian tube with a laparoscopic procedure. With the advent of IVF, GIFT is rarely used today but is still available in many clinics.
The pros and cons of GIFT
Both GIFT and IVF are viable ART options that can help with pregnancy. However, several factors determine which is the right procedure. GIFT works well for couples with healthy fallopian tubes and sperm but unexplained infertility. With this in mind, GIFT usually has a higher success rate than IVF. The challenge is that clinics that provide GIFT are hard to find. The procedure costs more than IVF per cycle. Above all, GIFT is a viable choice for patients with particular religious or ethical beliefs.
Choosing IVF
IVF is beneficial for patients with apparent fertility issues. The reasons could include blocked fallopian tubes, medical conditions, or male factor infertility. What makes IVF so compelling is the accessibility, accuracy, and types of treatment available. Older persons, single persons, and same-sex couples also benefit from IVF. IVF may be cheaper per cycle than GIFT. However, costs can rack up as IVF can sometimes take multiple attempts, creating a financial and emotional burden.
Make the right choice today
Fertility treatment can be a long, stressful journey to overcome infertility. Although there are several options, GIFT and IVF are two effective choices. There are several factors to consider, including cost, personal preferences, and health. Review the pros and cons and speak with a fertility clinic for more advice.
