Suffering From Infertility: You Are Not Alone
Infertility affects millions of people worldwide, causing significant emotional distress and challenges in building families. About 9% of men and 11% of women have experienced infertility issues in the US. Infertility occurs when a couple is unable to conceive naturally after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Several factors can contribute to infertility, including age, lifestyle choices, medical conditions, and anatomical abnormalities. Fertility is known to decline with age in both men and women. After age 35, most women encounter difficulties with fertility as the egg count declines and chromosomes change, making pregnancy more difficult. Studies show that 25% of couples ranging from 20-30 years old will get pregnant in any single menstrual cycle, and that number falls to 10% after age 40. For men, research demonstrates that a direct age-related decrease occurs in overall semen volume, the total number of sperm, sperm morphology or shape, and sperm motility.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that entails fertilizing an egg with sperm in a laboratory and then transferring the embryo to the uterus. Fertilization essentially takes place outside of the body, bypassing natural conception processes. This technology has revolutionized fertility treatment, offering hope to many couples struggling to conceive. IVF additionally offers genetic testing, enabling the selection of healthy embryos for transfer, reducing the risk of passing on genetic disorders to offspring like cystic fibrosis, fragile-X syndrome or sickle cell anemia.
How IVF works
IVF involves several steps. First, hormonal stimulation is utilized to produce multiple eggs. Medications include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to stimulate egg production and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to start ovulation. A minimally invasive procedure occurs to harvest the eggs while a semen sample is obtained. Fertilization ensues by combining the eggs and semen sample. The resulting embryos are then assessed and transferred back to the uterus for implantation.
Benefits of IVF
IVF offers several advantages for individuals struggling with infertility. IVF can help overcome various infertility issues, including blocked fallopian tubes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), low sperm count, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility. IVF can be very successful but depends on several factors, like age and the cause of infertility. Studies reveal that over 50% of IVF procedures in women 35 years old and younger result in a live birth. For women over 40, over 7% of egg transfers result in a live birth.
The power of IVF: overcoming infertility
IVF is a practical option for individuals and couples facing infertility. By understanding the process and benefits of IVF, couples can make informed decisions about the fertility journey. While IVF is not a guaranteed solution, IVF provides an option to conceive when infertility poses a threat to conception. Talk to an IVF healthcare provider to determine the best course to neutralize the obstacles to fertility.
