IVF - How The In Vitro Fertilization Procedure Works To Increases The Chances of Pregnancy

In Vitro Fertilization is a procedure that can improve the chance of pregnancy in a woman that cannot get pregnant naturally. She may have problems with her fallopian tubes, suffer from Endometriosis, be past natural childbearing age or have a partner with a low sperm count. Over six million people are affected in the USA by IVF.

How In Vitro Fertilization Works

Hormone injections are given to the woman for approximately ten days to increase her egg production at her monthly cycle. Eggs are then taken from the ovaries and put into a petri dish to be fertilized by a man’s sperm. When sperm fertilizes an egg, it divides and becomes an embryo. After three to five days the embryos are placed into the woman’s vagina through a catheter then through the cervix and into the womb. Daily shots of progesterone must be taken for ten weeks after the embryos are transferred, to thicken the womb, making it easier for the embryo to implant. If the embryo implants itself into the womb and grows she is pregnant.

Often times using IVF with multiple pre-embryos, results in twins or triplets.The usual rate of twins is one in every eighty births and 2-3% of pregnancies produce triplets. Usually a maximum of four embryos are transferred to the uterus. Any remaining embryos can be frozen for later use, donated, or disposed of all depending on what the patient decides to do.

IVF Can Become an Emotional Roller Coaster

In Vitro Fertilization does not always work for everyone and sometimes it will take several procedures or even many years of trying before it works and the woman becomes pregnant. Although there are many IVF success stories there are also woman who have struggled through many unsuccessful treatments. Heidi Krupp shared the details of her experience with infertility and IVF treatments on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The 43-year-old woman documented her feelings as she underwent eight unsuccessful IVF procedures. Women under the age of 35 have a better chance of becoming pregnant with IVF, so if a woman who wants children knows of any possible fertility problems she should seek treatment as early as possible.

A major factor when considering In Vitro Fertilization treatments is the high price. The IVF procedure is very costly and only some Insurance companies will only cover a portion of the cost. Although the price of In Vitro Fertilization varies, IVF consultations, medications, treatments, etc., usually cost between $12,000 and $16,000 in the United States. Financial guru Suzie Orman offers some financial advice regarding In Vitro Fertilization treatments on the Oprah.com website.