Now more than ever, numerous fertility options are available to couples unable to conceive naturally. When you meet with a fertility specialist at Western Fertility Institute, depending on your circumstances, one of the options we may suggest is in vitro fertilization, or IVF. This advanced fertility treatment assists with the fertilization and implantation of a woman’s eggs using advanced medical technology.
While other fertilization techniques are growing in popularity, IVF has been successfully utilized for years to give many parents the joy of having a child of their own. In this post, we will discuss the unique benefits of IVF to help you decide whether it may be the right treatment for you.
IVF Treatment Offers Hope When Other Infertility Treatments Fail
For some patients, in vitro fertilization serves as a last resort after trying fertility medications, intrauterine insemination and other fertility options unsuccessfully. IVF is an excellent option for those with:
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Low sperm count
- Issues with sperm motility
- Reduced ovarian reserves
- Advanced maternal age
- And more
IVF offers hope for patients facing a variety of infertility issues, and your doctor may recommend it from the get-go, so you don’t waste money on treatments less likely to work.
IVF Provides an Alternative When Traditional Conception Is Not an Option
In vitro fertilization can be used by anyone, and isn’t restricted to just the mother of the baby. This makes IVF an excellent option for those using surrogates or gestational carriers to become parents, including same-sex couples, single women or women unable to carry a baby full-term. IVF also allows prospective parents to participate in the pregnancy and delivery experience with their surrogate.
Donated Eggs and Sperm Can Be Used With IVF
Sometimes the use of donated eggs or sperm offers the best chance for a healthy embryo. IVF starts with your doctor fertilizing the egg manually in the clinic, which means that donor egg or sperm can be used during this process to create a viable embryo before implantation into the uterus.
IVF Allows Parents to Control the Timing of Their Pregnancy
Whether you wish to focus on your career or you feel your current life situation is unsuitable for the birth of a child, IVF gives you the option of waiting to get pregnant. Your eggs or embryos can be frozen and preserved for future use. Then, you and your partner can choose the optimal time to become pregnant that works best for your family.
Embryo Can Undergo Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening
If you or your partner are concerned about passing on a genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormalities, IVF increases your chances of having a healthy baby through genetic screening. Pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) tests the health of the embryo’s DNA to determine if they are free of known genetic markers which could indicate life-threatening medical conditions like Tay Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome.
PGS also decreases your chance of miscarriage, since the most common cause is a genetic abnormality which causes your body to terminate the pregnancy naturally. However, knowing the viability of an embryo ahead of time gives you a better chance of a carrying your baby full-term.
IVF Increases Your Chance of a Succesful Conception
IVF has the highest success rate with the lowest instances of multiple births of any assisted reproductive treatment option. Even if IVF does not work the first time, you can undergo multiple cycles to increase your chances of fertilization under more optimal conditions.
Discover if IVF Is the Right Infertility Treatment For You
When you come to Western Fertility Institute, we understand the emotional toll infertility can have on a couple. That’s why we don’t stop working until you have a child of your own. We will discuss your unique situation and help you decide if in vitro fertilization is the best choice for you. Contact us today to find out more about IVF and our other infertility treatment options.