Written and verified by Savannah Gray, RN, MPH
If you have heard of IVF, you probably know it is related to infertility and usually is a method of conception used by those conceiving in their mid-30s to 40s. As a child conceived through IVF and a self-declared member of the “test tube baby” club, I didn’t understand the ins-and-outs of IVF until I was studying to be a nurse. But did you know about 2% of women ages 15-44 report having used IVF as a form of fertility services (5)? That equals about 4 million babies born each year! For those who don’t know what on earth I’m talking about… read on!
What is IVF? How does it work?
In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF, is a method of fertilizing an egg with sperm in precise lab environments before implanting them into a uterus with the aim of leading to a pregnancy. As a form of reproductive technology, IVF consists of several procedures that involve collecting the reproductive cells (eggs and sperm), fertilizing the egg, and implanting them into a uterus (Mayo Clinic). The fertilized egg, called an embryo, can be created from a couple’s egg and sperm cells, donated eggs or sperm, or donated whole embryos.
What are the steps involved?
IVF consists of several procedures that usually occur over several weeks (MedlinePlus). It is no simple thing - it involves a considerable amount of hormone monitoring, medications, minor procedures, and a lot of patience.
- Stimulation – A woman’s ovaries are stimulated with medications to increase the number of eggs released during ovulation (which is usually just one!). The medications impact the growth of eggs, the number released, their maturation, and when they are released. Hormones are monitored closely to ensure ideal timing for egg retrieval and embryo implantation later.
- Egg and Sperm Retrieval – Eggs are typically retrieved from the ovary with a suction device during a small surgery. This surgery typically occurs in the doctor’s office and women typically receive light pain management.
- Insemination and Fertilization – Sperm are either mixed in with eggs in a petri dish during insemination or injected directly into the egg by a physician.
- Embryo culture – Embryos undergo monitoring for several days to watch for cell growth and conduct any requested genetic testing prior to implantation. For parents worried about passing on genetic diseases, this testing might help inform them on which embryos to implant.
- Embryo transfer – Embryos are implanted 3-5 days after fertilization into the uterus where the embryo will imbed into the uterine lining.
Why do people need or want IVF?
Infertility.
IVF is considered a treatment for infertility, which is defined as those who are unable to get pregnant after a year of trying (Mayo Clinic). Sometimes, a man’s sperm won’t have a high enough motility, or physical momentum, to propel themselves through the uterine environment to reach the egg or there won’t be a high enough sperm count (ClearBlue). In other cases, a woman’s egg may not completely release down the fallopian tube or ovulation may be disrupted. Endometriosis and fibroids can also affect fertility and be reasons to pursue IVF. Read more about Endometriosis and fibroids here!
Need for donor cells or delayed conception.
In cases where a couple cannot reproduce, whether they are a same sex couple or due to cancer, surgery, or injury, IVF provides the ability to have children with a donor sperm or egg or embryo. IVF is also a potential option for those who are choosing to start a family without a partner or are using a surrogate.
Sometimes women will undergo egg retrieval if they desire to delay childbearing to preserve the health of their eggs that they intend to use later. IVF can then be pursued at the desired time of conception with the preserved eggs.
Embryos? More than one is implanted?
More than one embryo can be implanted at a time to increase the odds of a pregnancy and so there is an increased chance of getting pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) depending on how many embryos are implanted. For example, if two or three embryos are implanted and two of the embryos imbed into the uterine lining, there is a chance it will continue on to be a twin pregnancy. Multiple gestation pregnancies and pregnancies conceived through IVF are considered a high-risk pregnancy. You will likely need more monitoring and testing and, most of all, rest!
What happens with the embryos?
Embryos are frozen until they are used, to preserve the stage of cell growth optimal for implantation. The freezing doesn’t harm the embryos and once they thaw they can be implanted into the uterus. Intended parents have options when freezing their embryos: they can choose to freeze embryos until they are ready to be used, they can instruct the clinic to destroy the embryos if they choose not to have any more children, or they can donate the embryos to other couples struggling with infertility.
References:
- Mayo Clinic
- MedlinePlus
- Mayo Clinic
- ClearBlue
- Goddard and Aragão (2023, September 14). "A growing share of Americans say they’ve had fertility treatments or know someone who has." https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/14/a-growing-share-of-americans-say-theyve-had-fertility-treatments-or-know-someone-who-has/#:~:text=More%20invasive%20procedures%20are%20used,have%20used%20in%20vitro%20fertilization.
The information provided on Verdant is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen.
