In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a procedure that is used to help infertile couples have children. This specific procedure occurs when the egg is removed from the woman and joined with the man's sperm in a laboratory test tube until it is fertilized and becomes an embryo, after which it is placed back into the mother to develop normally.
Originally, this procedure was developed to assist just those women who had trouble conceiving on their own; now there are a number of people who may be considered candidates for this type of procedure.
Female IVF Candidates
The following conditions in women may make them good candidates for IVF:
- A dysfunctioning ovary
- Blocked, diseased or lack of fallopian tubes
- PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
- Unexplained infertility
- Failed fertility using other methods (these may include injected drugs and intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- Endometriosis
- PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome)
- Uterine or cervical mucus problems
- Advanced maternity age (couples over age 35)
Male IVF Candidates
Also, couples who have been diagnosed with male factor infertility are considered good candidates for this procedure. Some of the male diagnoses infertility problems that can be assisted with IVF are low sperm counts or sperm immotility.
Also, couples who have tried everything else and cannot get pregnant may want to use this as a last resort. Some couples with genetic or chromosomal mutations and deformations may want to consider IVF in conjunction with PGD. This will help the couple be able to deliver a healthy, normal baby without chromosomal anomalies or mutations, which can cause serious other serious problems.
It is important to consult with your physician or fertility specialist before deciding on this procedure because of the high costs and emotional investment put into this procedure.
