Parenthood is considered as one of the most sought-after virtues for a couple. However, the inability to conceive a child may doom a couple in a world of agony and depression. But in today’s world of medical advancement, IVF is no less than a boon for infertile couples.
This discovery in the field of medical science has helped the couples to get a healthy biological baby.
IVF is defined as the procedure where the woman’s eggs are removed from ovaries and fertilized with a man’s sperm in a laboratory. It is considered as an Assisted Reproductive Technology [ART] that helps women become pregnant with reproductive techniques.
However, most people still have some misconceptions regarding this process. One of the most frequent questions a couple asks is if a test tube baby will be as healthy as a normal baby.
Knowing about test-tube babies:
The term test tube baby refers to babies who are being conceived in a laboratory with the technique of In Vitro Fertilization ( IVF). IVF is a procedure where the eggs of a woman are fertilized in a petri dish.
After that, the embryo is transferred to the uterus when it becomes matured. In England, the world’s first “IVF baby,” Louise Joy Brown, was born on July 25th, 1978. Now millions of babies are born every year through IVF.
What happens during an IVF process?:
During the IVF process, eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and are fertilized in a laboratory with sperm provided by her partner. Then one or two embryos are implanted into the woman’s uterus. Various stages of IVF are described as follows:
- A woman’s natural menstrual cycle is switched off with a nasal spray or daily injections.
- The fertility injections stimulate her ovaries, so she produces several eggs instead of just one.
- When the eggs mature, they are collected using a fine needle.
- Then these eggs are fertilized in a laboratory with the sperms provided by the woman’s partner
- Fertilized eggs or embryos grew in an incubator for a few days
- One or two healthy embryos are then transferred into a woman’s uterus using a thin tube inserted into the vagina
- If an embryo successfully gets implanted the woman becomes pregnant.
- The remaining healthy embryos, if any, can be frozen or stored for later use.
Who can go for IVF?:
When it comes to infertility issues, IVF may be an option if you and your partner have been diagnosed with any of the below-mentioned problems:
- Low sperm count
- Problem with ovulation due to conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Problems with the fallopian tube
- Endometriosis
- Poor egg quality
- The inability of a sperm to penetrate or survive in the cervical mucus
- Unexplained fertility problem
Difference between IVF and Natural Conception:
Some people believe that babies born through reproductive techniques are not as healthy as naturally conceived ones. Therefore, you must have clarity about the concept of IVF. You can compare IVF processes with natural conception in reaching an adequate conclusion.
- The common thing among them is that both processes involve fertilization of the eggs by the sperm. The difference is that the natural process takes place inside a fallopian tube. However, in IVF, the fertilization takes place in a dish in a special lab.
- In natural conception, the formed embryos travel to the uterus where it is naturally implanted for pregnancy. On the other hand, lab-created embryos are implanted artificially.
- Women who conceive naturally may realize that they are pregnant only after missing the periods.
- In normal pregnancy, a woman may start taking her multivitamins tablets only after she gets pregnant. But women who have undergone IVF can take progesterone and HCG hormone injections even before their pregnancy is detected.
The success rate of IVF:
It can be difficult to determine the success rate of IVF procedures. IVF can be successful when doctors attempt fertilization on a large number of eggs. Women under 35 have more chances of getting a successful pregnancy through IVF. However, women over 40 have slightly low chances of a successful pregnancy through IVF. Moreover, the outcome of an IVF procedure may vary from person to person. Success rate of IVF procedures in India usually ranges from 30 to 35%. However, this success rate of an IVF procedure may sometimes go up to 80% depending on the treatment you are getting. Main factors that determine the success rate of an IVF are:
- Age of women
- Type of infertility
- Previous failed IVF and miscarriages
- Type of procedure
- Ovarian response
Are IVF babies as normal as others?:
IVF is a different way of conception from normal sexual intercourse. But the IVF children are as normal as other children concerning their mental and physical attributes. But people often ask this question if an IVF baby is as normal as other children.
A study was conducted in India among ten babies born through IVF. The IVF specialists did a thorough check-up of these babies. First, they assessed their mental and medical health, along with their cognitive ability. Then they concluded that these babies were as healthy and active as typically conceived babies.
IVF babies are born under the expert supervision of IVF specialists. However, the results of the treatment can vary from couple to couple. Moreover, before starting the treatment most of the couples get trapped in an array of questions. But their major concern is if their baby will be healthy and normal. Therefore, it is essential to bust the certain myths that are associated with the treatment of IVF.
Busting the Myths regarding IVF:
Choosing to undergo IVF can be an emotional decision in your life. With the advancement in technology and the rapid growth of social media, myths surrounding IVF are more common. The first myth can be if IVF babies bear any risk? Well, the answer to this question can depend on parental factors or the treatment process.
Certain studies show that babies born through IVF have about 1-2% chances of birth defects. This is more common among premature babies.
Moreover, education and awareness have to be increased to bring the people out of notions and myths attached to IVF procedures. Certain pre-conceived notions and misconceptions regarding IVF babies are:
IVF babies have congenital defects:
People often have this misconception that IVF babies born early can have some congenital birth defects. However, it occurs only in rare cases. This impression further arises from the increased proportion of IVF babies who are twins or triplets. Doctors now suggest transferring one embryo to reduce the risk of birth defects.
IVF babies born bigger:
Certain evidence showed that babies born after frozen thaw transfer could be slightly bigger than spontaneously conceived babies. However, this notion is not true in all cases.
IVF babies born sicker
Babies born through IVF are usually healthy. As long as we are able to avoid multiple pregnancies and all the associated risks of prematurity, IVF does not associate with sicker babies.
IVF Twins:
Most IVF twins are born due to two embryos being transferred into the uterus at the same time. These embryos may have come from different eggs and are not, therefore, identical. Occasionally, a single embryo can split into two, which can result in identical twins. But the twins born through IVF are also considered healthy.
Vardaan Medical Center: Best IVF Centre in Punjab:
Our experienced and well-qualified IVF specialists perform infertility treatment with complete dedication. In addition, we have the latest fertility techniques with advanced IVF procedures.
At Vardaan Medical and IVF Center in Amritsar, each patient is treated with utmost compassion and care. Our clinical expertise will bring world-class solutions for all the couples.
Walk into our IVF Centre and get a lifetime of joy from the best IVF experts.
Frequently Asked Question:
[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h4″ question-0=”Do IVF babies have birth defects?” answer-0=”Birth defects can occur both in naturally conceived or IVF babies. It is usually seen that babies born premature can have high chances of congenital birth defects. These babies may develop neurological disorders or learning disabilities. However, certain IVF specialists are of the view that IVF babies born premature are 4% more likely to develop congenital birth defects than normal babies. ” image-0=”” headline-1=”h4″ question-1=”Do IVF babies have a high mortality risk?” answer-1=”Mortality rate of a premature baby is usually high in the first weeks of life whether he is born through IVF or through natural pregnancy. However, a recent study was conducted among IVF babies and naturally conceived babies. The study showed that children conceived through assisted reproductive techniques can have a 45% high mortality risk if any kind of birth-defect occurs among them.” image-1=”” count=”2″ html=”true” css_class=””]
