The American Pregnancy Association suggests IVF for women or couples who need help with their reproduction. The process is simple, but it will involve patience and hard work. Knowing more about this procedure can help prepare you for your appointment. 

The Procedure

IVF is a type of ART (assisted reproductive technology). It will start and complete the fertilization process in a laboratory setting. The doctor will then implant the resulting embryo in a healthy uterus. Here are the details of each step:

• Your doctor will prescribe fertility medications. This will trigger egg production. It is more favorable if there are many eggs available. Your doctor will check your ovaries with a transvaginal ultrasound. Blood tests can help check your hormone levels. 
   

• Retrieving your eggs will come next. Your doctor will use an ultrasound as a guide for removing the eggs from your pelvic cavity. The procedure will be invasive but painless.
   

• Your partner or spouse will provide sperm. A sperm donor can also provide it. The doctor will prepare the sperm sample for fertilization.
   

• The process of insemination will follow. This is when the doctor mixes the eggs and sperm in a laboratory dish. The process will encourage egg fertilization. Sometimes, the egg will receive an injection of a single sperm. Successful fertilization will result in an embryo.
   

• You will receive your fertilized embryos after three to five days. The doctor will place them in your uterus through a small tube. This will be painless, but some women experience cramping during this procedure. Transferring the embryos will happen at the fertility clinic or your doctor’s office. Implantation will happen six to 10 days after egg harvesting if IVF is successful.

You will go through pregnancy if any of the healthy embryos clings to your uterine lining. You must rest right after the embryo placement. Taking daily progesterone injections or pills during the first eight to 10 weeks must happen. Progesterone will help the embryo make it into your uterus. 

Reasons for Having IVF

Many individuals consider having IVF. It may not be easy at first, but it may be the most effective way to help them create a family. There are different reasons for getting this reproductive technology. Here are a few of them:

• Some people want to become parents later in life. Doctors recommend freezing your eggs during your younger years first. When you are ready, you will have healthy eggs for the IVF process. It will be more challenging to start the process of fertilization if the doctor uses older eggs. 
   

• Infertility is a condition in which the woman fails to get pregnant after at least two failed pregnancies or fails to get pregnant after a year of trying. Studies show that many couples have this issue. IVF can skip the other steps in pregnancy. It will go straight to egg fertilization and embryo placement in the uterus. 
   

• Medical conditions and genetic disorders can also be reasons for having IVF. Cancer and endometriosis are two of the common conditions that can negatively affect your fertility or pregnancy. Genetic disorders can result in an undesirable embryo. With IVF, you can still have a healthy embryo. Considering a sperm or egg donor can increase the possibility of pregnancy. 

IVF can help you create the family that you have always wanted. At Katie Ostrom MD, LLC, we help our patients experience the blessing of reproductive health. Please visit our facility in Homer, Alaska, for a one-on-one consultation. You can call 907-435-0555 to set an appointment or ask about our IVF packages.