IVF Treatment: Uses, Benefits & Who Can Benefit from It
Doctors use In Vitro Fertilisation or IVF, which is a medical treatment, to help people have children when natural pregnancy is not possible. It involves combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory and placing the fertilised embryo into the womb. This method gives people a chance to become parents when other ways have not worked.
When Does One Need IVF?
Doctors may suggest IVF for several health-related reasons, such as:
- Damaged or Blocked Fallopian Tubes: This situation makes it difficult for the egg to meet sperm.
- Ovulation Problems: When eggs are not released regularly.
- Endometriosis: A condition where the womb lining grows outside the uterus and affects fertility.
- Low Sperm Quality: A situation where men suffer from poor sperm movement or low count.
- Unexplained Infertility: This means that there has been no clear reason found behind not getting pregnant.
- Genetic Disorders: IVF allows testing embryos before they are placed in the womb.
- Fertility Preservation: Eggs or embryos can be frozen before cancer treatment.
- Use of a Gestational Carrier: If pregnancy is risky or impossible, another person may carry the baby.
In these situations, IVF offers a possible solution by working around the natural barriers to conception.
Who is IVF Suitable for?
IVF can help people in different life situations, including:
- Couples who have tried to get pregnant for over a year without success.
- Women whose fertility has decreased due to age.
- People with certain medical conditions or treatments, such as cancer, that affect fertility.
- Couples where one partner has a genetic illness they do not want to pass on.
- Same-sex couples or single individuals who need donor eggs, sperm, or a surrogate.
This wide range of uses has made IVF one of the most common and trusted fertility treatments worldwide.
How Does IVF Fit into Modern Family Planning?
IVF is not just a medical fix. It is also a tool that fits into how people plan families today. It gives flexibility and control in a way that natural fertility does not always allow. Many people use IVF because:
- They want to delay starting a family for personal or career reasons.
- Earlier in life, they have frozen their eggs or embryos.
- They want to use donor options to start a family on their own.
What IVF Can Support Beyond Medical Needs?
Aside from health problems, IVF is also helpful in unique family-building paths, such as:
- LGBTQ+ Parenting: Where one or both partners may not be biologically involved without donor help.
- Surrogacy Arrangements: For women unable to carry a pregnancy safely.
- Second-Time Parents with Fertility Struggles: Where past childbirth does not guarantee future success.
Points to Consider Before Starting IVF
Though IVF can be life-changing, it comes with challenges. Understanding these aspects early helps in preparing for the journey ahead.
- Emotional Strain: The process can be stressful, especially if it takes multiple attempts.
- Financial Cost: It may require saving or support, as multiple cycles can be expensive.
- Personal Decisions: Some may face questions about donor use or what to do with unused embryos.
- Physical Side Effects: Medicines and procedures may cause discomfort or tiredness.
People use IVF to have children when they face fertility problems or special circumstances. Whether for medical reasons or personal choice, it gives many a chance at parenthood. It supports modern family needs, offering hope where natural conception is not possible.
Also Read:
→ What is IVF and How is it Done
→ How Much Does IVF Cost
→ What are the Key Factors that Determine the Cost of IVF
→ Which Insurance Covers IVF in India
→ How to Prepare a Body for IVF