IVF Treatment | IVF Cost

Contrary to artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process that involves actually combing eggs and sperm outside of the body in a laboratory setting. Nicknamed “test tube babies”, this procedure provides couples who are suffering from infertility a chance to have a child. After it is developed, the embryo is then placed back within the uterus to develop like a normal fetus. Although the IVF cost can be prohibitive, it has resulted in the birth of 200,000 babies since its 1981 advent in the United States.

What does IVF Treatment do?

Couples who are having difficulty conceiving normally can turn to IVF to try having a child in a different manner. IVF treatment can help couples suffering from endometriosis, ovulation issues, low sperm counts and problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes. If there are antibody problems or the sperm is unable to penetrate the cervical mucus, in vitro fertilization can help to fix the issue. Although it should never be the first step in treating infertility, it can help cases that have not responded to surgery, artificial insemination or fertility drugs.

IVF Price

 During the procedure, women may have multiple embryos removed and developed. These embryos can be frozen and used at a later date if the first treatment did not take. If the treatment is successful, the extra embryos can be given to another couple that is having fertility problems or they can be destroyed. In the United States, the IVF price runs an average of $12,400. Depending on the number of treatments required, the medications needed and the insurance company, the IVF cost can vary greatly. Some insurance companies only cover the costs of drugs and monitoring, but not the cost of IVF treatment.

Factors in Achieving a Successful Birth

The key to having reproductive success is age. According to the Center for Disease Control, women who are under the age of 35 have a 39.6% chance of giving birth to a child. After the age of 40, this statistic goes down to 22.5%. As doctors become more experienced with the procedure and develop new technologies, this rate is gradually going up for every age.

The Process of In Vitro Fertilization Treatment

One of the ironic first steps towards having treatment could be going on birth control. It may seem counterintuitive, but being on birth control pills before the treatment starts can greatly reduce the risk of ovarian cysts and ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome. Use of birth control varies from clinic to clinic, but has not been shown to reduce the rates of success at all. As a precaution against side effects, birth control pills can be a useful tool towards ensuring the safety of the mother and embryo.

Families who are undergoing IVF can expect to have a number of ultra sounds, tests and medications. Before the procedure occurs, women are injected with hormones to increase the number of eggs produced each month. Once the woman is ready for retrieval, the doctor injects a medication that encourages the eggs to ripen. After tests confirm the eggs are ready, the woman is ready for the retrieval process. The eggs are removed from the ovary with the aid of a hollow needle.

Once removed, the eggs are taken to a laboratory and combined with the partner’s sperm. Once the eggs have achieved optimal growth in the laboratory, they are reinserted into the uterus. The women rests for several hours to rest and after two weeks, the procedure will ideally result in a positive pregnancy test.

In the event of a positive pregnancy test, the mother may have to continue taking progesterone supplements for a few more weeks. Throughout the pregnancy, the doctor will check for miscarriages or ectopic pregnancy by doing ultrasounds and blood work. In some cases, the procedure results in a multiple pregnancy. If this occurs, the doctor may consider reducing the number of fetuses so as to increase the viability of the remaining fetus.

Seeking treatment can simultaneously be extremely exciting and stressful. After other routes to conception have failed, this medical procedure offers a viable option for couples suffering from infertility problems. The battery of tests, surgeries, ultrasounds and medications can be overwhelming for a couple. After everything is complete, the ideal result more than makes up for the stress. For the 22.5% to 39.6% of women that have a successful pregnancy, all of the trouble and doctor’s visits became instantly worthwhile once they hold their newborn child in their arms.