WHO SHOULD CONSIDER IN VITRO FERTILIZATION?
IVF is usually considered by couples who have:
? Absent or blocked fallopian tubes.
? Severe male factor infertility (sperm counts or sperm motility is low, or sperm needs to be extracted surgically from the testicles).
? Advanced reproductive age, as time to conception is critical and pregnancy rates with other therapies are low.
? All other causes of infertility (eg, endometriosis, ovulation disorders, unexplained infertility), if treatment with other therapies is not effective.? An inherited genetic disease that they wish to avoid passing on to their child – In this case, IVF is combined with preimplantation genetic diagnosis. This means that the embryos (or in some cases, just the eggs) are tested for the disease, and only those without the disease are transferred to the uterus.
? Premature ovarian insufficiency, although donor eggs would be required in this case.
Although IVF has a high rate of success in helping couples to become pregnant, it has some disadvantages as well, including high costs, potential side effects of injectable fertility medications and invasive procedures used, as well as an increased rate of multiple gestation (ie, twins or triplets). There may also be an increased risk of some pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth. Ectopic pregnancies can occur after IVF, although the risk is much lower than with other fertility therapies.
Women who are considering IVF should discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives with their health care provider and partner before treatment begins. In most cases, several cycles of a less expensive and less invasive infertility treatment are recommended before considering IVF.
