Invitro Fertilization Procedure - Research Paper Example

Invitro Fertilization Children bring a lot of joy in a family, especially to married couples. However, to some, this joy does not come easy due to infertility that hinders a woman from getting pregnant. Infertility in this case refers to the inability of a woman to conceive after one year of active unprotected sexual intercourse. This implies that a woman who takes part in active sexual intercourse (with a fertile man) without using protection is expected to become pregnant within one-year failure to which she are deemed to be infertile (Mayo Clinic par. 2). Infertility is real and affects many people all over the world. Mayo Clinic indicates that about 6.1 million Americans of reproductive age suffer from primary infertility (par.3). This means that if nothing is done, then probably these people will remain without children forever. Nevertheless, with the technological advancements witnessed in the 21st century, this is no longer a big issue as there are several laboratory techniques that can be used to make a woman pregnant, one of them being the vitro fertilization (IVF) technique. IVF is a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) which involves the use of a specialized medical technique to impregnate a woman (Elder and Dale 27). The history of IVF dates back to 1978 when the first baby from England named Louise Brown was born through IVF (Storck Par.4). This was followed by another baby being born in India in the same year with the application of IVF. It was then that people began calling infants born through IVF technique as test-tube-babies, a name which has stuck to date. In America, the first infant born through IVF was born in 1981, and the number has continued to increase significantly since then. In this regard, the Centers for Disease Control revealed that about 48,000 babies have been born in the U.S. through ART of which 99% were born via IVF (Storck par.6). IVF Procedure The IVF procedure involves five basic steps. The first step involves the woman being given fertility drugs to enhance her egg production through a process called ovulation induction. At this point, it is worth noting that a woman normally produces just a single egg in her cycle. However, the fertility drugs are usually used to make ovaries produce several eggs, which are desirable for IVF because some eggs my not develop after retrieval. Usually at this step, the development of eggs is keenly monitored using ultrasound which studies the urine, ovaries and blood to check the levels of hormones (Elder and Dale 31). Once this has been done, the second step involves retrieval of the eggs from the ovaries. This is normally done through a minor surgery known as follicular aspiration. This operation is usually done at the physician’s office. At the same time, the woman is supplied with drugs that reduce pain during the operation. A tiny needle is then inserted into the virginal track of the woman through to the follicles and ovary to help pull the eggs out of the ovaries. It is noted that a woman may end up having some cramps after the procedure, but this usually disappears few day after the surgery. In specially cases, doctors may be forced to use a pelvic laparoscopy to retrieve the eggs out of a woman’s body. However, in case a woman cannot produce an egg after the performance of this procedure, then doctors may use donated eggs to perform IVF (Gardner 86). The third step of IVF usually involves insemination and fertilization. At this stage, a mature sperm of a man is fused with quality eggs through a process called insemination. The egg are then placed in an environment that supports fertilization. The sperm then fertilizes an egg just a few moments after the insemination. However, in case chances of the egg getting fertilized are found to be slim, the doctors may opt to inject the egg directly with the sperm, a procedure referred to as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (Gardner 86). After insemination and fertilization, the egg divides to form an embryo. At this stage, laboratory staff will monitor the embryo keenly to ensure that it is developing properly. What is noted is that a normal embryo will have developed several cells within the first five days of fertilization. However, since some couples have hereditary disorders that may be passed to the child, doctors usually perform a procedure known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is normally performed 3 to 4 days after fertilization to remove the disorders (Sher, Davis, and Stoess 6). Lastly, the embryo is transferred into the mother’s womb, a procedure conducted between 3 to five days after fertilization. This procedure is also conducted outpatient in a doctor’s office. The doctor inserts a very thin tube known as a catheter containing the embryo into the virgin and finally into the womb where it gets implanted resulting in pregnancy. It is worth noting that doctors can place more than one embryo into the womb depending on whether the mother needs twins or triplets or more babies (Sher, Davis and Stoess 6). Risks The procedure though helpful in dealing with infertility, has some potential risks which must be taken into consideration. For instance, overstimulation of ovaries may cause ovaries to swell thereby causing a lot of pain to the woman. This condition is normally referred to as Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome. Although rare, the condition has side effects including vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite among others. In severe cases, the woman may end up feeling severe abdominal pain, produce dark-colored urine, and experience severe vomiting and weight gain. Other risks of IVF include bleeding, damage to body tissues and blood vessels as well as emotional and psychological problems. Further, the procedure requires a lot of finance, which has made it difficult for many people to undergo the procedure. This is because the procedure is estimated to cost between $12,000 and $17,000 just to undergo a single IVF cycle (Gardner 91). Reasons why IVF is done As earlier indicated, IVF is performed to make women pregnant. In this regard, it is used for the treatment of several causes of infertility namely advanced maternal age, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, male infertility, as well as unexplained infertility (Sher, Davis, and Stoess 6). Conclusion Infertility has been a big problem to many people in America. However, IVF technology has been able to help many infertile people to have children, which is a commendable move. This can be seen from the fact that the first child to be born in a test tube is now aged 35 years showing that the technology is working. However, the government needs to come in and make the procedure affordable through incentives. Work Cited Elder, Kay, & Dale, Brian. In-Vitro Fertilization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2010 Print. Gardner, David K. In Vitro Fertilization: A Practical Approach. New York, NY: Informa Healthcare. 2006 Print. Mayo Clinic. “In vitro fertilization (IVF).” Web. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/in-vitro-fertilization/MY01648. Sher, Geoffrey, Davis, Virginia M., & Stoess, Jean. In Vitro Fertilization: The A.R.T Of Making Babies. New York, NY: In-Vitro Fertilization. 2005 Print. Storck, Susan. “In vitro fertilization (IVF).” MedlinePlus. Web. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007279.htm. Read More