The breakthrough of IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, has brought joy to millions of childless couples. Though this recent advancement in medical science has helped many people realize their goals of becoming parents, doubts about its validity persist in the minds of would-be parents. Most individuals, on the other hand, believe that babies delivered through assisted reproductive technologies are not as healthy as those born naturally. Medical specialists from all over the world are continually attempting to eliminate these myths and develop a myth buster. Before discussing whether or not IVF babies are healthy, it’s important to grasp the distinction between a normal conception and one achieved by in vitro fertilization.
IVF and Natural Conception
To conclude, it is always necessary to compare the IVF and natural conception processes. One thing that both procedures have in common is that they both entail the fertilization of eggs by sperm. The fallopian tube is where the natural process takes place (after sexual intercourse). Fertilization occurs in a cell in a dedicated lab built for the procedure in IVF. In a natural conception, the developed embryo travels to the uterus and is naturally implanted for pregnancy in the uterus. The lab-created embryo (s), on the other hand, is artificially placed in the uterus. It’s critical to understand that after the embryo (s) are deposited in the uterus, the rest of the process is identical to spontaneous conception. As a result, rational thinking will reveal that the health of a test tube baby is in no way risky. They have the potential to be as healthy and disease-free as a baby born naturally.
How Is In Vitro Fertilization Performed?
Women will first have their ovarian reserve tested before initiating IVF. This entails collecting a blood sample and evaluating it for follicle-stimulating hormone levels (FSH), AMH and baseline ultrasound for the antral follicular count. The results of these tests will provide information to your doctor regarding the number of the eggs and status of your fertility. Your uterus will also be examined by your doctor. An ultrasound, which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your uterus, may be used. An ultrasound probe may be inserted into your vagine. These tests can disclose the condition of your uterus and assist your doctor in determining the best technique to implant the embryos.
One egg is discharged from any of the ovaries once a month during a woman’s menstrual cycle. During intercourse, sperm travels through the vaginal canal to the fallopian tubes, where fertilization takes place. The embryo develops inside the fallopian tubes during a natural pregnancy. The embryo is delivered to the uterine cavity after around 5 days of fertilization. In vitro means “outside the body,” and in IVF, the egg and sperm are fertilized outside the uterus. An Ovarian Pick Up (OPV) is used to collect eggs from the female partner’s ovaries, and one egg is combined with about 75,000 sperm in a petri dish and left in an incubator for about 24 hours. The eggs are fertilized by the greatest sperm. The embryo is examined for growth before being implanted into the woman’s uterus on day 3 or 5, or are frozen in a nitrogen chamber for later implantation. As a result, the baby develops normally in the uterus throughout a nine-month pregnancy.
Are babies born through IVF healthy?
The simple answer is yes. Millions of healthy children have been born as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The technique in which IVF kids and regular infants are conceived is the fundamental distinction. According to research, male or female fertility, as well as the parents’ ages, are determinants in the aberrations, rather than the method itself. In addition to these findings, it is clear that multiple births (in which doctors transfer more than one embryo to increase the odds of becoming pregnant) do not necessarily have a higher risk than singleton births. Another misunderstanding is that IVF babies are born by C-sections rather than normal births. This is not the case. However, in circumstances where the baby’s weight is excessive, or in case the patient would otherwise need a LSCS even when conceived naturally like small pelvis, very high BP, intrauterine growth retardation etc must perform a C-section. The chances of a normal birth while using fresh embryo transfer IVF are the same as when using natural conception.
It’s illogical to claim that IVF babies have a higher risk of congenital abnormalities. It is roughly 2% to 3%, which is comparable to regularly conceived kids. If there is a family history of a certain condition that could be the cause of infertility in either parent, these may change. It has nothing to do with the IVF procedure, though. Multiple pregnancies do not raise the risk of congenital abnormalities. Some IVF centres and clinics transfer more than two embryos at a time to improve the IVF cycle’s chances of success. However, this should not be done, and the practice of IVF single embryo transfer should be encouraged if the chances of conception are higher with day 5 single embryo transfer. There have previously been reports that IVF babies may have neurological or cognitive abnormalities. However, these were discovered to be untrue.
Long-Term Outlook?
However, later reports discovered that this is caused by maternal age and that it occurs in the regular process as well. Although several studies suggested a correlation between IVF and cancer, no such link could be found.
Should one go for IVF?
The bottom line is that IVF-conceived children are generally healthy. This method of conception poses no harm to the parents’ or child’s health, now or in the future. The odds of a congenital abnormality or malignancy are the same as for normally conceived offspring.
Even after considering all of the realities, IVF remains a blessing for people who are unable to conceive naturally. The majority of babies born using this method are physically and psychologically healthy. This, in and of itself, ensures the process’s success. You can surely give yourself the happiness you’ve always deserved if you take some care.
Whether you have just begun your searching process on fertility treatment or you have planned to start with IVF, the silver leaf fertility centre is here to help you understand the whole process. Our goal is to help the people who are facing challenges with their fertility so that they can also experience the joys of becoming parents. If you are searching for an IVF centre near me and have any queries, you can schedule an appointment with doctor Beena Muktesh Clinical Director at Silver Leaf Fertility Centre, Cloudnine Fertility Gurgaon.
M.B.B.S, M.S. (Obst & Gynae), Infertility & I.V.F. (U.K), Diploma in Endoscopy (Germany).