Understanding In Vitro Fertilisation

By Author: Dr Baidyanath Dastidar
Total Articles: 7
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If you have been trying to have a child for a few years now and have not succeeded in conceiving then it is time to seek medical intervention. Consult a doctor and identify the problems in conceiving. After detailed tests, the doctor may suggest IVF or in vitro fertilisation as an option.

It is not uncommon for couples to face difficulties in conceiving a child. Infertility treatments have become highly advanced now and most cases of infertility can be cured. You must consult a good doctor who can advise you on the reasons for the problem in conceiving and suggest treatments accordingly. Knowing the cause of infertility will dictate the treatment.

For some cases of infertility, IVF or in vitro fertilisation is the best option for conceiving a child. It is a medical procedure through which the eggs from a woman are fused with sperms from a man in a lab, outside the female body. The embryo that is created in a laboratory is then placed in the uterus of the woman and that pregnancy is carried to term.

IVF is not a fool-proof method although it has proved to be successful in most cases. To improve your chances ...
... of conceiving through IVF, you can take certain precautions like getting fitter and healthier. If you are a smoker, give it up to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.

Another stimulant you should ideally give up is caffeine. It may seem difficult to give up on your staple cups of coffee, but when you envision your bundle of joy as a result of the sacrifice, you will find the going easy! Restrict also your alcohol intake as these habits may lead to a miscarriage.

The doctor will advise you to start taking folic acid supplements. Sufficient folic acid prior to conceiving and during early pregnancy is important for the baby’s health. You will need to also shed any extra weight and get in shape. If you are very overweight, aim to shed at least 5-10 kilograms.

For the IVF procedure, your doctor will first prescribe some drugs that will stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. Blood tests and ultrasounds will be carried out. A couple of days prior to the day that the eggs are to be collected, you will be given a hormone injection. This injection will trigger the maturation of your eggs.

When the eggs are to be finally collected, you will be put under general anaesthesia. A short and simple procedure using an ultrasound-guided technique will be carried out to collect the eggs. On the same day, your partner will be required to give a sperm sample. The eggs from you and the sperms from your partner are then combined in a laboratory to create embryos.

After early embryo development, your doctor will place one or two embryos in the uterus. In two weeks’ time it will become clear through a blood test if the treatment worked. If the result is positive you will have a pregnancy scan after two weeks. You can now look forward to your child.

For this most important procedure which can complete your family, choose only the best IVF clinic India. A good clinic will have an excellent record of carrying out the IVF treatment; will have exceptional facilities and will be reputed for its dedicated doctors and staff.

The author of this article is associated with the Ghosh Dastidar Institute for Fertility Research (P) Ltd. GDIFR is a leader in the treatment of infertility and Infertility Research in India. It has gained international recognition as a centre of excellence. Its IVF clinic in Kolkata has become a mecca for childless couples seeking IVF treatment in India.