In Vitro, fertilisation, or IVF in short, is a treatment to treat issues related to infertility. This Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) involves extracting and fusing a female egg with a male sperm in a petri dish in a laboratory outside of the human body. The embryo that forms is then transferred into the female's uterus for the rest of the pregnancy.
IVF is generally a very well-established, safe and effective method of conceiving. But like every procedure, it also comes with its own risks and benefits, which only an experienced and expert fertility specialist can highlight.
Fertility specialists at Aastha Fertility Care in Jaipur ensure to inform the patients of all the risks and benefits involved before they start the process of IVF. Since these are all part of the process, their expert fertility staff is well-trained to handle the side effects of IVF treatment and constantly monitor them to avoid complications.
Risks & Side Effects of IVF Treatment
Ectopic Pregnancy:
The risk of Ectopic pregnancy increases with IVF. According to the National Institutes of Health report on Ectopic Pregnancy, about 2% to 5% of women who use IVF treatment tend to have an ectopic pregnancy, meaning that fertilised egg implants in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus. This pregnancy cannot continue as the fertilised egg cannot survive outside the uterus.
Multiple Pregnancies:
More than one embryo is generally implanted in the uterus, which can lead to multiple pregnancies. This can cause complications for both mother and the multiple foetuses.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome:
Ovaries are stimulated with fertility hormones to produce more eggs. Repeated injections can cause soreness and bruising besides causing bloating, abdominal pain, mood swings and headaches, or OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome).
Miscarriage-
The spontaneous and unexpected loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation is termed a miscarriage.. This can be really heartbreaking for couples who have been trying to conceive.
IVF Process Timelines
IVF treatment is long and challenging, lasting between 6-8 weeks. The stages of treatment have to be matched with your ovarian cycle, and one has to keep trying till it results in a successful implant.
Emotional and Psychological Effects:
The process can be very stressful for couples as it can drain them emotionally because of the uncertainties involved. One has to be mentally strong to be able to go through it.
Birth Defects:
The chances of congenital disabilities are slightly higher in babies conceived via IVF if the mother is not young. However, they can be detected early on by conducting various tests including PGT or PGD tests during the pregnancy.
Bleeding/ Infection:
There is a rare chance of bleeding or infection during IVF.
Preterm Babies/ Lower Weight Babies -
The chance of a preterm baby increases in IVF, and the weight can be lower if multiple pregnancies occur.
Financial burden:
IVF is costly and can be financially draining. It can be even more complicated if the couple cannot conceive even after multiple attempts.
C-Section-
The chances of normal vaginal delivery are less in IVF, and there is a higher chance of C- Section.
General Side Effects-
Some people experience mild side effects such as cramps, bloating, spotting during pregnancy, nausea and hot flashes. This can be due to the injections and various other processes involved during the treatment.
Conclusion
The process of In vitro Fertilisation IVF can be very overwhelming. The stress and anticipation can drain the couple emotionally. Still, it has a silver lining: it gives you hope and a chance to experience parenthood, which sometimes doesn't happen naturally for many couples.
The benefits outweigh the mild side effects. The risks involved are controllable and severe issues are rare. The team of expert and experienced doctors, fertility specialists, and Support staff at Astha Fertility have made this dream a reality for many couples. They have successfully mitigated risks by constantly monitoring the patient at every stage of the treatment.
For more details about infertility treatments and the success rates of the procedures, schedule a free online consultation with fertility experts in Jaipur, who will help you with a complete overview of the treatment and help solve your queries.
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