IVF Full Form

IVF Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Feb 14, 2023 05:07 PM IST

What is the full form of the IVF?

The full form IVF is In Vitro Fertilization. It’s one of the widely known types of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In a test tube or somewhere else outside the body, an egg is fertilised by sperm as part of a medical operation. It works by using a combination of medicines and surgical methods to help sperm fertilise an egg, and help the fertilised egg implant in the uterus.

This Story also Contains
  1. What is the full form of the IVF?
  2. What is IVF?
  3. How IVF Works?
  4. Necessary Steps to be Followed for IVF
  5. How Long is The IVF Process?
  6. Advantages of IVF:
  7. Disadvantages of IVF:
  8. Side Effects of IVF
IVF Full Form
IVF Full Form

What is IVF?

IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is a kind of fertility treatment where eggs are fertilised with sperm outside of the body in a lab. It's a technique utilised by those who require assistance getting pregnant. IVF is carried out under restrictive lab conditions by fusing ova from the female donor and sperm from the male donor outside the body. This technique is widely used in women with clogged or weakened Fallopian tubes. This involves many complex steps and is an effective form of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

How IVF Works?

Initially, medications are given to the female to make her several eggs mature and ready for fertilisation. After that, the doctor takes the eggs out of her body and mixes them with sperm in a lab, to fertilise the eggs. Then they put 1 or more fertilised eggs directly into her uterus. If any of the fertilised eggs implants in the lining of her uterus, pregnancy happens.

Necessary Steps to be Followed for IVF

Step 1: Women who want to do IVF have to take fertility medications for several months to help their ovaries to produce several eggs that are mature and ready for fertilisation. And this is called ovulation induction.

Step 2: Once the ovaries have produced enough mature eggs, the doctor removes the eggs from her body, and this process is called egg retrieval (egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure that’s done at a doctor’s office or a fertility clinic).

Step 3: The doctor uses an ultrasound to see inside the body and puts a thin, hollow tube through the vagina into the ovary and follicles that hold the eggs. In this procedure, the needle is connected to a suction device that gently pulls the eggs out of each follicle.

Step 4: Now in a lab, the eggs are mixed with sperm cells from her partner or a donor, this process is called insemination. Here, the eggs and sperm are stored together in a special container, and fertilization happens. For sperm that have lower motility, that is, don’t swim as well, they may be injected directly into the eggs to promote fertilisation. A zygote develops as a result of fertilisation. Now the zygote (fertilised egg) divides and forms embryos. And the people who work at the lab monitor the progress.

Step 5: About 3-5 days after the egg retrieval, 1 or more embryos are put into the uterus, and this is called embryo transfer. In this process, the doctor slides a thin tube through the cervix into the uterus and inserts the embryo directly into the uterus through the tube. The embryo transfer is done at the doctor’s office or a fertility clinic.

Step 6: Now If any of the embryos attach to the lining of the uterus, pregnancy happens. Some may need to take pills or get daily shots of a hormone known as progesterone for the first 8-10 weeks after the embryo transfer. These hormones make it easier for the embryo to stay in your uterus.

How Long is The IVF Process?

IVF is a complicated process with many steps. On average, one can expect the process to last four to six weeks including the time before egg retrieval, that is, from when a person takes fertility medication until they’re tested for pregnancy.

Advantages of IVF:

  • For women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, IVF became the best opportunity for having a child using their eggs.

  • IVF can be used to maximise the possibility of older patients conceiving.

  • Couples with a male infertility issue will have a much higher possibility of conceiving with IVF than conceiving naturally.

  • For single women or same-sex couples who wish to have a child, IVF can be an opportunity for helping them to become parents.

Disadvantages of IVF:

  • IVF maximises the risk of multiple births if more than one embryo is transferred to the uterus.

  • IVF increases the risk that the baby will be born prematurely or with low birth weight.

  • The use of an aspirating needle to collect eggs could cause bleeding, infection, or injury to the bowel, bladder, or blood vessels.

  • IVF has multiple steps and takes several months to complete the whole process.

  • IVF increases the possibility of pregnancy but there’s no guarantee.

  • Many people doing IVF treatments struggle with anxiety and depression throughout the procedure.

Side Effects of IVF

IVF requires several medications throughout the treatment process. And these medications may cause some side effects. Some of them are: Mild cramping, Mild bloating, Breast tenderness, Constipation, Leaking a small amount of clear or blood-tinged fluid after the procedure, Headaches, Abdominal pain, Abdominal bloating, Mood swings, Hot flashes, Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome

Some potential side effects that should not be ignored and be brought to the doctor's attention immediately are pelvic pain, blood in urine, and heavy vaginal bleeding.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How common is IVF?

Approximately 5% of couples with infertility will try IVF and more than 8 million babies have been born from IVF since 1978.

2. How much does IVF cost in India?

IVF costs in India can alter depending on the clinic. On average, each IVF cycle costs around 70,000 to 1,25,000 Rupees.

3. What age is IVF most successful?

Studies show that women in their 20s and 30s have the most successfully gotten pregnant through IVF.

4. What is not allowed after the embryo transfer?

Sexual intercourse is not allowed after the transfer of the embryo because this can trigger uterine contractions, which can disrupt the embryo that was just transferred into the body.

5. To whom IVF is not recommended?

IVF isn't usually recommended for women over the age of 42 because the chances of a successful pregnancy are thought to be very low.

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