Have you ever imagined what life as a parent would be? What you would name your child or even how it would feel to watch their first steps? For 11 percent of reproductive-age couples in the United States, they’ve imagined just that. However, due to a variety of infertility issues, they can’t get pregnant. About one-third of fertility difficulties stem from female reproductive health, one-third from male fertility problems and the rest from either both parents or for unexplained reasons.
Thankfully, new technology can help these couples conceive despite the problem is affecting their fertility. National infertility association Resolve reports that 65 percent of men and women who undergo infertility treatment eventually have a successful pregnancy.
One of these such treatments is in Vitro Fertilization (also known as IVF). This reproductive procedure begins by the woman receiving fertility medications to trigger egg production. After her hormones and ovaries have been checked, her egg(s) and a man’s sperm are manually combined in a laboratory (through a process called “insemination”). Then, this embryo is transferred directly into the uterus three to five days after fertilization. IVF is especially helpful for women with blocked, damaged or removed fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders or premature ovarian failure, or for men with decreased sperm count or mobility. If the couple’s respective eggs or sperm aren’t viable, they may also choose to use donor eggs, sperm or embryo.
Before you suggest IVF to the child-wanting-but-childless couple in your life, be aware the procedure’s risks. There are various side effects associated with infertility treatment, including headaches, mood swings, hot flashes and bloating, as well as the risk of hyper-stimulating the ovaries and an increased chance for multiple pregnancies. (Remember the TLC show Kate Plus 8? Case in point!)
The biggest risks involved of IVF treatment, however, are the emotional and financial toll the procedure can take on the couple. To put it simply, IVF is expensive. According to InternetHealthResources.com, a single cycle of In Vitro Fertilization in the US can range from $12,000 to $15,000. Insurance usually doesn’t cover the costs and surprise expenses – like PGD (the genetic testing of embryos), which can cost $3,000 or more – can also pop up. Most importantly, it may take much more than one cycle to conceive. This personal and financial stress can be extremely wearing for couples who are trying to start a family.
About 42 percent of women under 35 have successful pregnancies after IVF treatment, but this number starts decreasing after women reach age 35. For women 35-37 years old there is a 33-36 percent success rate. Women 38-40 years old have a 23-27 percent success rate while women over 40 have a 13-18 percent success rate.
Despite the odds, there are plenty of success stories of women over 40 who have conceived with or without the help of in vitro fertilization and have given birth to health babies. You only need to look at Hollywood stars – like Gwen Stefani (pregnant at 44), Halle Berry (pregnant at 41 and 47) and Tina Fey (pregnant at 41) – for proof.
Before you start researching the IVF options in your area, though, you have another person to consider in your choice: your future child. As Tech Times explains, multiple research studies have focused on the effects of IVF on the children conceived through it. Research has been conflicting on whether IVF children are more likely to be born with birth defects, with UCLA researchers finding that roughly 3,500 out of the 4,500 surveyed IVF children were born with birth defects while Swedish scientists at King’s College found that only 45 out of 100,000 IVF children had birth defects. However, there doesn’t seem to be any correlation between developmental delays and IVF.
You should also consider your future child’s emotional wellbeing, especially if they were conceived using donor sperm, eggs or embryos. As The Conversation explains, children who learn that they were donor-conceived later in life may feel betrayed, lied to or confused when they learn the truth. Today, most doctors and therapists advise parents to be honest with their children about using IVF and donations (if applicable) to conceive.
If you’ve always wanted to have a baby, but find yourself unable to conceive naturally, IVF may be the right option for you. Its price tag and relatively low success rate can be problematic, and other ways to start a family – such as adoption – do exist. If you do decide to go the IVF route, however, all of the time, money and stress will likely be worth the feeling of holding your baby for the first time.
