Infertility Treatments-In Vitrio Fertilization

What is infertility?

Infertility is defined as an inability to conceive after approximately one year of unprotected sex between a man and a woman. Infertility is a common problem, affecting approximately 10 percent of men and women of reproductive age.

Infertility has many causes — among them, in both sexes, are diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal and pituitary problems, and genetic and environmental factors. In women the most common causes of infertility are failure to ovulate, blockage of the fallopian tubes by scar tissue and hormonal imbalances, including those related to advancing age. In men the most common problem is a low sperm count, which can have many causes.

There are a number of “Assisted Reproductive Techniques” (ART) available to infertile couples. However, by far the most commonly used today is “in vitro” fertilization (IVF.)

What is “in vitrio” fertilization?

“In vitrio” (latin for “in the laboratory” ) fertilization is a technique in which a woman’s eggs are “harvested” by a physician and then placed in a liquid medium and fertilized via the introduction of sperm. The technique is most often used when a couple either cannot conceive or the female partner is unable to carry a pregnancy to term. However, the procedure now also is being used to allow women who cannot produce eggs on their own to “conceive.” This is done using eggs donated by another woman and fertilized in the laboratory using the male partner’s sperm.

Although it sounds like a straightforward procedure, “in vitrio” fertilization is far more difficult than it seems, and successful fertilization is relatively rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the likelihood of successful conception in women undergoing “in vitrio” fertilization in women under 35 years of age is about 30 to 40 percent. That rate drops to 25 to 30 percent in women between the ages of 35 and 40, and falls to about 6 to 10 percent in women over 40 years of age.

What does “in vitrio” fertilization cost?

“In vitrio” fertilization is very expensive and is rarely, if ever, covered by health insurance. Typical costs for one cycle are between $10,000 and $15,000, and the technique is rarely successful the first time it is tried. If frozen embryos from a donor are used the cost of the procedure decreases dramatically, but most women who opt to use donated eggs also agree to pay for their harvesting and storage, which carries with it costs comparable to a regular cycle of “in vitrio” fertilization.

Why is “in vitrio” fertilization so challenging?

The most obvious reason this technique is such a challenge is that conception is not an automatic process even under optimal circumstances. In the human body following “normal” intercourse pregnancy is still rare.

In order to maximize the chances of a pregnancy in the laboratory, a large number of eggs must be fertilized at once.Under normal circumstances, a woman only produces one egg per menstrual cycle. To stimulate additional egg production for the IVF process, she is given a series of injections of hormones, or “fertility drugs.” The physician uses blood tests or ultrasonic technology to determine when the eggs are ready for retrieval and then removes them from the uterus during a simple surgical procedure. The eggs are then placed into a sterile medium to which sperm that has been separated from the male partner’s semen is added. The physician then observes the ova for evidence of fertilization — the presence of two distinct cells within the egg confirms that fertilization has occurred. Then the eggs are introduced into the woman’s uterus, where they still must implant themselves for pregnancy to begin.

What are the common barriers to successful “in vitrio” fertilization?

Age is a significant barrier to the success of in vitro fertilization, as is general poor health. A recent history of smoking or drug or alcohol use will generally lessen the chances of success, as will obesity, which increases the likelihood of gestational diabetes and miscarriage. Excessive stress can also be a contributing factor to failed “in vitrio” fertilization..

What are some complications of “in vitrio” fertilization?

By far the most common complication of in vitro fertilization is multiple births, which is the result of the deliberate introduction to the uterus of multiple fertilized embryos. The threat of multiple births is frequently managed early in the pregnancy by “selective reduction,” a gentle term for aborting some number of the embryos present in the uterus. However, many women find this procedure objectionable and refuse to have it done.

The alternative to selective reduction — multiple births of as many as 3 to 6 infants — carries with it enormous risks to both the babies and the mother. Multiple births frequently result in prematurity and low birth weight, which carry with them a host of possible complications to the infants. Mothers who are carrying multiple fetuses are at risk of developing hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, life threatening complications of pregnancy that carry a high probability of stroke.

Other potential risks of IVF include “hyper-stimulation syndrome,” a usually benign condition in which the over-stimulated ovaries become distended with fluid and tender. Some women may also experience heart-burn, loss of appetite and nausea and vomiting.

Women who fail to become pregnant after multiple attempts at IVF may become depressed or develop anxiety disorders. There is also some evidence that infants born from IVF suffer a higher incidence of birth defects, especially cleft lip, cleft palate, esophageal problems, and heart defects.

“In vitrio” fertilization is a viable treatment option for many infertile couples. There are a number of risks associated with the technique, both to the mother and her children, and even under optimal circumstances, it is successful only a fraction of the time. Nevertheless, for couples who want desperately to conceive using their own genetic material or that of a suitable donor, it can be an enormous blessing with rewarding results.