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High Tech Babies: In Vitro Fertilization
Know the Basics of IVF
By Kendeyl Johansen
Everyone that wants a baby should be able to conceive a child naturally. But in reality, creating a baby isn't always easy and infertility can be heartbreaking for some couples. Luckily, modern medical procedures, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), are filling empty arms.
IVF is a reproductive technology in which an egg is removed from a woman and joined with a sperm in a test tube (in vitro). The fertilized egg is then placed in the woman's uterus.
Which infertile couples should consider IVF?
"Women with tubal damage or blockage, endometriosis and unexplained infertility after exhausting alternative therapies are just some of the women IVF can help," says Dr. Carl Herbert, co-director of the San Francisco Fertility Centers in San Francisco, Calif.
Dr. Herbert cautions that this procedure is not advisable if pregnancy is contraindicated for any reason. The San Francisco Fertility Centers use detailed guidelines to evaluate which women are likely to conceive using IVF. In many cases, your physician can determine whether in vitro is right for you.
Kathy Anderson, of Park City, Utah, turned to IVF after eight failed attempts at artificial insemination (a procedure in which a small tube is used to place sperm inside the uterus) and a failed adoption. In Anderson's case, her eggs fertilized successfully, but then a chemical imbalance prevented her embryos, or fertilized eggs, from developing. In vitro helped her embryos grow and develop and she soon found herself the thrilled mother of twin boys.
He adds that preparations for IVF are the same as planning for any pregnancy:
- Eating a good diet
- Decreasing or eliminating caffeine, alcohol or other possibly toxic exposures
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