In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a laboratory technique that allows an egg to be fertilized outside the uterus. The younger the woman, the greater the possibilities of effectiveness. Own or donated gametes can be used and it is recommended in problems of male infertility or endometriosis.
How does it work?
The specialist selects a sperm that is healthy and injects it directly into the ovule with a needle. Once the embryo develops, it is transferred to the uterus through In Vitro fertilization.
This treatment is ideal for couples in which the man has a very low sperm count or poor sperm quality. It can be done three to six times and has a 38% chance of success.
Pros
• With this method, men who have a very low sperm count can consider being a biological parent.
• Regardless of the situation, an egg will always be attached to a viable sperm.
• Donated sperm and eggs may be used if the partner is not able to use the man’s sperm or the woman’s eggs for some reason.
• 25% of pregnancies through In Vitro Fertilization results in multiple births.
Cons
• The embryo is simply injected into the uterine cavity with the hope that it will implant itself, but IVF is not yet able to implant embryos.
• The risk of multiple embryos implanting in the uterus can lead to selective interruption or a high-risk pregnancy that poses a danger to the mother and babies.
• This procedure is usually expensive.