“Where do babies come from?” is an age-old question that you probably asked your parents at quite a young age. You had a fairly good idea of where they came from but not quite sure of how they got here. As you grew up, you knew how babies got here and where they came from but as you came into adulthood, you quickly realized that there are several couples out there that have a tough time getting pregnant and that it’s not so easy to get pregnant the good old fashioned way.
Longing to have a baby and not being able to have one is heartbreaking for any couple. It can send you through a state of depression, cause a rift in your relationship or marriage, and put a strain on your physical and mental health. Luckily, with the advancements in technology, not being able to conceive naturally isn’t the end of the road… medical technology has allowed for alternative options to help you get pregnant. If you’re struggling to conceive, call and book your appointment today to speak to a fertility specialist and learn more about your options!
IVF Process Condensed
Medically speaking, anytime a woman’s eggs are involved in any type of fertilization process, it’s considered to fall under assisted reproductive technology (ART). IVF is the most popular form of ART. In short, the process of IVF is when a woman’s eggs are removed from her body and then fertilized in a lab. Once those eggs are fertilized, they’ll be implanted back into the woman’s uterus. There’s obviously a lot more to the process than that but having even the most basic understanding of it will help you better prepare for what’s to come.
IVF Process: What You Didn’t Know
IVF Is Not 100%
Everyone always thinks that if you endure IVF cycles to get pregnant, it’s automatically going to work… unfortunately, that’s not the case but there are great proven results from it. A successful pregnancy through IVF is dependent upon several factors. Things like age, health history, and lifestyle all play a significant role in the success of your IVF cycle… but your success chances do decrease with age. Success is also dependent upon the clinic as well so do your research on fertility plus clinics.
Be sure to not only ask them about their pregnancy rates but also ask them about their success rates of live births because there is a difference in the two. According to the CDC, in 2017, there were over 68,000 live births through ART cycles. But with pregnancy, regardless of how the baby is conceived, there is always the risk of miscarriages, stillborns, and infant death, so that’s just something you have to prepare yourself for. There’s actually a holiday that brings awareness to pregnancy and infant loss. It has helped lots of women keep the memory alive of their lost little one.
Infertility Is Not A Diagnosis… It’s A Symptom
Lots of people tend to think that being infertile is a diagnosis but it’s really not… it’s not something you just have. Infertility is a symptom or result of another medical condition. Infertility has been due to several factors, including:
- Ovulation disorders
- Fallopian tube damage
- Endometriosis
- uterine/cervical issues
Think of infertility as a symptom like having a cough. You can have a cough due to a variety of reasons like having a cold or COPD… it’s the result or symptom of something else. The definition of infertility in itself is simply having unprotected sexual intercourse and not being able to get pregnant from it; it doesn’t explain why you’re not getting pregnant.
The Waiting Period …
You’ve been through every step of the process, from the 10 days of taking the fertility medications to having the fertilized eggs implanted back into your body. From that point, the only thing left to do is wait the two weeks to finally find out if everything worked and you get the results from your pregnancy test.
This period can indeed be a frustrating and stressful time in your life. It’s really the only thing you can think about. That’s why during this two week time period it’s important to keep yourself busy and keep your mind occupied.
Potential Fathers-To-Be Are Affected By IVF Too
Although the woman is the one enduring all the procedures, the man supporting the woman also needs support as well. Believe it or not but he’s just as anxious as she is. The potential dad to be is oftentimes ignored during the process because he’s not the one physically going through the process but the reality is that he’s just as much part of the process too. He’s there consoling his partner during those long night of sadness and doing little things to bring a smile to her face.
Your Sacrifice Is Totally Worth It
The process of IVF can be scary, painful, and bring about financial stress but once you’re holding your beautiful bundle of joy. You’ll think back about everything you went through and see that it was totally worth every tear and frustration… you finally will have the family you’ve been longing for. You thought you knew love but having a baby will not only teach you but it will also show you a completely different side of love that you never thought would be possible.