Marisa Welch

Ms. Tupajic
Anatomy Block G
17 November 2014
In Vitro Fertilization

Getting pregnant can be a very difficult process for some women. Infertility
can be caused by different factors, such as older age, damaged Fallopian tubes, and
endometriosis (a disorder that causes cells from the uterus to grow in other parts of the
body). Decreased sperm count from the male can also cause infertility. Because of this
difficulty, some women look to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to help them get pregnant. IVF
is a process in which a womans egg and a mans sperm are joined in a laboratory dish.
There are five basic steps to the IVF process. The first step, called super ovulation,
involves the woman taking fertility drugs that increase her egg production. These drugs
cause the woman to produce several eggs, rather than the usual amount of one egg.
To check hormone levels and examine the ovaries, the woman will have frequent
transvaginal ultrasounds. When this step is complete, the woman will have a surgery,
called follicular aspiration, to retrieve their eggs. During the surgery, a thin needle is
inserted into the ovaries and sacs, using ultrasound images as a guide. This process is
done for each ovary. When the eggs have been retrieved, the insemination process
starts, meaning the mans sperm is mixed in a laboratory dish with the best eggs. The
eggs and sperm are put into an environmentally controlled chamber and the sperm
usually fertilizes the egg within a few hours. After an egg has been fertilized it will divide

and create and embryo. After about five days, a normal embryo will have a few cells
that will actively divide. The last step of IVF is the embryo transfer. About 3-5 days
after the fertilization and egg retrieval, the embryos are placed in the womans womb.
To do this, a catheter that contains the womans embryos is inserted through the cervix
and into the womb. A pregnancy will occur when an embryo attaches to the womb lining
and grows. To increase the chances of pregnancy more than one embryo can be
inserted into the womb at the same time, which may result in multiples. If an embryo is
not used, it can be frozen to be used at a different time. IVF is a very useful procedure
that helps many couples conceive children of their own. It increases the chance of
getting pregnant, allows the option to use donor eggs in the woman trying to get
pregnant, and can also test for genetic disabilities.
The main purpose of IVF is to help couples that have infertility issues have a
greater chance of becoming pregnant. The chance of giving birth after the IVF
procedure is approximately 41-43% for women under the age of 35 in the United States.
This is compared to the chances of a woman getting pregnant in her twenties, which is
about 20-25%. In the early thirties, the chance of pregnancy decreases to 15%, if a
couple is trying to conceive naturally. One main factor in infertility is condition of
blocked fallopian tubes, which accounts for 40% of all infertility. If a fallopian tube is
blocked, then the sperm is not able to reach the egg and the egg cannot reach the
uterus. IVF is a great option for women with blocked fallopian tubes to get pregnant, as
getting pregnant naturally would be nearly impossible.
IVF is also helpful for a woman who need egg donation. Reasons for needing
egg donation include premature ovarian failure (POF), which causes women to go

through menopause early. Egg donation is also a viable option for women who have
high chances of passing down diseases. Lastly, egg donation is helpful to women who
have gone through IVF before and have not gotten pregnant. The cause of that is most
likely the quality of the eggs retrieved. Egg donation in IVF is another step that infertile
couples can take that will greatly increase their chance of pregnancy.
The arguments against IVF include the cost and the associated risks. A single
IVF cycle can cost between $12,000- $17,000. Infertility treatments are not usually
covered by insurance, making the payment of this procedure difficult for some people.
The overall cost of the treatment includes the cost of medicine, surgery, anesthesia, and
the other parts of the IVF process. The risks of IVF do have the potential to be severe.
Risks include vomiting, rapid weight gain (ten pounds in 3-5 days), shortness of breath,
and decreased urination. More severe risks include bleeding, disease, and infection of
the bladder or bowel during egg retrieval, psychological stress, and a chance of a
pregnancy that results in multiples. A multiples pregnancy increases the chance of a
low birth weight and premature delivery. Although these risks are valid reasons to not
do this procedure, IVF is still a viable option for couples having trouble reproducing.
There are going to be many risks factors in a naturally conceived pregnancy as well,
such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The risks of premature birth and low
birth weight are also a risk for naturally born multiples, not just ones conceived through
IVF. Overall, the risks of IVF, both financial and health related, are not a big hindrance
to couples who are willing to bring their own child into the world.
One last reason that IVF is a very worthwhile option for an infertile couple is the
ability to test for genetic disabilities. The process of testing embryos produced through

IVF is known as preimplantation genetic testing. The process involves a few steps. The
first step is to remove a couple of cells from the produced embryo. The cells that are
pulled are then evaluated to see if there is a chance of inheritance of a problematic
gene in the embryo. After the embryo has been tested, the IVF process is continued.
This is especially helpful for people who have concerns about passing down genetic
disorders. These disorders include chromosomal disorders, single-gene disorders, and
sex-linked genetic disorders. Women who are over 35 years old, have experienced
repeated pregnancy loss, or have failed more than a singular fertility treatment will also
benefit from this testing. Preimplantation genetic testing can test for over 100
inheritable genetic disorders and allows couples to see if their child will be healthy and
make the decision of carrying on with the pregnancy. Preimplantation genetic testing is
a very lucrative opportunity for parents who already have trouble conceiving to see if
they will pass down genetic disorders.
Overall, In Vitro Fertilization is a very helpful procedure for infertile couples. It
can overcome major problems women may face when trying to get pregnant, such as
fallopian tube blockage. IVF is also a great option for women who do not have great
quality eggs, but want their partners sperm to fertilize the egg. Lastly, IVF allows for
preimplantation genetic testing. This procedure is especially helpful for those who have
the chance of passing down certain genetic disorders and do not want their future
children to suffer through them. Although IVF costs quite a bit of money, the people who
are willing to pay for it and go through the process show they are committed to bringing
a child into the world. In Vitro Fertilization gives people who would normally not have a
chance of getting pregnant, having their dreams of having a child come true.

Works Cited
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Gurevich, Rachel. "What You Need to Know About Blocked Fallopian Tubes."
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"In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National
Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
"Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) - American Pregnancy Association."
American Pregnancy Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
"The Pros and Cons of IVF." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/babies-prosand-cons/>.
"What Are the Factors That Put a Pregnancy at Risk?" What Are the Factors That
Put a Pregnancy at Risk? NIH, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.