An Explanation Of The IVF Procedure

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process of assisted reproduction that provides couples who are infertile an opportunity to have a child who is biologically related to them. More than 250,000 babies have been born using the IVF procedure and it is now a fully established way of treating infertility.

With IVF, a man’s sperm and the woman’s egg are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman’s uterus (womb) and left to naturally develop. Typically, 2-4 embryos are put in the uterus each time. Each attempt at this is called a cycle, with the cost of each cycle being approximately $10,000.

Here are some more details of what exactly is involved in each cycle…

The woman may be given hormones in order to induce her ovaries to produce a number (5+) eggs. A surgeon will then insert a needle into the woman’s ovary to remove the eggs. At the same time, a semen sample is taken from the man. He is asked not to have sexual intercourse for half a week prior to the eggs being retrieved from the woman. The next step is for the sperm to be separated from the semen, which is done through a laboratory procedure.

Following this, the sperm will be mixed in a laboratory dish with the eggs taken from the woman. About 18 hours after this has been done, it is possible to find out if any of the eggs have been fertilized and if embryos have grown as a result. If they have, they will be incubated for the next 2-5 days. After that time, the embryos will be transferred into the woman’s uterus using a catheter (a long slender tube). The woman is then given certain hormones for the next 10-14 days.

The success rate of this procedure is 37% among women younger than 35 years, 27% for those between 36-39 years and 14% in those older than 40 years. Therefore, the total cost of IVF is generally more than $20,000, as the odds are against a couple suceeding at their first attempt.

If you liked this, try : The IVF Procedure

Ever Thought Of Surrogacy?

Many couples are unable to conceive a child naturally. If you have ruled out adoption there is another method available to you, surrogate parenting. This is a legally binding document which represents an agreement between 2 or more parties. It involves a woman will become pregnant with another woman’s baby after she undertakes the procedure of in-vitro fertilization. She will the not have any legal rights to the child at birth. It depends on the specific legal agreement that was signed, whether or not the surrogate can be involved in the child’s upbringing.

If you have thought about becoming a surrogate or even want to hire a surrogate, it’s a decision that demands some serious attention. As well as getting paid for this the surrogate mom’s expenses relating to the pregnancy and birth of the child will also be paid for.

The surrogate mom goes through the pregnancy and childbirth then gives her child away to the other “mom”. Sometimes the surrogate maybe a best friend or a family member. And other times the person can be anonymous and they may be doing it for good will or financial purposes.

In short if you are considering being a surrogate, it is vitally important that you understand the legalities and specifics of what you are agreeing to. It is agreed that the ideal circumstances a woman should become a surrogate in, is if she already has children, and does not want any more of her own. This is why the complex legal document has to be set up in the first place.

If you want to undertake the surrogacy route you should research the following. Have a look at surrogate parenting websites. Try and find some in your own state, as the laws vary in different counties. Try and find some surrogacy forums as you may find people who have went through the procedure before. There are also many books on the subject that can help you make up your mind on whether to proceed.

Hopefully this factual report concerning surrogate parenting by Calli Kuzon can also be of good value to you. You can find info concerning finding a surrogate mom as well.