In vitro fertilization (IVF treatment) is a safe choice, with millions of couples actively pursuing procedures to have a child of their own. It is an assisted reproductive technique that benefits infertile couples and women over 40 or who have obstructed or damaged fallopian tubes. Additionally, the treatment benefits males with a low sperm count or those with damaged sperm.

Since the introduction of IVF, 8 million babies have been born globally. As the number of children conceived via assisted reproductive techniques continues to rise, so does the demand for infertility services.

Women are turning to clinics for assistance. These clinics offer a wide range of options, such as egg donation, surrogacy, or adoption. But IVF is still one of the most popular.

Here are five main types of IVF treatments.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI is a type of IVF that involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg. The egg is harvested from your uterus and placed in a dish for fertilization.

Because ICSI requires only one sperm per egg, it is often used when the male partner has low-quality sperm.

IVF + Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

FET is the most common treatment for women who have exhausted their eggs or have had unsuccessful previous IVF cycles. It is also used when a woman has PCOS or another condition that makes it difficult to produce quality eggs.

In this procedure, the eggs are harvested and fertilized in a lab. The resulting embryos are then frozen for future use.

The process involves:

  • Retrieving eggs
  • Fertilizing them with sperm
  • Freezing the embryos
  • Storing them can take six months or longer, but in most cases, it takes only one cycle before you get pregnant

This treatment method is successful in most cases.

But there is a drawback. One drawback is that there are no guarantees that your cycle will work out as well as others. Why? Because there is no way to test your fertility before starting treatment. You also cannot choose when you want to become pregnant, so you may need multiple cycles before achieving success.

IVF + Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET)

The eSET procedure involves transferring one or two embryos at a time when the woman’s uterus is mature enough to handle it without harm. This allows women with certain health conditions to avoid risks associated with multiple embryo transfers.

Issues such as:

  • Premature rupture of membranes (PRM)
  • Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can cause preeclampsia and other complications during pregnancy.

Often, this approach results in higher pregnancy rates than those achieved by standard IVF techniques or FET procedures. It is because only one embryo is transferred each time rather than multiple embryos from multiple transfers.

Donor Egg IVF

In vitro fertilization (IVF) using donor eggs may be your only choice to conceive and give birth if you have a decreased ovarian reserve due to age or other causes. Doctors harvest eggs from a donor’s ovary and fertilize them with the sperm of an anonymous donor.

The fertilized embryos are implanted into the woman’s uterus, which may be done through an abdominal laparotomy, laparoscopy, or a vaginal procedure. The mother carries the embryos to full-term.

Donor Sperm IVF

Male factors are responsible for about 40% of all documented infertility cases. Infertility is defined as trying to conceive for six to twelve months without success, depending on age.

A sperm donor may be utilized for intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization when a male partner cannot generate enough healthy sperm to fertilize his female spouse’s eggs. Or if a male partner has a genetic condition, he doesn’t want to risk passing on.

This IVF treatment involves harvesting sperm from the male partner or another donor, and then the egg’s fertilization occurs to create a child.

FAQs

What Is IVF?

IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a medical procedure where eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized outside her body using sperm. If the resulting embryos develop properly, they are transferred to the uterus.

The number of embryos transferred depends on the woman’s age and medical history; she should not have more than ten or so. In some cases, multiple embryos may be transferred, especially if many eggs are available.

How Long Does One Take to Get Pregnant through IVF?

IVF cycles typically last two months. About half of all women under the age of 35 who have their initial IVF egg retrieval and subsequent embryo implantation will become pregnant.

What Age Is IVF Most Effective?

According to studies, women in their 20s and 30s had the greatest success using IVF and other reproductive technologies to conceive.