In Vitro Fertilization
Have you been considering in vitro fertilization as a way to treat your infertility and move forward with having a child? If so, reach out to Baby Steps Surrogacy Center Inc. to begin the process and find out what options are right for you and your future family.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology. During IVF, a woman’s eggs are extracted from the uterus and fertilized with a sperm sample in a laboratory dish. The embryo that develops from the fertilization is then transferred back into a woman’s uterus, and the embryo develops into a baby during pregnancy.
IVF can be used when a woman is having trouble fertilizing an egg on her own and wants to have an embryo put back into her body or when a mother is unable to carry a baby and wants to use a surrogate to have a child. At Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc., we are very familiar with in vitro fertilization because we have seen many intended parents use this option when pursuing gestational surrogacy.
Preparing for IVF
The IVF procedure involves multiple steps, and all intended parents should be aware of this when they consider using this form of assisted reproductive technology. If you are the one having your eggs retrieved, you will first need to produce numerous eggs for retrieval. A transvaginal ultrasound will be performed to examine your ovaries, and blood tests will be taken to check hormone levels.
In order for the body to produce these eggs, you will have to give yourself fertility shots, which can be painful and exhausting. Ultimately, the goal is to retrieve multiple eggs at once, just in case the fertilization process is not initially successful.
How IVF Works
Once you have gone through the initial preparation of producing eggs for retrieval, you will go through a minor surgical procedure where your eggs are retrieved. While there can be some discomfort during this procedure, medicine is provided, and you should be able to leave the treatment center on the same day.
After your eggs are retrieved, an attempt will be made to fertilize them with sperm in a laboratory dish. Once fertilization is achieved, the merged egg and sperm are considered an embryo. If more than one egg and sperm are fertilized, the additional embryos can be frozen at early stages for later use.
The Embryo Transfer Process
Three to five days after the fertilization takes place, the embryo transfer process will occur. You or your surrogate mother will go in and the embryo will be inserted into the uterus using a small tube. While mild cramping may occur during this procedure, it is usually pain free. Once this procedure is complete, you or your surrogate mother will wait for a positive pregnancy test.
Reach Out to a Highly Regarded Surrogacy Agency
In successful IVF cases, the embryo implantation usually happens within six to ten days after the egg retrieval. At Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc., we schedule your IVF appointment well ahead of time and make sure your surrogate mother is on board with all of the dates before moving forward; that way, when the time comes, everyone will be excited and ready to proceed.
IVF is a great option for intended parents wanting to give gestational surrogacy a try. We can answer any questions or concerns you may have about in vitro fertilization in a free consultation. Call our office at 412-281-9906 or click on the button at the top of the page.