Preparing for IVF
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure used to treat infertility by retrieving eggs from the uterus, allowing the eggs to fertilize with sperm in a laboratory dish, and then placing the resulting embryo into a woman’s body for development. IVF can be used for women wanting to give birth, but oftentimes, IVF is used in conjunction with a surrogate mother when the biological mother’s womb is not viable.
If you are an intended parent wanting to have a biological child but are not able to give birth on your own, surrogacy by way of IVF can be a great alternative. At Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc., we will work with you to prepare for the IVF procedure. We will ensure that you feel both comfortable and confident before moving forward so that when it is time to proceed, the experience is a hopeful one.
Mental Preparation
Mental preparation before going into your IVF procedure will be important because there are a lot of potential outcomes and it is key to have realistic expectations. There is always a chance that your IVF procedure will not be successful due to factors like poor embryo quality, egg quality and age, implantation dysfunction, or poor ovarian response.
Even if your IVF procedure is successful, there are other situations you will want to prepare for. For example, there is a chance that the procedure will result in multiple pregnancies. You may also have extra embryos, which you may have the opportunity to freeze, if you choose. Lastly, will you be prepared to handle the financial burden of IVF? These are things you and your spouse should consider.
Physical Preparation
The physical preparation for IVF can also be demanding because you will need to take specific medications and hormone shots in order to trigger your body to produce more eggs. Depending on the state of your health, you may need to adjust your diet or your exercise regime. Surprisingly, too much exercise can negatively affect outcomes.
Your healthcare provider can help you customize a health plan that’s right for you.
Other Things to Consider Regarding In Vitro Fertilization
When preparing for IVF, you will want to keep your life relatively steady and stress-free for the specified time period. By avoiding major life changes, planning ahead for travel, and staying calm, you can increase your chances of having a successful egg retrieval.
If you are participating in IVF because you plan on using a surrogate, then you and your surrogate mother will also need to mentally and physically prepare for the embryo transfer and the pregnancy that’s hopefully to come.
Contact an Experienced Surrogacy Agency
While both IVF and surrogacy can seem daunting, when you have the right surrogacy agency to support you, the process becomes easier because you can rest easy knowing you are legally safe and medically in the right hands. If you are an intended parent and would like to schedule an appointment with Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc., call 412-281-9906 or click on the button at the top of the page.