Medical auxiliary means for elderly childbearing
Older childbearing refers to women over 35 years of age, after which the risk of pregnancy increases. In order to help elderly women realize their desire to have children, the medical community has developed a variety of medical aids. This article will elaborate on these means from four aspects.
In vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET)
In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is a commonly used medical aid, which is suitable for elderly women who have difficulty in natural pregnancy due to abnormal reproductive organ structure, oviduct obstruction, male factors and other reasons. First, doctors will collect eggs by stimulating ovarian ovulation, then combine with sperm to form embryos in vitro, and finally transfer high-quality embryos to women's uterus. IVF-ET technology can increase the chance of pregnancy, but the success rate decreases with the growth of women's age.
In addition, IVF-ET can also be combined with some auxiliary technologies to improve the success rate. For example, immature oocytes can be obtained by in vitro culture technology (IVM), and then fertilized and transplanted after in vitro maturation. For women who are difficult to ovulate, ovulation promoting drugs can be used to assist in ovulation. In addition, gene detection technology (PGS/PGD) can screen embryos with chromosome abnormalities, improve the success rate of embryo transfer and pregnancy health.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation transplantation technique
The technique of ovarian tissue cryotransplantation is a kind of assisted reproductive method suitable for elderly women. This technique can be used to preserve young ovarian tissue and transplant it back into the body when fertility is needed. When women enter menopause, their ovarian function will decline, and the quality and quantity of eggs will decrease. Ovarian tissue freezing transplantation technology has become an important choice.
The ovarian tissue was taken out by surgery and cryopreserved. When a woman is preparing for pregnancy, the frozen ovarian tissue is transplanted back into the body to activate its function. This technology does not require the use of hormones and egg extraction process, so it has less side effects on the body. However, the success rate and the durability of ovarian tissue after transplantation still need further study.
Egg/embryo donation and surrogacy
For some elderly women who are unable to conceive, egg donation or embryo donation and surrogacy are another feasible means of medical assistance. Donating eggs/embryos can provide young and healthy eggs/embryos and increase the success rate of pregnancy. The surrogate will place the donated embryos or eggs in the womb of the surrogate mother to make her pregnant and deliver.
However, egg/embryo donation and surrogacy may involve ethical, legal and moral issues, which require legal and compliant operations in accordance with local laws and moral standards.
Summary
In view of the reproductive difficulties of elderly women, the medical community has developed a variety of medical aids. In vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is a commonly used technology, which increases the chance of pregnancy by combining and transferring embryos in vitro. The ovarian tissue freezing transplantation technique can reactivate ovarian function when fertility is needed. Egg/embryo donation and surrogacy offer another option. Different auxiliary means are applicable to different individuals, and the most suitable method should be selected according to the situation.
To sum up, elderly women can achieve their reproductive aspirations with the help of medical aids, but each method has its scope of application and risks, and doctors need to make personalized choices and guidance according to the specific conditions of patients.
