What is IVF?
IVF refers to the babies produced by assisted reproductive technology in the process of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. It is a way to help couples who are unable to conceive naturally to achieve their reproductive aspirations through medical means. IVF is also called in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or assisted reproductive technology baby.
Test tube baby is completed by a series of complex medical technology steps. First, women receive ovulation promoting drugs to increase egg production. Then, the male sperm is combined with the female egg through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The fertilized eggs will be cultured in the laboratory for several days, and then the healthy embryos will be transferred back to the female uterus to continue to develop. If the transplanted embryo is successfully implanted and developed, the woman will become pregnant and give birth to a test tube baby.
Indications and contraindications of IVF
IVF technology is applicable to many different fertility problems, including fallopian tube obstruction, polycystic ovary syndrome, endocrine disorder, etc. It can also help couples who are unable to conceive naturally due to male infertility or bilateral infertility.
However, not everyone is suitable for IVF. Some contraindications include severe uterine malformation, irreversible fallopian tube disease, too old or too young women, and obvious abnormal embryonic development. In addition, if there are serious genetic diseases in the family, it may also be considered as a contraindication to IVF.
Success rate and complications of IVF
The success rate of IVF varies with individual differences and different medical conditions. According to statistics, the success rate of IVF is about 40% to 50% worldwide. However, this figure is an average, and the specific success rate is also affected by many factors, including women's age, the quality of eggs and sperm, men's sperm vitality, and the technical level of the hospital.
In addition to the general risks of fertility and pregnancy, there may be some other complications during IVF. For example, the risk of being overweight and premature may increase. In addition, bleeding, infection, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and other complications may occur during egg retrieval and embryo transfer. However, with the progress of medical technology, the risk of these complications is gradually reducing.
Development and current situation of IVF
In the 1970s, IVF technology was successfully applied to clinical practice for the first time, and has been widely used and developed since then. With the passage of time and the progress of medical technology, the success rate of IVF has increased year by year. Nowadays, many hospitals and birth centers provide IVF services, including birth centers in the United States, birth clinics in the United Kingdom and medical institutions in China.
The development of IVF technology has also caused some ethical and moral problems. For example, sex selection, disposal of frozen embryos and multiple pregnancy of test tube babies are all problems that need attention and solution. Nevertheless, IVF technology is still an important medical progress, helping couples who cannot conceive naturally realize their reproductive dreams.
Summary
Test tube baby is a way to help couples who cannot conceive naturally to achieve their reproductive aspirations through medical means. It is widely used in the world, and with the continuous development of medical technology, its success rate is also improving. However, there are still some risks and ethical problems in the process of IVF, which need to continue to be concerned and solved. Nevertheless, IVF technology has realized their dreams for many couples and has become a breakthrough in the field of modern medicine.
