What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF), the technology of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in assisted reproductive technology, refers to the technology of combining female eggs and male sperm in the laboratory, cultivating embryos and then implanting them into the mother's uterus, so that women can successfully conceive and bear. The development of IVF technology enables couples who cannot conceive naturally due to fertility dysfunction to achieve their fertility aspirations, and also provides options for solving the inheritance of some genetic diseases.
Operation process of IVF
The operation process of IVF technology includes oocyte collection, sperm processing, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture, embryo transfer and other steps.
First, collect female oocytes. According to the ovulation time of the woman, the doctor will conduct follicle puncture at a specific time point to take out the mature follicle and extract the eggs inside.
Then, prepare male sperm. The man needs to provide semen samples, separate the sperm through sperm processing technology, and remove other components through processing to improve the probability of fertilization.
Next, the egg and sperm are combined for in vitro fertilization. The eggs and sperm are cultured together in a culture dish, and nutrition is provided with the aid of the culture medium. The fertilization condition is observed. Generally, the fertilized eggs, namely embryos, can be formed after 24-48 hours.
Finally, the embryo is transferred back to the mother's uterus. When the female's physical signs are appropriate, the doctor will select a suitable embryo for transplantation, usually by implanting the embryo into the uterus through a vaginal catheter, and then observe whether it is successfully embedded and continues to develop.
Success rate of IVF
The success rate of IVF technology is related to many factors, such as female age, egg quality, uterus condition, male sperm quality, etc. Generally speaking, the success rate of young women is higher, but it will gradually decline after the age of 35. According to statistics, the success rate of IVF for women under 35 years old is about 40-50%, while the success rate for women aged 35-39 years old is about 30-40%.
In addition, the technical level and equipment of the hospital are also important factors affecting the success rate. Large general hospitals usually have more professional IVF teams and more advanced equipment to provide more comprehensive assisted reproductive technology services.
The success of IVF is also related to factors such as simultaneous ovulation induction therapy and embryo quality assessment. Doctors will formulate individualized treatment plans according to specific conditions to improve the success rate.
Ethical and Legal Problems of IVF
Although IVF technology has brought fertility hope to infertile couples, it has also triggered a series of ethical and legal issues.
The first is embryo screening. Some couples choose to carry out embryo chromosome testing and gene mutation screening to avoid the birth of embryos suffering from genetic diseases. This triggered an ethical dispute about the starting point of life.
The second is the storage and disposal of embryos. In order to improve the success rate, doctors may obtain multiple embryos in a cycle, but not all of them may be transferred. The remaining embryos can be frozen, but there are also ethical and legal disputes about the storage time, disposal method, research use and other issues.
In addition, the popularization of IVF technology also faces the problems of social cost and fairness. Due to the high cost, some couples with poor economic conditions cannot afford it, resulting in unequal reproductive rights.
summary
As an assisted reproductive technology, IVF helps infertile couples achieve their reproductive aspirations through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The operation process includes egg collection, sperm treatment, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The success rate is related to many factors, including female age, egg quality, equipment level, etc. However, IVF technology also involves ethical and legal issues, such as embryo screening, embryo storage and disposal. Therefore, when promoting and applying IVF technology, it is necessary to comprehensively consider ethical and legal issues to ensure its reasonable and legitimate application.
