The difference between IVF and natural pregnancy
Test tube baby is a method to make infertile couples obtain fertility through assisted reproductive technology. Compared with natural pregnancy, test tube baby has significant differences in many aspects. This article will make a detailed comparison between the two methods from four aspects: physiological mechanism, success rate, pregnancy risk and psychological impact.
physiological mechanism
Natural pregnancy refers to the process of achieving normal pregnancy through sexual behavior. The sperm naturally combines with the egg in the female reproductive system to form a fertilized egg, which eventually embeds into the endometrium. In IVF, female eggs and male sperm are fertilized in vitro, and then the fertilized eggs are cultured to a certain stage before being transplanted into the female endometrium in order to develop into a fetus in vivo.
Natural pregnancy is a natural physiological process, which can determine whether it is successful or not according to the ovulation period of women and the sperm quality of men. IVF needs to go through multiple auxiliary technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, embryo culture and embryo transfer. Due to the intervention of human intervention, the success rate is higher but also more complex.
Success rate
The success rate of natural pregnancy is usually related to many factors, including the ovulation of women, the state of endometrium, the quality of male sperm, etc. There is only one ovulation period per month, and the probability of pregnancy during this period is relatively low. Therefore, for infertile couples, the success rate of natural pregnancy is low.
In contrast, IVF has a higher success rate. Through assisted reproductive technology, doctors can accurately grasp the ovulation period of women and select the best sperm for fertilization. In addition, the success rate of pregnancy can be improved by means of embryo culture and genetic screening. Although the success rate has improved, IVF is not 100% successful, and it still needs constant adjustment and trial, which also increases the economic and psychological pressure of couples.
Pregnancy risk
The pregnancy risk of natural pregnancy is relatively low, and the pregnancy process of most natural pregnancies is consistent with the normal development of embryos. However, the pregnancy risk of IVF is relatively high. Assisted reproductive technology may bring some complications, such as multiple pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, etc. In addition, IVF pregnancy also needs hormone therapy to promote the growth of endometrium and fix embryos, which also increases the pregnancy risk of patients.
Psychological influence
Natural pregnancy often brings joy and expectation that couples haven't seen for a long time, while IVF is often accompanied by more anxiety and pressure. For infertile couples, IVF is often the last hope. They need to face the failure of attempts, economic burden and possible ethical and moral problems. These psychological pressures may have a certain negative impact on the physical and mental health of couples.
In conclusion, there are obvious differences between IVF and natural pregnancy in physiological mechanism, success rate, pregnancy risk and psychological impact. Although IVF provides more opportunities for infertile couples, it also brings additional risks and psychological burden. Therefore, when choosing the birth mode, couples should weigh their own conditions and the doctor's advice, and actively adjust their mentality to maintain good physical and mental health.
