How painful is the whole process of IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) means that eggs and sperm are combined in vitro to form embryos, and then the embryos are transferred back to the mother so that women can become pregnant and deliver successfully. This technology is a blessing for some couples with fertility difficulties, but the whole process is not painless. This article will elaborate from four aspects: physical pain, psychological burden, time and energy consumption and economic pressure.
Physical pain
The whole process of IVF is particularly hard for women. First is the drug injection phase. Women need to inject ovulation promoting drugs such as growth hormone every day, which may cause abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting and other discomfort. The process of injecting drugs itself is a pain, especially for people who are afraid of injecting. The second is the egg retrieval operation. This operation needs to remove eggs through the vagina, which may cause abdominal pain, bleeding and other discomfort. After the operation, it needs to recover for a period of time. The last stage is the embryo transfer stage, which is relatively mild compared with the first two stages, but may also cause abdominal distension, abdominal pain and other discomfort.
In addition, IVF also has some physical pain for men. Men need to collect sperm in the laboratory. This process may cause discomfort or embarrassment, which is a psychological burden for some men. Therefore, physical pain is a major source of pain that cannot be ignored in the process of IVF.
Psychological burden
The process of IVF is not only a physical pain for couples, but also a psychological burden. First of all, the birth problem itself may bring tremendous psychological pressure to couples. When couples find themselves unable to conceive naturally, they may feel inferior, anxious, desperate and other negative emotions. Secondly, the success rate of IVF is not high. Every failure will bring a heavy blow to the couple, which may lead to depression, self blame, depression and other psychological problems. In addition, the whole process needs the close cooperation and support of both husband and wife. If there is contradiction or misunderstanding between husband and wife, it is more likely to increase the psychological burden.
Time and energy consumption
The IVF process requires a lot of time and effort. The first is the queuing and waiting time of hospitals. Due to the large demand for this technology, the queuing time of some well-known hospitals may be as long as several months or even longer. Next is the drug injection phase. Women need to inject drugs on time every day, which requires fixed time and energy input. The second is regular hospital reexamination and inspection. Each cycle requires multiple visits to the hospital for inspection, which will consume a certain amount of time and energy. The last stage is surgery and transplantation. These processes often need to be carried out at a specified time. If the time window is missed, you can only wait for the next cycle.
Economic pressure
The whole process of IVF is not only a physical and psychological burden, but also brings tremendous economic pressure to couples. First of all, the technology of IVF is more complex, and the medical cost is higher. Drug costs, surgery costs, examination costs, etc. are all expenses that need to be borne. Secondly, due to the low success rate, it may require multiple attempts, which increases the economic burden. Not only that, you may also need to buy assisted reproductive products, such as test paper, thermometer, condoms, etc. Therefore, for some couples with more difficult economic conditions, the economic pressure is a big challenge.
To sum up, the whole process of IVF has brought some pain and pressure in physical, psychological, time and economic aspects. However, it is worth mentioning that despite the pain and burden in the process, IVF technology has brought hope and happiness to some couples who cannot conceive naturally, which is the most valuable gain.
