ivf myths Archives - Eva Hospital

Busting 5 common myths about IVF

September 26, 2022March 28, 2024
by Eva Hospital

In recent times, there have been a lot of studies done on the effects of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This is primarily because the popularity of this method has led to a lot of speculation and hearsay in the public, regarding its effects. In this guide, we are going to bust some of those myths and misconceptions about this artificial reproductive technology.

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART), in which eggs are retrieved from a woman’s ovaries and are then artificially combined with the sperm in a lab for fertilization. Later, after the eggs are fertilized into embryos, they are placed back inside the uterus. Pregnancy occurs when this embryo implants itself into the uterine wall.

Why IVF?

People go for IVF treatment for a variety of reasons. Some of them are:

Blocked fallopian tubes: The passage for sperm to get to the eggs is blocked due to fluid build-up and dilation of the tube at its end. It creates obstruction in the formation of embryos.

Endometriosis: This occurs when tissues similar to those along the lining of your uterus grow outside it. This irregularity is painful and creates difficulty in getting pregnant.

Low sperm count: Is a condition where a man has lower than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen which is inadequate to fertilize an egg.

Uterine fibroids: Is the non-cancerous growth on the woman’s uterus during the childbearing years of a woman. More than often the studies have shown that women with this condition experience preterm labour and miscarriages.

How safe is IVF?

Most people who go under IVF treatments experience no health problems during their pregnancy and deliver a healthy child.

Common myths and misconceptions about IVF treatment

Myth 1: It always leads to multiple pregnancies

While cases of multiple pregnancies were reported in their early days due to the practice of transferring more than one embryo at a time in an IVF cycle in the hope of achieving a better chance of success. The same is not true anyway. Since its inception (The first in vitro fertilization birth took place in 1978), IVF procedures have undergone several changes, making them more nuanced and targeted. As a result of this, multiple births are avoided by implanting only a single healthy embryo following a highly nuanced procedure.

Myth 2: Single IVF failures spoil your chances of success forever

If a couple has failed to conceive after an IVF cycle for some reason, this does not mean they can never get pregnant. There have been many cases where patients have conceived after 4-5 IVF cycles, with recommended procedures like laser-assisted hatching, microfluidics, pre-implantation genetic testing or injecting platelet-rich plasma into the uterine cavity or even supplementing the diet with antioxidants as per the need of the case.

Myth 3: IVF results in abnormal babies

This is a commonly held misconception about IVF births. Know that an embryo is implanted only after genetic tests and only after ascertaining its normality. Before implantation of the embryo, genetic problems are addressed using preimplantation genetic screening (PGS).

According to a US study conducted in 2010, slightly more than 4% of babies born via assisted reproductive technology such as IVF may have major birth defects, but these risks are not much different from what would be expected in the general population.

IVF leads to hormonal problems later in life

While some side effects of the medication are not ruled out, medical researchers are unanimous in their opinion that IVF treatments don’t result in hormonal problems later in life. Chances of any such risks are much less in the case of younger women and among women who undergo a limited number of treatment cycles.

IVF pregnancy means delivery by C Section

An IVF delivery is in no manner or forms different from a normal delivery. This means whether a woman will have to go for a C-section would depend on her individual complications. In older women, however, sometimes C-section is preferred due to ensure safe delivery.

IVF

5 Myths and Facts about Test Tube Baby Treatment

December 26, 2019March 30, 2024
by Eva Hospital

The process of IVF or in-vitro fertilization has come by far and has helped millions of couples have a baby of their own. IVF may not have had acceptance much earlier but with the increase in a number of infertility cases, the process is now widely acclaimed and accepted. Young couples now actually seek information and the gynecologist’s help to make babies with test-tube baby treatment.

In the process of IVF, the egg is combined with sperm outside the female womb and the fertilization takes place in a controlled environment in a test tube, hence the term test-tube baby. After the embryo is formed, it is transferred to the woman’s uterus and the fertilization process continues as usual.

5 Myths Busted about Test Tube Baby

The procedure of IVF or test-tube babies is often seen with a doubtful eye and is fraught with misconceptions. Here are a few common myths about test-tube babies and their realities:

1. Test Tube babies are born with Malformations and Weakness

IVF or the in-vitro fertilization is an absolutely safe procedure as fertilization takes place in a controlled environment. The risk of having a baby with defects or malformations in IVF is same as that in normal pregnancy. The first-ever test-tube baby was born in 1978 and the process has come a long way since then.

Hardly 2% of patients may have a chance of suffering from ovarian-hyper stimulation syndrome. As far as the baby is concerned, there is no reason for the baby to be infected with deformities.

2. The Sex of the baby can be Chosen

IVF follows strict protocols and the rules are abiding for all the doctors. The doctor may, however, consider gender detection in case there is a risk of the patient transferring gender-specific genetic disease. The process of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) or pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) is very expensive to determine the sex of the baby.

Apart from this Dr. Shivani Bhutani, an ace gynecologist in Punjab says having a baby is the foremost concern of childless couples and the sex of the baby doesn’t matter.

3. Test Tube Babies are Artificial or Designer babies

A very common misconception is that one can choose specific baby traits and have a customized baby. Dr. Shivani totally opposes this and says that in the process of genetic selection the healthy embryos are selected and not specific genes or characteristics.

IVF is not a process of the characteristic catalog where traits can be chosen. Test tube babies are as normal and natural as normal pregnancy babies.

4. Test Tube Babies are a legacy of the Rich and Famous

IVF is an expensive process because of the controlled environmental conditions and procedural requirements. However, the costs of IVF haven’t been rising making it affordable for many couples. The last few years have seen a whopping upsurge in couples seeking cutting-edge IVF treatments.

5. Test Tube Babies are Infertile

Dr. Shivani rules out this myth completely saying test tube baby treatment is sought by couples who have reproductive problems or when age is a factor. This does not mean that genetic infertility is transferred to the off-springs. Test tubes babies are as normal and healthy as naturally conceived babies.

Conclusion

IVF is a life-changing phenomenon for those who have always wanted to parent a baby. For any doubt or query contact Dr. Shivani Bhutani, Eva Hospital, and get an opinion based on facts and truths regarding IVF pregnancies and test-tube babies. Let IVF help you build an ideal family with big smiles.

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ivf myths