The first IVF baby was welcomed into the world on 25th July 1978. Since Louise Joy Brown was born, more and more couples, who would have been otherwise unlucky, have been able to experience the joy of parenthood year on year.
Even though you know that it is the only chance of having a baby, it still takes a lot to get over the fears and finally opt for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
The first problem that you might face while planning a baby late in life is conception, which is caused due to low egg production and poor quality of egg/sperm. As the age of the woman increases, her egg quality and numbers also decrease and this may lead to infertility. Other driving factors to this can be low sperm count, male infertility, and medical conditions like blocked tubes, endometriosis, fibroids, etc.
According to the estimate of the World Health Organization (WHO), about 8-10% of couples experience some form of infertility. Infertility is a complex and upsetting experience and people undergoing IVF often face more stress worrying about the success rate.
Are you planning for a late pregnancy? Is IVF the solution for you? Here, are some factors that play the most important role in conceiving through IVF:
INTERNAL FACTORS:
● Age: The age of the woman is the single biggest factor affecting the success of an IVF procedure. With a success rate of 40-45%, IVF is most successful for Indian women between the ages of 24 and 35. This is expected, as this is the age range when women are at their peak of fertility. As age increases, the success rate drops. This is because the quality and/or quantity of a woman’s eggs reduce as she grows older.
● Embryo Quality: The quality of the embryo plays a crucial role in your IVF success. The decrease in success rates in IVF is because of the decreasing quality of sperm and eggs. There is an increased loss of eggs and sperm after the age of 32-35 and fertility declines significantly thereafter.
● Type of fertility problems: Fertility problems whether it is in the case of male or female, affects the success rates of IVF equally. Female Infertility problems like uterine abnormalities, polyps, and fibroid tumors decrease the likelihood of success with IVF. Factors like Ovarian dysfunction, and high FSH levels which indicate a low ovarian reserve, can also reduce the IVF success rates.
● Lifestyle habits: It’s time to change your lifestyle habits if you are planning for a baby! Women who are addicted to smoking, encounter more failure in IVF cycles. More IVF success factors to mull over include losing weight if you are overweight or obese.
● Chromosomal abnormalities: If you are a woman over the age of 38, there is a 79% chance that the embryos might carry chromosomal abnormalities. The risk of abnormalities grows as the age of the mother increases. Most embryos with an incorrect number of chromosomes fail to implant or miscarry during the first trimester of pregnancy.
EXTERNAL FACTORS:
● The fertility clinic: Perhaps one of the biggest external factors that determine the success of IVF treatment is the clinic chosen by the couple for their treatment. Numerous factors that affect the success of the IVF cycle have a direct connection to the fertility clinic and its expertise, protocol, and technology – from the lab’s success rates to laboratory standards. So select your fertility clinic properly.
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