Is In-vitro fertilization painful?

by Riya Bhardwaj IVF Costing: 60+ Clinics of Delhi, India Share Cos

Is In-vitro fertilization painful?

IVF is an assisted reproductive treatment (ART) used in treating infertility. This treatment is widely accepted due to its improved success rate and final treatment accepted for infertility. The fusion of male and female gametes retrieved from the intended parents in a test tube in artificial environment is called In-vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization may cause some discomfort or little pain but it is painless procedure often performed under local anesthesia to cause no pain and comfort to patient.

Procedure for IVF treatment in India is:

IVF is a procedure that involves fusion of egg and sperm outside woman’s body and implanting the resulting zygote in woman’s uterus. Preparation for IVF cycles includes evaluation of fallopian tubes and uterus, Hormonal evaluation to assess thyroid function and ovarian reserve, Screening of both the partners for sexually transmitted disease and a semen analysis of male partner. The IVF cycle include:

· Ovarian hyper stimulation

Ovarian hyperstimulation is a stimulation to induce the development of multiple follicles of ovaries for egg retrieval. Fertility drugs are used to produce more than single egg.

In this procedure certain part may some discomfort or very less pain to the patient otherwise this step is painless. May cause some side effects like breast tenderness, fluid retention, insomnia, bloating, headache or mood swings.

· Final maturation induction

When ovarian follicles reached a certain degree of development, induction of final oocyte maturation is performed by an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) commonly known as ‘ trigger shot ‘. The trigger shot may cause some side effects but usually women feel little irritation at the injection site.

· Egg retrieval

The eggs are retrieved from a patient by transvaginal method called transvaginal oocyte retrieval. This involves ultrasound guided needle piercing the vagina wall to reach the ovaries. Through this needle follicles can be aspirated and follicular fluid is passed to embryologist to identify ova. The egg retrieval is performed at a time usually between 34 hours to 36 hours after HCG injection. Egg retrieval is the minor surgical procedure in IVF cycle. After this procedure patient may feel pressure or mild cramps. Patient will feel normal and back to routine after 1 or 2 days rest.

· Egg and sperm preparation

In laboratory, the identified eggs are exposed of surrounding cells and prepared for fertilization followed by assortment of oocyte which can be fertilized. In meantime, semen is prepared for fertilization by removing inactive cells and seminal fluid in a process called sperm washing.

· fertilization

Mature egg and sperms are transferred into a special culture medium in a Petri dish, placed in an incubator together for actual fertilization in laboratory, allowing the sperm to enter the egg on its own. If the egg is fertilized during co-incubation will show pronuclear. The fertilized egg is passed to a special growth medium and left for about 48 hours until the egg consist of six to eight cells that is blastocyst stage. Whole procedure is done in laboratory.

· Embryo selection

Embryo selection is based on embryo morphology and the rate of embryo development in culture. Positive selection criteria include the number of blastomeres. Laboratories have developed grading methods to judge embryo quality. Morphological scoring system is the best method used for selection of embryos.

· Embryo transfer

Embryos are transfer to the patient uterus through a thin, plastic catheter, which goes through vagina and cervix. Several embryos may be passed into the uterus to improve chances of pregnancy and implantation. Embryos are inserted directly into the uterus with the help of needle attached to the catheter. It is a painless procedure done under local anesthesia. Women may feel little discomfort or pressure from inserted catheter.

· Luteal support

Luteal support is the administration of medication, generally progesterone, progestin, HCG, GnRH agonist often accompanied by estradiol, to increase success rate of implantation.

So to sum it up all to while undergoing any treatment or surgical procedure pain is the highest possibility a patient can face during that procedure. IVF is also a minor surgical process so a little pain and discomfort can be experienced. Getting pregnant being infertile, having baby will be worth to the all pain taken.

Advantages of IVF treatment:

· IVF is the most successful and final assisted reproductive treatment.

· The basic advantage of IVF is achieving a successful pregnancy and healthy baby.

· It also helps in same sex couples and single woman.

· It also helps in diagnosing fertilization problems.

· Inherited diseases can also be detected from embryos.

· Women who are planning to have baby in older age can freeze their embryos for IVF cycle.

· Unused embryos can be donated to other couples.

Success rate of IVF cycle in India

Select IVF India has higher success rate than any other IVF medical tourism company. The success rate for age group less than 35 years in women is 70% to 80% and in age group above 40 years in women is 40% to 50%.

Success rates of IVF cycle in India is also altered by:

· Age of couples

Age is the most important factor in IVF cycle. There are more chances of conception in case of women less than 35 years old than as compared to 40 years old women have fewer chances.

The most active years of conception are usually from early 20s to late 20s years in women.

· Body weight

BMI of the couple is also a major factor to achieve successful pregnancy. Factors affecting BMI like obesity, body exercise also impacts success rate of IVF.

· Changes in lifestyle

Life style changes like consumption of alcohol and smoke also lowers fertility chances. Caffeine intake also lowers success rate.

· Earlier pregnancy

In case of earlier pregnancy it will increase the chances of pregnancy while in case of previous miscarriages it will decrease the chances of pregnancy.

· Medical history

Patient suffering from any severe disease like cardiac or patient having past IVF cycle failure also lowers the success rate.