No, in layman’s language, IVF is referred to as the test-tube baby procedure. It does not mean the fertilization takes place in test-tube; rather, the fertilization takes place in-vitro in a Petri dish, and the embryo is placed back into the uterus. So the child takes birth naturally.

The test tube babies are as normal as other babies as IVF does not alter the natural pregnancy process in any way. Hence, they are still prone to common genetic and congenital problems that can occur in any pregnant woman.

In both, treatments the process of IVF Is the same. The only difference lies, in surrogacy, the embryo is implanted in the surrogate mother’s womb, whereas in the case of a test-tube baby, the embryo is implanted in the mother’s womb from whom the ovum has been taken.

Since the treatment is costly, many who either desire to have more than one child or who thinks either one of the 2-3 embryos will perfectly implant in the womb have more chances of twins. The doctor plays a vital role in avoiding multiple pregnancies.

No. Gender selection or testing of gender before childbirth is illegal in India.

The doctor advises remaining sedentary on the day of Implantation. Women after implantation must avoid heavy exercises and strenuous workouts until pregnancy is confirmed or stable. Tough day-to-day activities can be carried out with little precautions, such as avoiding forceful activities.

Many factors decide you can attempt IVF treatment more than once, but on average, a woman can try 3-4 times the IVF treatment cycle. The doctor will guide better on the subject of repetition of the cycle. Since it is a costly procedure, the choice to try out repetitive must be a logical and conscious decision, not taken under any kind of pressure.

PROS

• The procedure has given results and a ray of hope to many elderly couples even, who desire to have their own young ones.
• It is one of the most successful procedures recommended when other procedures fail to give results.
• Doctors also recommend this when the couple is suffering from genetic or unknown infertility disorders.

CONS

• The procedure may seem a little awkward to women. The doctor has to brief the procedure to the couple before starting the treatment.
• Though it has higher chances than other procedures, it does not guarantee results.

The egg retrieval is done with the administration of general anesthesia, which wears off shortly after the egg retrieval process. Since a thin needle is inserted into the ovary transvaginally, and the follicles are punctured before retrieval, The women may face little cramping after egg retrieval, which can be managed with medications.

Some steps may be a little painful or discomforting. Starting with stimulation medication, women may find anxiety issues or stomach bloat in the first few shots. However, things will come back to normal after a few shots. The egg retrieval process is done in anesthesia, so it is also not painful. The embryo transfer is also minimum painful as it is handled diligently by experts.
Still, few women may feel little discomfort or awkwardness from the process. Your doctor shall brief you about the treatment before choosing the procedure.

On average, one cycle of treatment takes four weeks, but the period may stretch to six or seven-week per cycle depending on the individual cases, treatment administered, and other factors delaying the conception.

A couple, especially a woman, should avoid:

• Smoking and consuming alcohol. Regular smoking or alcohol consumption reduces the semen quality in males and hinders the ovulation cycle in females.
• Heavy exercises
• Certain types of food items that increase the chances of stones

While you visit a doctor for the IVF treatment, your doctor will suggest few ways to gain strength physically to be prepared for test tube baby treatment. Some of the valuable advice are:

• Eat healthily- You may consume regular food, but it should be fortified with rich nutrients with an ample quantity of vitamins and minerals.
• Exercise regularly- Seek doctor’s advice to continue with exercise. Exercise is a must to boost the metabolism of the body.
• Get enough sleep- disturbed sleep cycle can affect hormonal levels in women.
• Keep yourself happy and motivated- Researches finds that a happy woman has more chances of conception. So ladies are advised to be motivated and do what makes them happy.

You may wonder what the difference is, but there is actually no difference between the two. In layman’s terms, the IVF procedure is coined as a test tube baby. The fact is that fertilization takes place in a petri dish ‘outside the body’ where IVF derived its name (in-vitro).
Unlike the social stigma faced by parents of test-tube babies born in 90’, today, people take it normally. In fact, the procedure proves to be a boon to many unfortunate couples.

The IVF treatment cost depends on a number of factors such as partners’ age, any medical complication, a hereditary condition, requirements of further subsidiary treatment, etc. Still, the ball mark figure estimates the expenditure of 1 to 2 lakh for an IVF cycle. The other specialized treatments, such as ICSI, also usually cost between 1 to 2 lakhs of expenditure. It is best to consult an IVF specialist.

The procedure is as follows:

• Stimulation– The female is given certain injection that helps to grow more eggs at a time.
• Egg Retrieval– The doctor uses a special device, an ultrasound probe on which small injection-like equipment is mounted. The equipment sucks the ovum from the ovaries transvaginally.
• Sperm retrieval– Concurrently, the sperm is also retrieved from the male partner.
• Fertilization– The doctors mix the eggs and sperms in a Petri dish or In-vitro and leaves in the modulated atmosphere for fertilization
• Embryo Culture– The doctors monitor the progress of fertilization of viable eggs and sperms. The doctors monitor the process of growth of the embryo by division. The process is done in an externally controlled atmosphere, required for the embryo to divide, called embryo culture.
• Embryo transfer– Once the embryo is found viable after the screening, the embryo is transferred in the womb by inserting embryo through a thin embryo transfer catheter.
• Confirmation– The woman is regularly monitored until a pregnancy test is conducted at fortnight to confirm the case.

A baby conceived from in-vitro Fertilization is called a test-tube baby. It is called so because the process of fertilization is done outside the body in a controlled and viable atmosphere in a petri dish, after which the embryo is implanted in the mother’s uterus.

The low ovarian reserve, also called a diminished ovarian reserve, is a condition in which the capability of ovaries or their total egg cell count reduces, resulting in infertility. The ovarian reserve refers to the quality and the volume of the eggs. It is caused at the time of menopause or higher age, but it varies from person to person, causing infertility. Though any treatment cannot cure the reduction of the ovarian reserve, it is possible to get pregnant through assisted processes.

Chances of having twins or triplets are around 9.1% for women below 35 years, and chances decrease with higher age. However, the chances of having twins through IVF are much higher than that of conventional pregnancies.

The rate of congenital disabilities in IVF babies is consistent with that of babies born via natural conception, which is 1 – 2%. Using the latest technologies such as PGS and PGD, the risk of genetic conditions acquired by the offspring can be reduced significantly.

In the treatment, there could be mild side-effects such as cramping, bloating, or breast tenderness. Some medication-induced side-effect involves hot flashes, headaches, mood swings, and abdominal pain. All of them can be easily treated.

If you or your partner falls sick during the treatment, consult with your IVF treatment specialist so that the cycle can be altered /delayed. Both, IVF treatment specialist and your physician or related doctor should be informed so that you can be provided with suitable medications accordingly.

Yes, with little care, both things can be done. Doing light-weight exercises is preferable, as it increases the chances of conception. But, in case of any complication, you must consult with the doctor. The doctor might ask to avoid certain intense types of exercise. There is no evidence that traveling might disrupt the procedure, but there is no harm in seeking extra precautionary measures in consultation with the doctor.

No, infertility is a complication prevalent in both genders. Since women are child-bearers, the problem in women seems magnified. About one-third of infertility cases are due to female problems, and equally one-third cases are due to male problems, and the remaining one-third due to other factors of infertility in both.

The term pain is subjective. It can be perceived both physically and emotionally by different patients. As far as physical pain is concerned, it is a minimally invasive procedure. The needle of the injection shot stimulants, given in the process are very thin, so the person only feels minimal pain as a stinging sensation. In egg retrieval or embryo implantation, the procedure is done diligently by experts to cause minimal discomfort.

On average, the success rates range from 30% – 35%. This percentage decreases with increased age. The percentage depends on several factors, such as the quality of treatment and the doctor’s expertise.

Doctors recommend IVF treatment to address problems in conception due to infertility or genital problems. During the treatment, the doctor prescribes certain medications to boost egg production in ovaries, which can be retrieved in the later IVF process. IVF treatment can also be recommended in the following conditions:

• Fallopian tube blockage
• Endometriosis
• Ovulation Disorders
• Uterine Fibroids
• Previous Tubular sterilization
• Genetic disorders