Understanding Assisted Reproductive Technology
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a collection of treatments used to help people conceive and carry a pregnancy. Typically, ART is for patients with fertility issues. ART uses the female eggs, male sperm cells, and embryos to achieve pregnancy. In-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrafallopian transfer, frozen embryo transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and intrauterine insemination (IUI) are all examples of ART.
What is in vitro fertilization?
In vitro-fertilization (IVF) is an ART procedure that involves eggs, sperm, and embryos. First, doctors give the patient medication to initiate egg maturation. Then, the mature eggs are collected from the body through a procedure called egg retrieval. Next, the eggs are sent to a laboratory to be fertilized by healthy sperm cells. Finally, once a viable embryo is produced the embryo is transferred to the uterus using a special procedure. After a couple of weeks, the patient is given a pregnancy test to confirm pregnancy.
Exploring intrauterine insemination
Before the IUI process, doctors perform tests like a saline infusion sonogram (SIS) to identify any fallopian tube blockages. If none are present, then the patient is given medication to speed up ovulation. Once ovulation begins, the patient goes to the clinic to receive a sperm sample injected directly into the uterus. The goal is for one of the sperm cells to fertilize an egg and produce an embryo. A few weeks later, the patient returns to the doctor to take a pregnancy test.
Is one fertility treatment better than the other?
The type of ART used depends on the biology of the patient. IVF works best for patients with conditions like endometriosis, low sperm counts, or blocked fallopian tubes. IUI is ideal for single patients, same-sex couples, or people unexplained infertility issues. Cost is another important factor. Typically, IUI is less expensive than IVF and doesn’t require as much medical intervention.
The best treatments for patients over 40
Statistics show that the success rate for IVF in patients aged 40 ranges between 10-20% per cycle. In IVF, patients may undergo multiple cycles before getting pregnant. Typically, patients go through 2-3 cycles before having a successful pregnancy. The success rates for IUI tend to be lower with research showing approximately 1% of patients aged 40 and older experiencing success with IUI. Typically, doctors recommend 3-6 cycles of IUI for patients. Many fertility specialists opt for IUI before trying IVF because IUI is less expensive and invasive.
Important things to note
One of the most important aspects of fertility is egg viability. A woman’s eggs decrease in number and viability as women age. Therefore, an older woman must understand individual egg count and quality when considering fertility treatments. Tests like ovarian reserve testing use blood testing and an ultrasound to determine a patient’s egg count. Preimplantation genetic testing is performed on embryos before implantation to locate genetic or chromosomal abnormalities that might terminate the pregnancy. These examinations are important evaluations that can be done during the fertility journey.
Consult a professional
Patients should understand that fertility is personal and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a successful pregnancy. Patients should have discussions with medical professionals like a primary care physician, OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinologists, and urologists to understand the unique composition of the body and what treatments may work best.
