This article amply discusses IVF, surrogacy, and important things about IVF and surrogacy one should know before choosing any.
What is IVF?
IVF, in-vitro fertilisation is one of the clinical pregnancy treatments called assisted conception techniques (ACTs). Dissimilar to natural pregnancy where the egg is fertilised by sperm inside the woman’s body, naturally, IVF involves fertilisation of the egg in a laboratory. In IVF, the eggs are removed from the woman’s body and the healthiest egg is fertilised by the healthiest sperm. After successful fertilisation, the fertilised egg, also called an embryo, is placed directly in the woman’s uterus for growth.
What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a type of pregnancy recommended for couples who are not able to have a child. In surrogacy, a woman bears a child for such a couple. Surrogacy may involve IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF where the surrogate mother is fertilised by the intended father’s sperm using one of the assisted conception techniques. Surrogacy may also involve donor egg or sperm to create the embryo.
Important Things to Know about IVF
Before you prefer IVF for conception, there are some important things about IVF you should be aware of. These include:
There are different types of IVF
There are multiple types of IVF treatments available. IVF treatment always varies with the patient and their reproductive state. Traditional IVF involves first triggering the ovulation with fertility medicines such as clomiphene, then using those eggs for fertilisation by sperm in a laboratory, and finally putting the fertilised egg in the uterus once it creates an embryo. But, with different complications, different IVF approaches can be considered. Such approaches include IVF with donor egg or donor sperm, IVF with frozen eggs or embryos, or IVF with a single selected embryo.
IVF is very effective
When compared to other available pregnancy treatments for couples who suffer from infertility, IVF is a very effective and likely recommended treatment. Couples who struggle to conceive as a result of male-factor infertility, fallopian tube blockage or damage, ovulation disorders such as PCOS, or reproductive abnormalities can have a child with IVF. Therefore, if you are not able to conceive naturally, IVF can help.
Age matters
Age is a major factor that influences one’s chances of IVF success. Young women in their 20s have the highest chances of successful conception with IVF. With age, as women enter their 30s and 40s, their IVF success chances start to decline eventually.
You have to prepare yourself
IVF treatment requires beforehand preparation to improve the conception chances. You may have to start eating healthy, be physically active, manage bodyweight, maintain a good mental health, and quit habits such as smoking and intake of caffeine, alcohol or any recreational drugs. All these little changes improve your fertility and therefore your chances of pregnancy with IVF.
You may need more than one IVF cycle
Most fertility doctors recommended taking at least 2 to 3 IVF cycles for successful conception. In many cases, a woman may not conceive in her first cycle commonly because of some reproductive complications. But, a woman’s potential to successfully conceive improves with each IVF cycle. However, if you find IVF an ineffective treatment, you can consider other effective alternatives like IUI treatment in Gurgaon, a less invasive ACT.
Important Things to Know about Surrogacy
Just like IVF, before you prefer surrogacy for having a child, there are some important things about surrogacy you should be aware of.
There are two types of surrogacy
Traditional and gestational are the 2 types of surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy involves inseminating the surrogate mother with the intended father’s sperm using IUI. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is the biological mother of the child. On the other hand, gestational surrogacy involves creating embryos with the couple’s egg and sperm and then implanting it in the gestational surrogate mother’s uterus for growth and birth.
Surrogacy is only done for medical reasons
Surrogacy is advised only to be done for medical reasons. Surrogacy is recommended only if a couple is unable to conceive on their own due to any reproductive or genetic issues. Surrogacy is never recommended for vanity.
Surrogacy requires contracts
Because surrogacy involves a third person, the surrogate mother, it is very obvious that it has contracts involved. To keep things legal, there are some essential legal formalities and documentations to complete beforehand.
Surrogate can be a known or unknown person
It is on you whether you want to choose a known or a completely stranger person as surrogate. It is completely dependent on your preference and comfortability.
Surrogacy is costly
Surrogacy is costly, to be honest, very costly. You will be responsible for all costs including treatment cost, surrogate’s living cost, and other miscellaneous costs.
IVF vs Surrogacy
IVF vs Surrogacy? Let’s keep it short and simple. You must first discuss with your fertility doctor about your condition and find out if IVF would work for you or not. We recommend considering Grace Fertility, the best IVF hospital in Gurgaon. Because IVF is a common and less costly pregnancy treatment than surrogacy, you should always consider IVF if it is effective for you. But, if you find out that your reproductive condition is untreatable and surrogacy is the only option for conception, you can go for it.
