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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF: what is it?
La in vitro fertilization or IVF is a technique of assisted procreation which consists in carrying out fertilization, that is to say a meeting of sperm and ovum in the laboratory, in vitro, therefore outside the woman’s body.
In vitro fertilization is a technique used by couples wishing to have a child who are facing an infertility problem.
The man’s sperm are placed in the presence of the woman’s egg outside her body, in the laboratory, then the embryo is reimplanted in the uterus of the future mother.
Medically assisted procreation (MAP) brings together a range of methods used to help a couple to have a child: artificial insemination, stimulation of ovulations, in vitro fertilization… These techniques are practiced by specialized gynecologists and trained in these methods in a clinic or hospital.
About 330 couples suffer from infertility in Canada, i.e. between 000% and 10% of adults of childbearing age (Data from the Association des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Québec)
In France, nearly one in 6 couples would be affected by infertility.
When to resort to in vitro fertilization?
When a couple is unsuccessful in conceiving a child, the first step is to see a doctor who can assess male and female fertility. After an assessment of thehealth and one physical examination, a series of diagnostic tests can be performed.
When possible, the doctor first treats the infertility of the woman or the man in order to allow them to recover their natural fertility.
When it is not possible to treat infertility, and when possible, simple methods are used in order to start a pregnancy: stimulation of ovulation (prescription of drugs to trigger ovulations) or artificial insemination for example.
In vitro fertilization is only offered to couples who cannot benefit from simpler methods or for whom simpler methods of treatment or medically assisted procreation have failed.
In vitro fertilization is the standard treatment for women or men diagnosed with:
- Absent or blocked fallopian tubes;
- A male infertility (low sperm motility or low sperm count) that could not be cured.
When treatments have failed, IVF is also offered for cases:
- D’endometriosis.
- D’infertility unexplained (6% of infertility cases).
- Malfunction of the ovaries requiring egg donation.
In vitro fertilization can also be performed for couples with a genetic defect that can lead to serious illness, so that an embryo can be chosen that is free.
In vitro fertilization can be used by a couple who could not conceive without an oocyte donation or an embryo donation.
History of IVF: who is the first baby to come out of IVF? Louise Brown is the first baby born from in vitro fertilization. She was born on July 25, 1978 in England. Her parents, Lesley and John Brown, had been trying to have a child for 9 years, but were unsuccessful since her mother’s fallopian tubes were blocked. Two doctors from the University of Cambridge, physiologist Robert Edwards and gynecologist Patrick Steptoe, had been working on a revolutionary technique for 10 years. They were trying to bring together eggs and sperm in a test tube to obtain an embryo to reimplant in the maternal uterus. Their attempt at in vitro fertilization turns out to be a success. The first test tube baby is born! Louise Brown is still alive today and even gave birth to a child in a natural way. Dr Robert Edwards was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2010 for the development of in vitro fertilization. |
Factors for successful IVF
The success of an in vitro fertilization treatment depends on various factors such as the age and lifestyle of the woman and the man, the cause of infertility, the number of embryos transferred during the stage. of fertilization and the number of cycles performed.
Overall, approximately 27% of IVF cycles will result in a viable pregnancy. The chances of success increase for a greater number of cycles performed. It is usually recommended not to initiate in vitro fertilization after age 42.
In France as in Belgium, IVF is covered by Health Insurance or Health Insurance until a woman is 43 years old. After 40 years, only 4 to 5% of attempts result in a birth. The quality and the drop in the number of oocytes is the cause.