How a test tube baby is born?

What is a test tube baby?

Test tube baby is a baby conceived through In vitro fertilization, also called IVF in brief. In vitro means the biological process is carried outside body.  In this technique woman’s eggs are fertilized with husband’s sperms outside body in laboratory in a petridish. The embryos formed in the process are transferred into the womb of woman which results in pregnancy.

Who needs In Vitro Fertilization or IVF

A couple may need IVF when they are not able to have baby by natural method or with simple treatment. Some couples are advised to undergo IVF without any prior simple or other treatments like in cases:

When husband’s sperm count or quality is below specific limits,

Women who are not able to produce eggs or with both fallopian tubes blocked or defects in the uterus or severe endometriosis .These couple can have baby with IVF.

The Process of making Test Tube baby

IVF treatment should be taken under supervision of IVF expert Doctors. Before a couple undergoes IVF blood test are done. The treatment starts with the onset of menstruation and lasts for 15 days approximately or 10-14 days prior to menses depending upon the protocol of treatment.

Step 1: Women undergoing treatment receives daily injections for 8-12 days to produce multiple eggs. Injections can be given by trained nurses or even the couple can be trained to administer injections themselves with simple pen devices similar to insulin pens.

Step 2: When the size of eggs is appropriate which is confirmed by ultrasound, she undergoes a procedure called Ovum Pick up in which eggs are taken out from her body with a special needle under anesthesia. She can go back home after 4-6 hrs and continue her routine activities. The eggs are inseminated with husband’s semen in Embryology lab under highly controlled environment by Embryologist.

Step 3: Embryos are formed after fertilization. One or two embryos are transferred in to the womb of wife after 2-5days.This is a painless procedure in which no anesthesia is required. Surplus embryos can be frozen in lab for future treatment. That completes the treatment of one cycle.

Woman is advised to continue certain medications at home. Pregnancy is confirmed by a blood or urine tests 2 weeks later.

Success of treatment depends on various factors including women’s age, functional capacity of her ovaries and reason of infertility.

Certain facts about IVF

There are no known long-term harmful effects of fertility medications on woman.  Children born with this technique are as normal as naturally born babies.

A woman whether housewife or in job, can continue her daily routine household activities, travelling during or after treatment. There is no need of bed rest.

Egg/Embryo Donation, Donor semen insemination

For women with advanced age or women of younger age whose ovaries have stopped functioning due to certain medical or surgical problems can achieve pregnancy through IVF with Egg donation. If there are no sperms in husband’s semen Donor’s semen can be used. In case of problem with both husband and wife, Embryo donation is the possibility.

Surrogacy

When a woman carries pregnancy and delivers child for another couple it is called surrogacy .Pregnancy is conceived through IVF procedure in which couple’s eggs and sperms are used .Surrogacy is done only in case when wife is not able to carry pregnancy due defects in her uterus or some other serious medical condition.

Do You Know?

Out of every 100 couples, 10-15 couples need some kind of treatment for infertility. World’s 1st IVF baby was born in 1978 in England and in just 35 years, more than 5 million babies are born worldwide through IVF.