IVF (or In Vitro Fertilization) does not always involve a third party; however, most clinics involved in IVF do understand the differences and how to help you navigate into the third-party reproduction aspect of having your family.
As an intended parent or surrogate trying to learn more about the medical aspects of surrogacy, learn more here as you try to find out what you need to prepare for. The medical process and requirements involved can seem complicated, but with a well-organized consultant, the medical aspects of your journey can seem much easier to take on. As an intended parent or surrogate mother, it is essential to be prepared for what screenings and procedures you will face.
To donate eggs, the donor must be given medications that will cause her to develop multiple eggs over a single cycle. The eggs are then removed from the donor by placing a needle attached to an ultrasound probe through the vaginal tissues. The eggs are then gently aspirated (suctioned) from the ovaries. Learn more here to discover what it takes to become an egg donor or intended parent.
During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus. One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks. Sometimes these steps are split into different parts, and the process can take longer.
IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology. The procedure can be done using a couple’s eggs and sperm. Or IVF may involve eggs, sperm, or embryos from a known or anonymous donor. In some cases, a gestational carrier — someone with an embryo implanted in the uterus — might be used.
When an IVF patient feels their family is complete or decides not to move forward with further treatment, the patient is faced with a decision about what should be done with their remaining embryos, also known as embryo disposition. The embryo disposition decision is usually put off until the storage bills begin to add up. Whether a parent sees their embryos as frozen tissue or human life, a patient should make sure that they speak with their IVF physician and/or mental health care professional regarding how to move forward – whether embryo donation, embryo destruction, or some other option that satisfies the patients’ needs and desires.
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