| Infertility is an unfortunate, often stressful reality for | | | | seem like a small number, and IVF treatment fails more |
| many suffering couples in the U.K. today. | | | | often than it succeeds, it's important for couples to |
| Approximately one in seven couples in the country | | | | realise that the percentage of IVF treatment cycles |
| struggle with infertility. Many couples decide to either | | | | resulting in a birth is in fact gradually rising, according to |
| keep trying to conceive a baby naturally, or they stop | | | | the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. It's |
| actively trying, assuming it will never happen for them, | | | | also necessary to realise that success rates do vary, |
| and some decide to go down the road of adoption. Still | | | | depending on a number of factors, including the |
| others-close to 45,000 couples a year-seek fertility | | | | woman's age and overall health and the type of IVF |
| treatment from the U.K.'s 75 available clinics. | | | | treatment practised at specific clinics. |
| One of these types of fertility treatment for couples | | | | Moreover, there are certain risks involved for the |
| unable to conceive is called in vitro fertilisation, or IVF | | | | woman with IVF treatment. Women receive injections |
| treatment. IVF treatment is sometimes referred to as | | | | of hormonal drugs, which may cause complications, |
| a "test-tube fertility treatment." For infertile couples who | | | | such as hyper-stimulation of the ovaries for egg |
| want their own flesh-and-blood child, IVF treatment is | | | | production, which occurs when the woman's ovaries |
| definitely something worth considering, as it may be the | | | | actually respond too well to the drugs. Ovarian |
| only chance they have of conceiving and carrying a | | | | Hyper-stimulation Syndrome, as it is called, can be mild |
| baby. | | | | but can also create more serious complications that |
| IVF treatment basically involves extracting eggs from | | | | require hospitalisation. |
| a woman's ovaries and mixing them together with the | | | | Something else to consider is the emotional and |
| man's sperm in a dish. Then, if fertilisation occurs, the | | | | financial stress involved in using such a procedure. |
| resulting embryo or embryos are placed inside the | | | | Because of the potentially high costs, the health risks |
| woman's uterus. With IVF treatment, the woman is | | | | involved and what may be perceived as low success |
| instructed to take an injection of combined hormonal | | | | rates, undertaking cycles of IVF treatment may cause |
| drugs in order to stimulate the ovaries for egg | | | | a lot of stress for the couple and ultimately in their |
| production, to hopefully produce more than one egg | | | | relationship to each other. Couples need to understand |
| for higher chances of one being healthy enough for | | | | that as with any treatment, test, procedure or |
| extraction. This process is done over a course of two | | | | operation, IVF treatment does have associated risks, |
| to five weeks. | | | | and these need to be taken into account and properly |
| One drawback of IVF treatment is that it can become | | | | understood before going through with the treatment. |
| quite expensive. For private treatment, it can cost | | | | Even so, some couples may require some type of |
| between £2500 and £3000 for just one | | | | therapy or counselling after a cycle of treatment fails. |
| cycle of treatment, even upwards of £3K per | | | | Any type of fertility treatment is gamble, and IVF |
| round. The other problem is that fertilisation and | | | | treatment is no exception. There are always risks |
| subsequent conception rarely works on the first | | | | associated with an extensive treatment process, and |
| try-most couples undergoing IVF treatment normally go | | | | there are also no guarantees for any couple that they |
| through three cycles, and some more. Furthermore, | | | | will be able to conceive and carry a child using IVF |
| NHS (National Health Service) in the U.K. will currently | | | | treatment. However, the potential rewards are real, |
| only cover a single cycle of treatment for women up | | | | and IVF treatment has proved a successful method |
| to the age of 37. | | | | for many infertile couples in the U.K. and worldwide, |
| Another potential drawback is that the success rate of | | | | and the chance of having a baby for many of these |
| IVF treatment is not very high. On average, chances | | | | childless couples makes IVF treatment worth |
| of success average out at about 33 percent, with a | | | | considering. |
| slightly higher percentage for younger women and a | | | | Adrian Lawrence is the webmaster of Article Alley a |
| lower percentage for older women. Although 33 may | | | | popular Pregnancy article web sites. |