In Vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an advanced technology process that involves the retrieval of mature eggs from a woman’s ovaries so that they can be combined with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus and IVF is preferred for a woman who is
> age of 30 and more
> Have fallopian tubes with structural issues
> Have severe cases of endometriosis
> Have experienced several failed ovarian stimulation with IUI cycles in the past
In the initial step of IVF, medications are used to stimulate the egg follicles contained within the ovaries. In a normal menstruation cycle, one follicle develops one egg, which is released through the fallopian tubes. In IVF, fertility medications trigger multiple follicles to mature several eggs at once. The eggs are then retrieved using a vaginal ultrasound and an aspirating needle. By developing and retrieving multiple eggs at once, there is a greater chance of fertilization and implantation of a viable embryo.
Once retrieved, the eggs are combined with sperm in a petri dish so that fertilization can occur naturally. If successful, the resulting embryo is allowed to develop over a few days.
In a fresh embryo transfer, the embryo is implanted into the uterus three to five days after fertilization. In frozen embryo transfer, the embryo is frozen instead of being transferred immediately. Using a rapid freezing process known as vitrification, the embryo is flash-frozen into a glass-like structure. Embryos can remain in this frozen stasis for an indefinite period.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
In this process, a single sperm is injected directly into a mature egg using a tiny glass microneedle and it is also used in IVF when the sperm count is low or poor sperm motility.
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- Surrogacy & Gestational Carriers
Gestational surrogacy, in which the surrogate is not related to the child she is carrying, is the most popular type of surrogacy today. While gestational surrogacy statistics are difficult to find, this path to parenthood has helped thousands of couples and individuals grow or build their families. In LGBTQ+ family building, surrogacy is most commonly used by same-sex male couples and in some cases, surrogacy is also used by single or lesbian women who have uterine abnormalities or other conditions that make pregnancy unsafe for them.
Similar to egg donors and sperm donors, gestational surrogates are screened to ensure that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy enough to carry a pregnancy and deliver a baby.
- Reciprocal IVF
Reciprocal IVF is a good option for lesbian couples in which one of the partners provides the egg and the other partner carries the pregnancy and deliver a baby. A standard IVF procedure is performed by stimulating one partner’s ovaries to produce more eggs than normal. Once the eggs are retrieved, they are fertilized in a laboratory using the couple’s sperm of choice, which can come from a known or anonymous sperm donor.
Once fertilized, the ensuing embryo is ready to be implanted into the gestating partner’s uterus. Before this occurs, the gestating partner will take several hormonal medications to suppress ovulation and prepare the uterus for embryo implantation. Reciprocal IVF allows both women to play a major role, the partner who provides the eggs is the child’s genetic mother while the gestational partner and delivers the baby.
- Fertility Preservation
A fertility preservation procedure is done before a medical treatment in which people preserve their ovaries and sperm. future. For people with ovaries, the process is known as egg freezing; for people with testicles, the process is known as sperm freezing. This is also known as cryopreservation, this process is used for those who are about to undergo cancer treatment, have high-risk occupations, and who want to delay family building. This process is useful for transgender individuals who are considering gender-affirming surgery