In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology to treat infertility. IVF helps with fertilisation, embryo development and implantation. It is one of the several techniques or processes used to help a woman with fertility problems have a baby or same-sex partners get pregnant.

A quick explanation of how it is done;

“In a lab, your eggs are mixed with sperm cells from your partner or a donor — this is called insemination. The eggs and sperm are stored together in a special container, and fertilisation happens. For sperm that have lower motility (don’t swim as well), they may be injected directly into the eggs to promote fertilisation. As the cells in the fertilised eggs divide and become embryos people who work at the lab monitor the progress.

About 3-5 days after the egg retrieval, 1 or more embryos are put into your uterus (this is called embryo transfer).  The doctor slides a thin tube through your cervix into your uterus, and inserts the embryo directly into your uterus through the tube. Pregnancy happens if any of the embryos attach to the lining of your uterus.”

It is important to note that IVF, although an effective modern-day solution will not work for everyone, but it definitely increases the chances of pregnancy for a woman having fertility problems. Also, some of the setbacks of the procedure are high chances of bloating, bruising from shots, allergic reaction to medicines, bleeding, infection, cramping, breast tenderness, mood swings and headaches during the treatment or when pregnant.

It is a fact that IVF has overtime helped to lessen the inability to conceive children amongst couples and single parents, yet the idea of extracting eggs, retrieving a sperm sample and then manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory makes the process foreign and non-acceptable to a lot of people. Some people think that the technique is a taboo and not a solution. Reasons being that the child is based on or characterised by the methods and principles of science and cannot be a normal human being. These people do not think it is the right way to have a child and would rather live without a child than go down that route. They strongly believe it as an artificial means which could impede on the child’s full abilities and stand in the way of their spiritual or religious beliefs. Also, due to the high risk of human neglect, confusion and bias, some people are not confident enough about the process and if they were to go on with the method, the human factor leaves a huge gap in their subconscious for a very long time, sometimes throughout the child’s life. Such parents tend to over the course of time blame the child’s inabilities as an outcome of the measures used in obtaining him or her, not to talk of when the embryo is implanted in a strangers womb. 

And because sometimes, it works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help the sperm fertilise an egg, some men see it as an insult. A bruise to their ego, because the doctors have to scientifically strengthen his sperm.

My take on this issue is that it should be embraced if need be, as there is nothing evidently wrong in having a baby through this means and the procedures has been very successful with less threats to life. I would say, why not take the solution instead of waiting several years to be a parent. Year in, year out of complete torture and sadness, especially when a person desperately desires the cry of a new-born baby. It just might set your finances back with the sum of $15,000. Hmmm, what happens to those who cannot afford it?

On the issue of it being a taboo, I think people should be enlightened more about the process, since most conclusions against this treatment comes from a place of ignorance. Come to think of it, IVF has also shed some light against the belief that women are always the problem when there is childlessness in a marriage. Therefore, by knowing were the problem stems from, couples can accept their infertility status and effectively tackle the problems of childbearing.

Good luck.

X pj