All About IVF
A research carried out in the USA states that about 9% of men and 11% of females are infertile or has infertility issues and need assistive technology to get pregnant. These numbers are pretty much similar in other continents too, with slight variations. There are many primitive methods of curing infertility like fertility drugs, surgeries, etc. But when the problem is more severe, unidentifiable or the woman is past her mid-thirties, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the only option.
What is In Vitro fertilization?
In Vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex process, with a certain amount of risk factors and a low rate of success. This process involves a total of three steps, and it is performed in cycles.
- 1st Step: In this step mature eggs are retrieved from the woman’s ovaries.
- 2nd Step: These eggs are then fertilized by the sperm in the laboratory.
- 3rd Step: The externally fertilized eggs called embryos are then transferred back to the woman’s womb.
The total time required to complete one full IVF cycle is about three weeks. It also highly depends upon the ovulation time of the women and may take a little longer than usual. Sometimes, women going through IVF are medicated for ovulation during the initial step on IVF.
Cost of IVF
Before planning an IVF treatment couples need to know that In Vitro Fertilization is a costly affair. The number one obstacle in the way of IVF treatment is its cost. Not all couples going through infertility issues can afford an IVF, despite it being one of the best cures to infertility.
In India, In Vitro Fertilization is much cheaper compared to the western countries. The increasing rate of infertility issues along with the demand for good quality treatment has led some of the Indian cities to be hotspots for IVF centers.
The top-quality treatment and English-speaking expert doctors, all at an affordable rate have attracted a lot of medical tourism to India. In the past two decades, there has been a considerable increase in the number of western patients seeking medical treatments in India. This also includes couples looking for a cheaper IVF. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Banglore, Chennai, and others have attracted a lot of medical tourists.
On average in India, one cycle of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) will cost about 75,000 Rs. to 2,50,000 Rs. This value may differ depending upon the city or the clinic you are planning to get an IVF treatment from. But, compared to the west it’s much more budget-friendly.
Whereas, in the USA the starting price of a fresh IVF cycle is around $20,000.
Couples need to understand that the cost of an IVF cycle includes only the three-step process. But, before starting an IVF treatment several tests need to be done. Sometimes the woman needs to be on medication before the cycle begins. The overall IVF cost excludes the expense of these tests and medications. Therefore, it is advised to inquire about the total price of an IVF including these tests, before you plan on starting an IVF treatment.
Moreover, a very less number of couples can conceive after the first cycle of IVF. Usually, for an IVF pregnancy to be a success, a couple needs to go through 3 to 5 cycles of IVF. By the 6th cycle, the chances of conception through IVF are around 80%.
Most basic IVF packages comprise egg recovery, sperm preparation, conventional IVF fertilization, and one fresh IVF transfer. But, unfortunately, these steps alone are not enough for an IVF cycle to be a success. Most of the patients need Fertility medications, monitoring, and retrieval anesthesia which often have extra fees associated with them. All these extra charges increase the overall cost of an IVF treatment.
If you are from the USA or Europe and are planning to visit India for an IVF treatment, your total IVF cost along with travel and accommodation will be much more affordable than a single IVF in the US. And as IVF is not always successful on the first go, it may take several trips from abroad to bring a baby home.
The woman’s age is the single most influential factor for an IVF. In many IVF treatments, couples consider an egg or sperm donor. This may depend upon the infertility issues faced by the couple or it could completely be the couple’s choice. But keep in mind all these factors may affect the success rate of an IVF treatment.
The success rate of IVF in India is way better than the rest of the world, not only is the treatment cheaper here but of equally good quality.
With the increasing advancements in technology, the success rate of IVF will hopefully increase for women of all ages. Also, the cost of IVF may reduce in the coming years, making it an affordable endeavor for many couples.
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