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Understanding IVF: 5 Key Things to Know About Fertility Treatment
For every one in eight women who struggle with infertility, there is hope and a journey to pursue through advanced fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization IVF. This includes single women, LGBTQ couples, and even single men seeking options for conception. IVF encompasses medical intervention that involves stimulating the ovaries over about two weeks before retrieving mature eggs. These eggs are then fertilized with sperm, resulting in one or more embryos transferred into a woman's uterus to support pregnancy. Any remning viable embryos can be frozen for future use.
Members of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine team share five essential aspects of IVF:
First introduced in the 1970s, IVF has evolved to become one of the most advanced techniques for treating infertility. The success rate varies based on factors like a woman's age when undergoing treatment and her underlying condition causing fertility issues. Northwestern Medicine handles some of the most complex cases with outcomes surpassing national averages.
Dr. John Xingqi Zhang, Director of IVF Lab at Northwestern Medicine, has witnessed significant advancements in IVF over his two-decade tenure due to technological improvements and accumulated knowledge from dly work. He asserts that advancements in technology have significantly improved our success rate.
Infertility can be attributed equally to male and female factors, but IVF offers hope even when dealing with complex medical conditions. Common causes include:
Fallopian tube damage, preventing sperm from reaching the egg.
Ovulation disorders, like polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS, which disrupts hormone balance affecting ovulation.
Premature ovarian flure, often due to autoimmune reactions or a loss of eggs before their usual reproductive age.
ometriosis, where tissue normally lining the uterus grows in other pelvic areas, including ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Uterine fibroids, benign tumors that grow within the muscle layer of the uterus.
Genetic screening plays a crucial role in IVF cycles. Dr. Zhang notes that this can help ensure patients have a healthy baby during pregnancy.
Your treatment plan is personalized based on your unique medical situation and needs. Prior to beginning, you will undergo preliminary testing for any fertility-related concerns under the guidance of your healthcare team.
Northwestern Medicine's Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine offers a compassionate team comprising skilled physicians, nurses, sonographers, embryologists, psychologists, and other professionals dedicated to coordinating care for every patient throughout their IVF journey. They are committed to supporting you through with empathy.
We combine advanced science with a deep sense of compassion because at the core of our work is helping people build families, says Ermira Kape, Embryologist at Northwestern Medicine. We're mindful of each woman's journey to motherhood.
Learn more about cutting-edge fertility solutions offered by Northwestern Medicine.
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