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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

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IVF Research Report

Introduction:

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a ‘test tube’ technique used for couples that are infertile and also women that decide to have a child through this process. The process of IVF starts with a course of hormonal therapy to stimulate the development of many follicles within the ovary. After this course has taken place, the follicles are collected as eggs and then fertilised in test tubes. Between two to five days in an incubator, the eggs that were fertilised create embryos, which a selected few are transferred into the vagina, up to the uterus. Other embryos are frozen in case of any failures with the first few embryos1. This process is shown in figure one. Figure 1: Process of IVF

Many drugs are used in the IVF treatment cycle and these drugs are very expensive. Lupron is the first drug that is usually used first in the cycle. Lupron is a drug that overstimulates the body’s production of certain hormones, which causes the production to shut down. In IVF this drug temporarily suspends ovarian hormones to produce7. Side effects of this drug are vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Gonadotropins are also a drug used in the cycle and it stimulates the development of multiple eggs to be retrieved. Side effects of this drug are bloating, nausea and fatigue. A final drug used in the cycle to help with the IVF treatment is Progesterone. This drug helps forming and maintaining pregnancy throughout the cycle. Progesterone can be injected either orally, intramuscularly or vaginally. Progesterone is very damaging. Blood clotting, heart disease and dementia are a few of the side effects that this drug has.

Figure 2: success rate

The success rate of IVF decreases once the patient excee...

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...don Women's Clinic London. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.londonwomensclinic.com/london/ivf. [Accessed 18 May 2014].

2. In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) - myVMC. 2014. In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) - myVMC. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.myvmc.com/treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/. [Accessed 18 May 2014].

3. Advantages and disadvantages of IVF. 2014. Advantages and disadvantages of IVF. [ONLINE] Available at: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_IVF. [Accessed 18 May 2014].

4. IVF Costs and Fees | IVF Australia. 2014. IVF Costs and Fees | IVF Australia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://ivf.com.au/ivf-fees/ivf-costs. [Accessed 18 May 2014].

5. Fertility Society of Australia » IVF Directors. 2014. Fertility Society of Australia » IVF Directors. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.fertilitysociety.com.au/contact/. [Accessed 19 May 2014].
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