In vitro fertilisation (I.V.F)

What is In vitro fertilisation? I.V.F is a process in which the egg is fertilised by sperm outside of the human body. I.V.F is used most commonly to overcome female infertility (due to menopause, problems in the fallopian tubes etc.). -Process: After the females ovulatory process has been monitored, some eggs are removed (due to fertility drugs taken that increase the number of eggs produced) and fertilised by sperm in a shallow Petri dish, then 2 embryos are implanted back into the woman's uterus/womb to develop naturally. Also, if the males sperm count is low or the sperm has trouble penetrating the egg, the ICSI (sperm injection) can be used. -Process: The sperm is injected straight into the egg to fertilise.

What is In vitro fertilisation? As a result of the expensive price that is associated with I.V.F, it is usually one of the last infertility treatment options used after other inexpensive treatments have failed. Each try is called a cycle. In New Zealand a maximum of 2 embryos per cycle are transferred into the female’s uterus- there is an exception for female patients over 40 years of age. Invitro means ‘in glass’ in Latin.

Results Pregnancy rates: The rate of the embryos surviving and developing decreases quite significantly in women over 38. In 2009-2010 the UK average for an I.V.F live birth from <35 year old was 33%. For a 38-39 year old female the birth rate had decreased to 19% and was just 5% for 43 year olds and older. Multiple births: The chance of having twins, when naturally conceived, is approximately 1 in every 80 pregnancies. But with I.V.F the chance of having a twin pregnancy are increased because 2 embryos had been implanted, so the chance of twins is approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies. However, it is still possible to have a triplet pregnancy even only when 2 embryos were transferred. In this situation an egg would have spilt meaning there would be 2 identical foetuses.

How is I.V.F related to DNA, chromosomes or genes? The favourable result of I.V.F is a healthy baby. This baby will still have 46 chromosomes- 23 from it’s mother egg and 23 from it’s father sperm- even though it was fertilised outside of the human body. It’s gender is determined by these 46 chromosomes. The genes the baby received from it’s parents will decide it’s characteristics and traits. All males have 1 X chromosome and 1 Y chromosome, while females have 2 X chromosomes. So this baby’s mother must have contributed 1 X chromosome and her father must have also contributed 1 X chromosome.

Webography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVF Google images http://www.ivfcliniclondon.com