IVF Life Changes
The degree to which IVF treatment may change your life depends on a wide range of factors and no two couples will have identical experiences. Just the process of going through the treatment can be life-changing for some people, never mind the results. Most couples agree that the In Vitro Fertilization process is stressful, but the extent to which this stress affects you will depend on your own personality; your health and fitness; any side effects you may experience from fertility drugs; how many cycles of IVF you take; the length of those cycles and, of course, your relationship and interaction with your partner. Of course, once the treatment has been completed, it has the potential to change your life by making you a mother! On the other hand, sometimes it can take more than one cycle of IVF to achieve a lasting pregnancy and the disappointment caused by failed attempts may be immense.
Impact On Daily Life
So you've made the decision to try IVF. You'll soon find out just what a big commitment you've made. IVF will make significant demands on your time, energy and emotions. If you are lucky, a cycle of treatment will take around four weeks to complete, although some cycles have been known to continue for as long as seven weeks. During this time, you'll be making trips to back and forth to the fertility clinic, taking pills, receiving injections, and being monitored for possible problems as well as signs that the treatment is working. At the egg-retrieval and fertilization stages, you should expect to spend around half a day at the clinic. You will have to return two or three days later to have the fertilized embryos transferred to your uterus. Then you have to play the waiting game - waiting to see if the embryos will implant successfully, or if you'll be pregnant with twins or even triplets!
So Why Put Yourself Through It?
Ask any couple who have had a child through IVF - it changes lives, and that's why people do it. Just think how many children there are in the world today that might never have been born if it wasn't for IVF. Think how much love and joy these children have brought into the lives of their parents and siblings. IVF doesn't work for everyone, that's true, but many couples feel it's worth the effort and the risk of disappointment. If you are considering IVF and want to know more about your own chances of success, you should speak to a fertility specialist.
When IVF Fails
Unfortunately, sometimes IVF doesn't work. Some couples go through several, long cycles of treatment before they achieve a lasting pregnancy and sadder still; some couples never manage to have a baby through IVF. When so much energy (and money) has been invested, this can failure can be crushing. This is why many fertility clinics offer IVF counseling to couples. Talking to a professional will help you to overcome your fear or, if necessary, work through your disappointment. He or she can advise you about your options for further fertility treatment or perhaps adoption or surrogacy. You may also find it helpful to contact an IVF support group either online or in your local area, and talk to people who have been through similar experiences.
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