Categories: Infertility

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) versus Natural Conception

An Overview

Are fertility drugs used during IVF?

Fertility drugs promote the growth of more ovarian follicles than would occur naturally. They also mature more follicles, thus increasing the chances of retrieval of more eggs and the possibility of more fertilized embryos.
Naturally about 15% of embryos that reach the uterus survive. Through IVF that number drops to 10%. This is the reason multiple embryos are transfered. This number rises dramatically when the mother that is recieving the embryos was not the woman that underwent the fertility drug treatments. The woman recieving prepares only for the proper environment for optimum implantion through hormonal therapy. This shows how important the endometrial condition must be.

Is there a greater chance of a multiple pregnancy with IVF?

The more embryos transferred the greater the potential of more fetuses. Embryo quality plays a role here also, which is obviously directly effected by egg quality. The older the woman, the less the chance is of multiple pregnancies.
Triplets in women over the age of 40 is quite rare. Women under 35 have twice as high a rate of a multiple pregnancy as compared to women over 40.

How are eggs retrieved from the ovaries?

The surgeon sucks them out of the ovaries through a long needle in a process known as egg retieval. The doctor watches on an ultrasound screen while the needle is inserted into the follicles through the vagina.
The eggs are then sent to the lab to be fertilized.

Can a woman undergo IVF if she has blocked or damaged fallopian tubes?

Yes. The eggs are retrieved directly from the ovaries, therefore the fallopian tubes are completely bypassed. Then the fertilized embryos are transferred directly into the uterus via the vagina.

How does fertilization occur?

IVF makes things very simple for the sperm. It eliminates the hostile environment of the vagina. This is perfect when there are issues of sperm count or function.
IVF also eliminates the worry of a lack of cervical secretions needed for ease of transport and capacitation of the sperm.
The lab unites sperm and egg after partial capacitation and grows them for 3-5 days to a blastocyst stage of development in preparation for transfer.

What about antibody, allergic, or immune responses to the embryo?

Over time, after repeat exposure, the woman may build antibodies to their partners sperm. Sometimes men even develop antibodies to their own sperm.
IVF lowers chances of attack on the sperm by avoiding the female reproductive tract. Our embryos do not have an immunological blueprint for the body to develop antibodies towards.

Are abnormalities more likely to occur with IVF?

The embryo is less developed at the time of transfer than it normally would be when it reaches the uterus.
There is also more of a chance of a luteal phase (second half of cycle, post-ovulation) defect when a woman has been treated with hormones to create the environment for implanation.
For these reasons it is said that for an IVF embryo to survive, it must be a very healthy one.
Studies say that there is no more chance of abnormalities through an IVF conception than there would be through the natural process.
Also, couples undergoing IVF are usually under constant watch during their pregnancy, therefore abnormalities have more of a chance of being detected early.
Some of the routine tests that may find these abnormalities are chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and blood testing for alphafeto protein.
Also, statisically more girls are born through IVF than are boys. Natuures bias combined with the stronger female fetuses is the reasons for this.

How much do we have to tell the IVF clinic about our private life?

The emotional investment into IVF can be quite large. The baring of a couples deepest secrets and fears, details about their sex life, and much more is needed to properly assess the situation at hand.
Being physically and emotionally manipulated is a difficult part of IVF.
Also, IVF is very expensive. This puts major stress on the couple on top of everything else.

Must Read: Sperm Quality – Toxins – Miscarriage

Dr Spence Pentland

Dr. Pentland is founder of The IVF Acupuncture Group of Greater Vancouver, available 7 days a week for on site embryo transfer and acupuncture treatments at the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) and Genesis Fertility Centre. “The integrated relationship I have established with these clinics is something that I value very much as it expands my knowledge, gives me the opportunity to reach more people, and helps me better understand how to support women on their journey toward family.” says Dr. Pentland. Dr. Pentland, along with Dr. Jeffrey Roberts of The Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM), and Dr. Christine Sutton of the University of British Columbia, authored research published in Fertility & Sterility on the stress reducing effects of acupuncture when administered in the weeks leading up to an IVF embryo transfer. In 2015 Spence published BEING FERTILE - 10 Steps to Help You Overcome the Struggles of Infertility, Get Pregnant, and Create a Happy, Healthy Family. A book written to provide hope, tools and resources for women and couples experiencing difficulty starting or expanding their families. Dr. Pentland is founder of The IVF Acupuncture Group of Greater Vancouver, available 7 days a week for on site embryo transfer and acupuncture treatments at the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) and Genesis Fertility Centre. “The integrated relationship I have established with these clinics is something that I value very much as it expands my knowledge, gives me the opportunity to reach more people, and helps me better understand how to support women on their journey toward family.” says Dr. Pentland. Dr. Pentland, along with Dr. Jeffrey Roberts of The Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM), and Dr. Christine Sutton of the University of British Columbia, authored research published in Fertility & Sterility on the stress reducing effects of acupuncture when administered in the weeks leading up to an IVF embryo transfer. In 2015 Spence published BEING FERTILE - 10 Steps to Help You Overcome the Struggles of Infertility, Get Pregnant, and Create a Happy, Healthy Family. A book written to provide hope, tools and resources for women and couples experiencing difficulty starting or expanding their families. Further demonstrating his commitment to reproductive health, he is a devoted member of IAAC (Infertility Awareness Association), CFAS (Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society), and ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine). As the former president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association of British Columbia and the provincial BC TCM quality assurance committee, Dr. Pentland is well respected by peers and patients alike. He remains actively involved in educating healthcare colleagues and the public on the powerful benefits of Chinese medicine & acupuncture, working steadily on the integration of ancient Daoist wisdom into modern western life as a way to build awareness about reproductive health. This compassionate expertise is reflected in patient testimonials. When not helping others start their families, Spence can be found spending time with his own--his adoring wife Chantal and their two beautiful sons. “I am very proud to be part of the team of professionals at Yinstill. We are all dedicated to raising the bar in the field of complimentary and alternative reproductive medicine. Nothing is more important than family,” he says. Professional Development Certifications Combining TCM and IVF to Improve Clinical Outcomes - Jane Lyttleton Treating Complex Gynecological Conditions with Evidence-based Acupuncture - Elisabet Stener-Victorin High-Performance Summit - Darren Hardy Acupuncture during Pregnancy: safe and ethical practice - Claudia Citkovitz Treating Irregular Menstrual Bleeding - Sharon Weizenbaum Management of High Risk Pregnancy Conditions - David Bray Physiology & Pathology of Gynecology - Giovanni Maciocia Treatment protocols for Menopause and Endometriosis - Kiiko Matsumoto Chinese medicine approach to the treatment of Poor Ovarian Reserve - Brandon Horn Clinical problems and solutions in Oriental Reproductive medicine - Dr. Daoshing Ni Treatment strategies for PCOS, Weight Loss, & type 2 Diabetes - Sharon Weizenbaum Allergic and Autoimmune diseases - Mazin Al-Khafaji Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth - Debra Betts Treating Infertility with Chinese medicine - Bob Flaws Masters class in Diagnosis - Bob Flaws East meets West in Reproductive medicine - Mike Berkley The Infertility Cure - Chinese wellness program - Randine Lewis Men’s Health and Fertility - Peter Deadman Integrating acupuncture and IVF - Diane Cridennda and Dr. Paul Magarelli Treatment of Infertility with Chinese medicine - Jane Lyttleton Yang School lecture series Part 1 - Dr. Liu Fang Advanced acupuncture in pregnancy - Jean Levesque Certified Western herbalist - Packard School of Nutrition Courageous conversations - Justice Institute Biology of Empowerment - Dr. Lee Pulos Secrets of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis - Bob Flaws and Honora Lee Wolfe View Articles and Blog Posts by Dr. Pentland Read Dr. Pentland's Success Stories Become Spence's friend on facebook

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