The National Women’s Health Resource Center released a statement saying that women who are in their late 30’s are usually 30% or more less fertile than they were in their 20’s. And of all infertility cases, about 20% are because of blocked fallopian tubes. Another 40% of all cases dealing with infertility is because of endometriosis. But, in about 85 to 90% of all infertility cases are treated with some sort of surgery or medication such as In Vitro Fertilization and other Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
Dr. Robert Edwards and Dr. Patrick Steptoe were the first doctors to perform the In Vitro Fertilization method in 1978. Women who have problems getting pregnant because of their fallopian tubes usually choose IVF treatment. With IVF treatment, doctors combine eggs and sperm manually. After a woman goes through IVF treatment, about two weeks after blood tests will be taken to see if it worked or not. IVF does not take long and you will usually know by the first three weeks or so.
Like any medical procedure there are risks involved. With In Vitro Fertilization it depends on what step. There is no doubt that technology has matured significantly since 1978, and this can be shown through the many successful births that have taken place through IVF treatment. Technological advances such as these gives hope to families looking to start their own families someday.
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