Pensacola couples that have been through the gamut of infertility testing and treatments will sometimes find themselves at the end of the road and nearly out of options. This may be where more high tech procedures come into play, such as those used by assisted reproductive technology or ART. These procedures can take up where the others leave off, allowing more Florida couples to savor the sweet flavor of victory with a healthy baby.



One of the more common types of assisted reproductive technologies is IVF. IVF, also known as in vitro fertilization, has been around since the end of the last century, with the first "test tube" baby being born in 1978. This procedure has been able to offer hope and success to many couples who simply didn't respond positively to other types of procedures. IVF can be used for many different situations, including a low sperm count or other types of male infertility, blocked fallopian tubes, cervical mucous problems and immunological fertility problems. It is also commonly used in the case of unexplained infertility. The process has come a long way today, offering even higher success rates to couple than it did ten years ago.

An IVF will begin with the administration of fertility drugs that will stimulate the production of eggs and increase the number that can be fertilized. Once the drugs have been given, doctors will keep an eye on the egg production to ensure that the eggs will be extracted and fertilized at the right time during the cycle. Both the eggs and the sperm are then extracted and fertilized outside the uterus, where they are allowed to sit for a day or two to form an embryo. Once the incubation period is complete, the best eggs are selected for implantation back into the uterus. If there are more good embryos than necessary for implantation, the rest can be frozen for use by the couple later or they can be donated to couples who cannot fertilize their own.

It is important for couples to discuss their preferences with the doctor prior to IVF. In some cases, a doctor will implant multiple embryos into the uterus to up the odds of success. However, this may leave the couple with the dilemma of choosing between their fertilized embryos that may develop into babies or dealing with the risks involved with multiple births. This is a time when patients and doctors want to make sure that everyone involved in process is comfortable with it.

IVF has become so successful in the past few years; it has replaced other assisted reproductive techniques like GIFT (gamete intra-fallopian tube transfer) and ZIFT (zygote intra-fallopian tube transfer). While these procedures have helped many enjoy the birth of a healthy baby, they are used much less frequently today since IVF is currently enjoying a higher success rate. Even so, less than half of all couples who participate in IVF will see positive results.

IVF has allowed many couples to achieve a healthy pregnancy and bring that long desired baby home from the hospital. If IVF sounds like the right procedure for you, check out your options in Florida fertility clinics today.