Whether you are merely exploring your options for gender selection IVF or looking for advice and assistance with a long-standing reproductive issue, fertility clinics provide far more services to their clients than most people would assume. After all, a lot of people seeking their services may not necessarily have trouble conceiving, and not all of their clients who do will receive the same treatment to resolve it. Any reputable clinic will always take the needs of their individual patients into account when coming up with a strategy to help them conceive and thus they require a wide range of options to help treat their clients effectively.
Another thing to consider is that in order to stay up to date and provide the most effective treatments, fertility clinics need to keep up to date with new advances in technology and medical theory. As such any clinic which doesn’t offer a wide range of modern treatment options should always be viewed with suspicion. But this does rather lend the question, what services do fertility clinics provide to their patients? Well, let’s take a look at four of the most commonly requested treatments.
1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Probably one of the most well-known and widely requested fertility treatments on offer, IVF has generated this level of awareness through its efficacy and accessibility. Practically every fertility clinic in the world now offers IVF treatments to women who struggle to conceive for a number of different reasons. It is a common misconception that IV is only for female reproductive issues, whereas in reality, it is also used as a way to resolve some kinds of male fertility and conception difficulties too. Adding to this the relative affordability of IVF treatments in Bangkok and other parts of the world also adds to its popularity.
The process involves prescribing various fertility medications in order to elicit increased egg production from the woman’s ovaries, more than one egg is required in case of implantation failure. The eggs are then harvested through a minimally invasive surgical procedure, if possible the man is then expected to give a sperm sample so the eggs can be fertilized and they are then implanted into the woman’s uterus after 3 to 5 days. Of course no medical procedure is without inherent risks and possibility of failure; however, the odds for success in most cases are high.
2. Gender Selection IVF
While this is still a form of In Vitro Fertilization, the reasons why people want the option to select the gender of their child are usually not due to or related to, a reproductive issue. In addition, the goals for both the parents and clinic are completely different from standard IVF with the goal of conceiving a child of a specified gender as opposed to conception itself. The reasons why people might want to ensure their next child is of a particular gender may be issues like wanting to balance the gender makeup of their family or individual cultural reasons.
The process involved with gender selection IVF is relatively the same as regular IVF; however, the main objective is for an embryo to develop into a specified gender. This is done by first collecting and fertilizing the eggs as standard, but then they are allowed to develop to a point where the gender of the fertilized egg cell can be determined. Once the desired gendered egg has been obtained, it is then implanted into the woman’s uterus to continue developing as a regular baby would.
3. Fertility Testing
Regular general fertility checkups and tests are advised as a person gets older, as your body ages its reproductive functions will too change and it is an important thing to remember for men and women alike. People also come to fertility clinics for testing if they have concerns or worries that they may have a fertility issue and want confirmation. A fertility clinic can also help women going through the menopause monitor and treat the symptoms of this process which happens at around the age of 50.
Of course, testing will normally come as part of a treatment “package” with most fertility clinics if you are, say, considering IVF as a treatment option with them. However, reproductive testing is also sometimes done on behalf of hospitals and doctors in order for them to gain a better understanding of the problem their patient is facing. Usually, this kind of testing is done on a referral basis after your healthcare professional decides they need to acquire more information. Some hospitals and doctor’s clinics are not equipped with the necessary equipment or skilled personnel to perform this testing themselves and therefore sometimes rely on private or third party fertility clinics to perform these diagnostics for them.
4. Chromosome Screening
Chromosome screening is the process of analyzing and reporting on the chromosome structure of a fertilized egg to check that it has the right number of said chromosomes. This can be done as part of a course of IVF treatments or as a standalone process for any pregnant woman. Some women that fall under certain demographics are more prone to developing an embryo with either Downs Syndrome or a number of other chromosomal abnormalities. This includes women over the age of 35 years, women with a history of miscarriages, women with a history of chromosomal development issues or women with a history of failed IVF/implantations.
In the context of IVF treatments, the goal of chromosomal screening is to ensure that only healthy embryos with the correct number of chromosomes will be transferred into the mother’s uterus. After all, embryos with the incorrect amount of chromosomes can account for up to 60% of miscarriages, so from a medical standpoint, it would be unethical to implant an embryo with that high of a chance of miscarriage, only to develop into a baby with severe impairment and potential disability.
Should you wish to learn more about the this subject, please click the following link for the best questions to ask at an IVF consultation.