Becoming parents has become more convenient and easier in comparison with the time 40-50 years ago. Due to technical advancements in medical sciences, couples become parents even after having infertility. Through ART (assisted reproductive technology) solutions such as IVF, ICSI, and IUI, couples can bypass their fertility problems and conceive a child to enjoy the parenthood journey.
The term test tube baby is a non-medical term for IVF and refers to babies conceived outside of a human body. In the process, foetal/embryo development occurs in the lab after the fertilisation of a female’s egg with a male’s sperm. After 2-7 days of fertilisation, experts implant the fertilised egg into a female’s uterus to make the baby develop naturally. In the current world, test tube babies or IVF babies are a boon for infertile couples.
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Test tube baby process
Here, the test tube baby process means IVF process, which starts with initial consultation. However, its actual start begins with the administration of fertility drugs to stimulate ovaries and continues till a pregnancy test. A complete cycle of IVF (in vitro fertilisation includes the following procedures:
- Ovary stimulation – Respective doctors ask you (females willing to conceive) take fertility drugs to stimulate your ovaries. The stimulated ovaries produce and release more eggs at a time in comparison with the release of a mature egg in a menstrual cycle. During the ovary stimulation, you may have to go through blood tests and ultrasound to check your hormone levels and track egg production.
- Egg retrieval – Experts insert a catheter into your ovaries to collect eggs after 34-36 hours of the administration of final injection. For the retrieval of eggs, doctors can use transvaginal ultrasound aspiration or abdominal ultrasound. The entire egg retrieval process lasts for only 20 minutes. You (females) can experience cramping or feelings of pressure or fullness after the completion of the egg retrieval process.
- Sperm extraction – At the same time as egg retrieval, the doctor will ask your male partner to produce his sperm. For this, your male partner can collect his semen in the produced container through masturbation in a private room at a clinic or home. After collection, he needs to hand over the collected semen to a pathologist. In some cases, the expert can use a testicular aspiration method for extracting sperm. There will be advice on the use of donor sperm if your male partner has 0 sperm in his semen.
- Egg fertilisation/embryo development – For the fertilisation of egg with sperm, your doctor can apply any one of these two methods – conventional insemination and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).
- Embryo transfer – After 2-5 days of egg retrieval, doctors can move ahead for embryo transfer. To transfer a healthy embryo or more, they will insert the catheter into your uterus through your cervix and vagina. The catheter contains a syringe that carries one or more than one embryo. In certain cases, your doctor may recommend you to have assisted hatching, genetic testing, etc. before embryo transfer.
- Pregnancy test – After 6-10 days of embryo transfer, there will be implantation in your uterus lining. And two weeks after embryo transfer, your doctor conducts a blood/urine test to know whether the conception has occurred or not. If the test result is negative, you have to take another pregnancy test after a week. You may need to repeat the entire process if the test result is negative again.
Test tube baby cost
IVF cost in Bangalore differs from one clinic to another and the need for IVF cycles to conceive. As a patient, you may need more than one IVF cycle. A complete IVF cycle may cost you anything between INR 1 00 000 to INR 5 00 000.
Conclusion
The test tube baby is a non-medical term for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Its complete process includes ovary stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm extraction, egg fertilisation, embryo transfer, and pregnancy test. Based on infertility causes, timing, need for IVF cycles, the cost of a test tube baby could range from Rs 1 00 0000 to Rs 5 00 000.