In recent years, the prevalence of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has grown significantly, along with the public’s understanding and acceptance of fertility treatments. Once viewed as a last resort, IVF is now a common and viable path to parenthood for couples worldwide. This shift isn’t due solely to greater availability or advancements in medical technology. Couples turn to IVF for personal and medical reasons, and each journey is uniquely shaped by the circumstances that led them there.
What is IVF?
IVF is a process that requires the assistance of reproductive technology (ART), where female eggs and male sperm are fertilized outside the human body and then placed back into the woman’s uterus. The procedure is completed successfully upon embryo implantation.
Why couples opt for IVF
There are several reasons why couples choose the IVF procedure, which has turned hope into reality. Studies reveal that about 5% of couples with infertility will try IVF. Since 1978, records show that more than 8 million babies have been born via IVF, with the most effective ARTs available.
Below are a few motivations for why most couples choose the IVF procedure:
Medical Conditions Affecting Fertility
Medical issues are one of the primary reasons couples explore IVF. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, premature ovarian failure, or blocked fallopian tubes can hinder natural conception. These conditions often go undetected until couples begin trying to conceive and, upon failing to do so, seek medical intervention. For men, low sperm count or motility can similarly impact fertility, necessitating assisted reproductive methods.
Increasing Age and Delayed Family Planning
Many couples today choose to delay starting a family due to career priorities, educational pursuits, financial goals, or simply waiting to feel “ready.” However, as people age, especially women, fertility begins to decline significantly. A woman’s peak fertility is in her 20s, but today, it’s not uncommon for people to wait until their mid-30s or even 40s to start having children. By this time, natural conception rates drop, and the risk of miscarriages increases. Age can also affect egg quality, making fertilization and embryo development more challenging.
Same-Sex Couples and Single Parents by Choice
IVF has expanded the definition of family beyond traditional boundaries, allowing same-sex couples and single parents to conceive and build families of their own. For same-sex female couples, IVF enables one partner to carry a pregnancy, using sperm from a donor, while male couples may opt for IVF with a surrogate and an egg donor.
Genetic Disorders and Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Couples with a history of genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or certain chromosomal abnormalities may face a significant risk of passing these conditions to their offspring. For these couples, IVF offers the benefit of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), allowing them to screen embryos for specific genetic disorders before implantation. This screening process is both a preventive measure and a way to ensure the best possible health outcome for their child.
Infertility of Unknown Cause (Unexplained Infertility)
One of the most frustrating situations for couples trying to conceive is being diagnosed with unexplained infertility. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility. For couples with this diagnosis, after extensive testing fails to reveal a specific cause, IVF represents a logical next step. The highly controlled environment in which fertilization occurs during IVF can sometimes identify potential issues that were not evident before, such as egg-sperm compatibility.
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
For couples who have suffered multiple miscarriages, IVF can be a way to achieve a stable and healthy pregnancy. Recurrent miscarriages affect roughly 1% of couples trying to conceive, and the emotional toll is heavy. IVF, with its precise monitoring of embryo quality and genetic viability, can often address the root cause of repeated pregnancy loss.
By selecting embryos that are genetically sound and implanting them in a controlled, monitored environment, IVF helps minimize the risk of miscarriage. While it’s not a guarantee, it provides a more hopeful pathway to a full-term pregnancy for couples who have experienced the devastation of previous losses.
Career Demands and Freezing Fertility Options
The demands of modern careers also influence couples’ decisions to undergo IVF. With companies now offering egg freezing as a benefit, many people are opting to preserve their fertility while pursuing their professional goals. Egg freezing allows them to maintain a better quality of life without the pressure of rushing to start a family early.
Additionally, men undergoing treatments that affect fertility, like chemotherapy, are choosing to bank sperm, while women in similar circumstances may freeze eggs or embryos. IVF then serves as the future pathway for these couples when the time is right for them to conceive.
A Hope-Filled Journey
While IVF offers solutions for couples facing medical, genetic, and logistical challenges, it’s essential to recognize the emotional strength this path requires. IVF can be a long and sometimes unpredictable journey with challenges at every step—from invasive procedures to the anxiety of uncertain outcomes.
But each cycle represents a chance to realize a long-held dream of parenthood. Technological advances, changing societal acceptance, and the determination of couples to find a way have all converged to make IVF a beacon of hope in the face of adversity.
The Future of IVF: Expanding Possibilities and Access
As the pursuit of parenthood via an IVF procedure increases and access to treatments continues to advance, the WHO urges the need for access to high-quality fertility centers and affordability for couples who seek to undergo the procedure.
“Millions of people face catastrophic healthcare costs after seeking infertility treatment, making this a major equity issue and all too often a medical poverty trap for those affected,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.
Society’s openness to diverse family structures is helping to destigmatize fertility treatments, and with each success story, IVF is gaining acceptance as a valid and valuable means of achieving parenthood.
By Helen Okechukwu
