Advantages of IVF | Dr Rama Sofat Hospital

Advantages of IVF | Dr Rama Sofat Hospital

Since IVF was pioneered by Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe in 1978, IVF has helped million of people become parents. Here we outline some of the advantages associated with IVF.

IVF helps many patients who would be otherwise unable to conceive. The ultimate advantage of IVF is achieving a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby. IVF can make this a reality for people who would be unable to have a baby otherwise:

Blocked tubes: For women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, IVF provides the best opportunity of having a child using their own eggs.

Older patients/ patients with a low ovarian reserve: IVF can be used to maximise the chance of older patients conceiving. At Dr Rama Sofat Hospital, we have great experience with older women and those with low ovarian reserve.

Male infertility: Couples with a male infertility problem will have a much higher chance of conceiving with IVF than conceiving naturally. We have a number of laboratory techniques to facilitate this including intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). 

Unexplained infertility: 1 in 6 couples will suffer fertility problems and sometimes these remain undiagnosed after investigation. These patients may benefit from intervention.

PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome is common condition in which there is a hormone imbalance leading to irregular menstrual cycles. IVF has proved very successful in patients with PCOS, who will not conceive with ovulation induction.

Endometriosis: Patients with endometriosis, where parts of the womb lining grow outside the womb, may like to try IVF, as it has proved successful in this group.

Premature ovarian failure: Women with premature ovarian failure or menopause can have IVF treatment using donor eggs, which typically has high success rates.This was explained by Dr Rama Sofat (IVF Expert)

It has been used for a long time and has a safe track record. The first ‘IVF baby’, Louise Brown, was born using natural IVF in 1978. Since then, the technology has advanced, and techniques refined in order to create safer and successful treatment. We use only the safest forms of IVF with fewer drugs in order to reduce the risk of side effects such as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

IVF can be more successful than IUI and other forms of assisted reproductive technology. IVF success rates have been increasing since its conception, thanks to technological advances. This was explained by Dr Rama Sofat (IVF Expert)

Although IUI and other forms of assisted reproduction technology can be successful for some patients, on the whole they have not undergone the same level of improvement, and do not currently have as high success rates. IUI with donor sperm can however be a useful first option in single women and same-sex couples.

It can help single women and same-sex couples. For single women or same-sex couples who wish to have a child, IVF can provide a great opportunity for helping them to become parents if IUI has not been successful. IVF with donor sperm can help potential patients achieve this goal.

IVF can help to diagnose fertilisation problems. In some cases of unexplained infertility, there could be a problem with fertilisation. Cases such as these may not be diagnosed until fertilisation is attempted in the laboratory. Although this would be a disappointing outcome, it is useful to be able to uncover such problems so that solutions could be reached for future treatment with ICSI.

Unused embryos can be donated to research or another couple. If you are lucky enough to have embryos to spare, these can be used to help other people and even save lives. With the permission of the biological parents, unused embryos can be donated for research purposes, or to another couple to enable them to have a child.