IVF and Test Tube Babies: The Stigma

IVF, otherwise known as In Vitro Fertilization, often has a lot of negative connotations in our modern world—and these negative connotations can largely be blamed on the idea of “test tube babies”. This unpleasant thought often means that people who could benefit from undergoing IVF treatment to help them fall pregnant are avoiding doing so and instead just accepting their fate to never have a family of their very own, but this really doesn’t need to be the case! Indeed, IVF is becoming more affordable and accurate as time goes on, and this could make IVF an ideal solution to your pregnancy difficulties.

What is IVF?

IVF is a procedure that is commonly given a bad reputation, thanks to the stigma of so called “test tube babies”. As it happens, though, test tubes aren’t actually directly linked to the establishment of a pregnancy with IVF. In fact, during the process, the majority of the work is still done by the mother in regards to growing a baby.

To start with, an egg cell (otherwise known scientifically as an ovum) is extracted from the mother, which will then be fertilized by her partner’s sperm (if available) or otherwise by an arranged sperm donor. From here, the egg cell is then cultured for just under a week to allow it to grow and develop into a viable embryo, at which point the embryo is then re-implanted into the mother’s uterus. Here, if all goes well, the embryo will then implant into the lining of the uterus—just as a naturally fertilized egg would—where it will continue to grow and develop over the coming trimesters until the resulting baby is born at the end of the process.

The Stigma

There is a stigma behind the concept of IVF as a means of fertility treatment, largely due to the fears associated with IVF and “playing god”. However, IVF is merely a means of allowing a couple who are struggling to get pregnant to achieve the family that they always dreamed of. Ironically, a more fitting term would be a “Petri dish baby”—but this doesn’t have quite the same impact for skeptic to use it to justify their case, does it?

Where to get Help

If you are struggling to fall pregnant and think that IVF could be the right solution for you, then we at Reproductive Health and Wellness can help you with all of your IVF needs.