W.B. Govt. Set to Bring Test-tube Baby Centre or IVF Facility Free of Cost

By neucrad health News Desk February 20, 2020

West Bengal is launching the first Government Test-tube Baby Centre or IVF Facility in the Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital. According to sources, this state-of-the-art medical facility will start its service this year. It will be a blessing for those couples finding challenges in conceiving, as the government has decided to offer the services free of cost. They have already invested an estimated Rs 1 crore for the successful implementation of the IVF project. The sources also reported that the management has already procures around 90 per cent of the medical devices. The facility will come up on the third floor of the ‘Outdoor’ building of the hospital. They are now waiting for the completion of a few last-minute formalities before officially launching the scheme. If everything falls into place, then within two months we can expect the inauguration of the ‘Test Tube Baby Centre’ in NRS Medical College and Hospital.

What is ‘test-tube baby’ or IVF?

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) or ‘test-tube baby’ as it is popularly known in the Indian culture is a mode of assisted reproductive technology helping women with complications in their reproductive system give birth to babies. It helps those women to go ahead with a successful pregnancy when other fertility treatments do not provide satisfactory results. In this procedure, doctors fertilise the ovum by the introduction of sperm in a laboratory petri dish; hence, it got the name of ‘test-tube baby’. After the successful fertilisation, the zygote is again replanted within the mother’s uterus for further growth and development of the foetus.

How is the prevalence of IVF among assisted reproductive techniques?

Till 2016, approximately 6.5 million babies were born with the help of IVF mechanism. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also reported that around 1.6 per cent of births in the United States occur through assisted reproductive technology. Louise Brown is the first ‘test-tube baby’ born on 25 July 1978. Robert Edwards received the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, in the year 2010 for his noteworthy contribution to the study and development of in-vitro fertilisation.

When do doctors recommend in vitro fertilisation?

Gynaecologists usually advocate IVF when women fail to conceive in spite of repeatedly trying for at least one year. It helps in treating infertility due to blockage or damage in fallopian tubes, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, surgical removal of fallopian tubes due to other medical conditions, poor egg quality, and unexplained infertility. In some cases, couples are unable to conceive due to the complications in male partners. IVF also help in the development of a successful pregnancy if the would-be father has decreased sperm count or immotile sperms.

What is the success rate of IVF?

The success rate of IVF depends on the age of the women trying to conceive and the causes of her infertility. It also depends on the clinic and the doctor under whose guidance the entire process is carried out. In 2010, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) came up with an estimation of the success rate of IVF according to the age of the would-be mother. The report stated:

What are the risk factors for IVF?

Though IVF is a blessing for women trying to conceive in spite of various complexities in their reproductive organs, there are some risks associated with it. It can lead to multiple birth, premature delivery, low birth weight baby, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and complication during egg retrieval. However, the introduction of the latest medical devices and the experience and skill of doctors can minimise these risks.

If you are experiencing challenges in conceiving, then contact your nearest doctor to know more about this process and take advantage of it.