Infertility is common these days. About 7.8 million women on Earth face the problem of conceiving a child. IVF and surrogacy are alternative methods of procreation. Thousands of babies are born in 52 countries of the world thanks to the various reproductive services of the Feskov Human Reproduction Group. However, many couples do not know which method to choose. Therefore, let's look at the differences between these two effective medical technologies.
What is the difference between IVF and surrogacy?
IVF stands for in vitro fertilization, when the process of conception does not occur naturally, but under the supervision of doctors in the laboratory. The embryo created in this way is transplanted into the woman's uterus for pregnancy. IVF is a great way to increase your chances of pregnancy if you have fertility problems. Surrogacy is a method of treating infertility, when a stranger bears and gives birth to a baby for another family. The gestational type of technique is used in the world. In which the egg is retrieved from the biological mother, fertilized with the sperm of the father or donor during IVF and transferred to the uterus of the surrogate mother. Genetically, the baby in the uterus is related with the intended parents. A surrogate mother only bears a fetus in the uterus and gives birth to a baby.
IVF allows the future mother to get pregnant and go through childbirth on her own. And with surrogacy, the entire process of pregnancy and childbirth is performed by a surrogate mother. Most often, this occurs when the mother has an uterus removed, there are birth defects or diseases that prevent her from bearing and giving birth. This is the most basic difference between the two technologies. Thus, in a surrogate journey, IVF is only part of a long and eventful journey. At the same time, the couple must take care of the surrogate mother for all 9 months until she gives birth to their baby.
How is the IVF procedure going?
IVF treatment stages:
- Stimulation of superovulation in the mother. The woman is prescribed specially selected hormonal medications so that her ovaries produce not 1-2, but 8-10 fully matured oocytes per cycle.
- Collection of eggs. By means of a minimally invasive follicular puncture under ultrasound control, the doctor collects good eggs from the follicles.
- IVF. The combination of an oocyte and a germ cell from a father or donor is performed in an embryonic laboratory by embryologists. ICSI technology allows for a successful process even when there is one viable sperm in the semen. Which is directly placed inside the egg for fertilization.
- Embryo transplantation. After 3-5 days, a normal embryo, tested for genetic pathologies, is transplanted with a probe into the mother's uterine cavity. After the procedure, the woman is advised to rest for one day.
- The achievement of pregnancy. If the embryo has attached to the mucosa of the uterus, pregnancy has achieved.
Pregnancy is diagnosed after about 2 weeks, through a blood test for hCG and ultrasound.
IVF and surrogacy cost
For couples struggling with infertility, before going in search of a suitable surrogate mother, it is necessary to mentally, emotionally and financially prepare for the action. Since, this is a long journey that requires both large emotional and significant material resources. Not to mention the commitment of both partners to this.
The cost of reproductive services varies from country to country and from clinic to clinic. Cheaper services – in developing countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan). More expensive ones are in developed rich countries (USA, Canada, Germany, etc.).
So, on average, the cost:
- IVF – from 10 to 50,000 €;
- surrogacy – from 20 to 180,000 €.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that very rarely IVF is successful on the first attempt, and you have to pay for each subsequent one. And surrogacy, besides IVF itself, entails many more factors that make the final amount vague and unattainable for many families.
Unlike Feskov Human Reproduction Group, where prices are strictly fixed, transparent, and do not require additional payments. For the comfort and tranquility of the patients, we implement warranty obligations for programs that operate until the 12th week of pregnancy or until the baby is born, due to the chosen package. Where the entire service package is placed, including an unlimited number of IVF until success, embryonic genetic screening and other services.
