In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been around for more than 40 years, leading to incredible advancements in treating men and women who suffer from fertility issues. While it’s not the only assisted reproductive technology (ART) available, it has been one of the most profound forms of medical intervention seen in the last several decades.
We are excited to see that IVF is finally something more openly discussed in media coverage in recent years, helping to destigmatize and normalize the process. While not all media coverage has been positive, we know that the exposure has helped an entire community of men and women feel more validated and less alone in their journey towards parenthood.
Opening Doors with IVF Treatment
On July 25th, 1978, Louise Joy Brown was born. She is the world’s first baby to be conceived via IVF. Since that day, many advances in reproductive medicine have provided more opportunities and options for individuals and couples to pursue parenthood with increased success rates.
Per the CDC, approximately 2.0% of all infants born in the United States annually are conceived using ART. In 2020 alone, there were 326,468 ART cycles performed, resulting in more than 75,000 live births. Many people’s families would not be possible without the use of fertility treatments such as IVF, and we look forward to technology continuing to help bring even higher success rates as we look into the near future.
IVF in the Media
In recent years, we have seen more and more people open up about their fertility journey. This includes many celebrities that have taken to social media and the news to share what they have experienced.
Amy Schumer revealed that she was pursuing IVF to give her son a sibling, while Chrissy Teigen documented much of their fertility struggles that included several rounds of treatment and a challenging loss along the way.
Due to their openness, others have since come forward to share their current or past stories involving IVF and fertility struggles. We applaud them for coming forward and discussing such a vulnerable topic. This has helped so many others to share their journeys and find their communities online and in person to stay connected and feel less lonely on this journey.
Not all discussions about ART have been positive. The recent documentary “Our Father” shows a very unfortunate case of a Doctor taking advantage of his patients. This coverage, albeit negative, brings to light important points that have helped pave a way for better and safer practices and procedures involving ART processes.
As IVF has developed and changed over the years, regulations and guidelines have been put in place to encourage the safest care possible to all patients. Each safeguard along the way helps clinics like OC Fertility to reassure patients that we are practicing safely and under the appropriate guidance.
IVF and Patient Care
Our hope is that in the near future, everyone will have the knowledge and accessibility to IVF. There have been amazing technological advances. Thanks to patients' willingness to share their processes, more and more people are becoming aware of their options and realizing that fertility treatment may be a path toward building their families.
At OC Fertility, we recognize the need for guidance outside the medical procedures we perform. We have partnered with other organizations to help our patients better understand their options regarding finances and support.
The process of undergoing IVF can be challenging and emotionally draining, so we are here to help you navigate through the process from beginning to end. If you’re ready to set up your first consultation, you can call or text us today at 949-996-9522.
