In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most common infertility treatments. If you’re considering IVF, it’s very important to understand how it works and what the legal implications are.

What Is In Vitro Fertilization?

IVF is a type of infertility treatment that involves creating a fertilized embryo in a lab environment. During IVF, doctors will collect eggs and sperm and then combine them to create an embryo. Once there’s a viable embryo, the doctors can then implant it in a person’s uterus to result in a successful pregnancy. The uses of IVF include:
Ovulation disorders where the body fails to release eggs on time.
Sperm disorders, such as low sperm count, that make it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
Fallopian tube blockages that prevent eggs from reaching the uterus.
Any situation where a donor egg, donor sperm or surrogate is being used.
Genetic disorders where some embryos might not be viable.
Uterine conditions that make it harder for eggs to implant.

Understanding the Process of In Vitro Fertilization

Once you develop a treatment plan with your doctor, IVF usually takes around two to three weeks. Your experience with in vitro fertilization may vary a little depending on why you are receiving the treatment.

Typically, the most complicated part of the IVF process is collecting the eggs. To get suitable eggs for IVF, the person providing the eggs goes through a regimen of hormone medications that encourage their ovaries to produce more eggs. After a couple of weeks, your medical team will collect the eggs by guiding a thin needle up through the vagina and into the ovarian follicles. The sperm collection part is usually more straightforward. It’s usually done through masturbation but can be done by inserting a needle into the testicles if necessary.

Once your medical team has eggs and sperm, it will combine them in a controlled lab environment. About two to six days after egg collection, your doctors will use a thin tube to insert the embryo through the vagina and into the uterus. If everything goes well, a positive pregnancy test will appear in 12 days.

Exploring the Pros and Cons of In Vitro Fertilization

IVF is one of the safest and most successful forms of assisted reproductive technology. It makes it straightforward to treat several fertility issues, and it also allows you to easily work with a surrogate or use a donor for your pregnancy. IVF is so effective that 55% of people who try it get pregnant on their first try.

However, keep in mind that in vitro fertilization is not entirely risk-free. The embryo doesn’t always implant, and the collection and implantation procedures can lead to soreness, cramping, bleeding and ovarian swelling. The other potential downsides of IVF are that IVF costs are quite high, and implanting multiple embryos at once can lead to an unwanted pregnancy of twins, triplets or more.

The Legal Implications of In Vitro Fertilization

Due to the way it works, IVF can result in many situations where you might need a New Jersey adoption lawyer. If you use donor sperm or a donor egg, you may need to fill out paperwork to ensure you and your partner are both listed as the infant’s legal parents. There can also be some additional legal agreements you need to work out if you are using IVF with a surrogate. You will need to define how you want to compensate the surrogate for her medical bills and discuss how involved you want to be in the pregnancy. If you skip these arrangements and rely on a verbal donor agreement, you can end up with unexpected parties having parental rights over your child.

Cofsky & Zeidman are happy to help people planning on using in vitro fertilization, and we also assist with a variety of other family planning and adoption matters as well. We help people throughout the Haddonfield and Woodbury regions find ways to expand their families. To learn more about our New Jersey adoption lawyer services, call 856-429-5005 or fill out and submit our contact form.