Although the majority of those who resort to Assisted Human Reproduction (RUA) procedures are heterosexual couples, in recent years there has been a worldwide increase in RUA techniques required by women without a male partner. Thus, according to a report HFEA (Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority), the number of single women who resorted to assisted reproduction treatments reached 4.1% in 2018, after in 2016 the percentage was only 1.3% .
Why do single women use RUA techniques?
The reasons why a single woman chooses to resort to such treatments are very complex, but education, career aspirations, changing social mentality and personal fulfillment are the main factors of the decision.
Dr. Adela Șerban, infertility specialist at the Fetal Care Center clinic, explains: “ We are finding more and more often in young women medical conditions that decrease the chances of getting a pregnancy naturally: early ovarian failure, endometriosis, tubal pathologies or genetic (e.g. Turner syndrome, etc.). These women will lose the chance to have children from their own genetic material, if they do not follow assisted reproduction treatments or do not resort to the preservation of reproductive cells! For young patients with a confirmed oncological diagnosis, preserving fertility is a priority in reproductive medicine worldwide! Then we meet women who are ready for the challenge of starting a family, they feel the pressure of the biological clock, but they have not found the right partner yet.We are talking about strong, independent, determined women who do not allow social or even medical obstacles to restrict their happiness and the fundamental right to be mothers! ”
Mother wife
There are various fertility treatments available for women without a partner. Whether we are talking about preserving fertility, or whether we are considering getting pregnant immediately, we have several medical protocols at our disposal, which are customized according to the needs of each patient.
Freezing of oocytes: the technique that has registered the highest growth in the world in recent years (over 10% in 2018 compared to 2017), vitrification of oocytes, is the best option for women who want children, but either have not yet found the right partner , either they will go through aggressive treatments, which could have negative effects on the quality of the genetic material (such as, for example, chemotherapy or various surgeries), or they have other personal reasons why they want to postpone the pregnancy. The chances of success in obtaining pregnancy through RUA methods are higher the younger the woman, so oocyte harvesting and vitrification is recommended especially in patients under 35, the age after which fertility begins to decline. Vitrified oocytes can remain in the tissue bank for 10 years,
Intrauterine insemination (IUI): this protocol involves injecting sperm into the uterus. IUI is less invasive than IVF techniques and can be performed without the need for stimulant medication if the patient does not have a diagnosis of infertility. However, to increase the chances of success, a short treatment protocol is used, with mild ovarian stimulation. IUI is suitable for single women, as there is the possibility of choosing a sperm donor from authorized banks. These donors (completely anonymous or with a visible profile) go through a rigorous selection and testing process, so that the resulting child has a favorable genetic inheritance.
In vitro fertilization (IVF): involves following a treatment protocol for ovarian stimulation, an intervention under anesthesia, called ovarian puncture, followed by complex laboratory procedures. The oocytes obtained from the stimulation treatment are collected during the puncture (under ultrasound guidance) and fertilized with the best quality sperm (from a donor chosen by the patient) in the laboratory. From this process results the embryo which is subsequently transferred to the uterine cavity by the specialist doctor (3 or 5 days away from the day of the puncture).
IVF with donated oocytes:this technique involves using another woman's oocytes to get pregnant. This treatment option applies in cases where the genetic material itself cannot be used for various reasons (either the patient no longer responds to the stimulation treatment and oocytes are not obtained, or the patient's age is too advanced to obtain good quality embryos. , or it is the carrier of a genetic abnormality, etc.). There are very well-defined protocols at the international level for such procedures that allow the donor to be chosen according to a series of criteria, starting with the physical appearance (to be as close as possible to that of the future mother) and up to her level of education. Although many clinics promote sharing programs (oocytes left over from another woman who performed the procedure and obtained more oocytes,
To establish a treatment protocol, the first step is to go to a clinic specializing in infertility. The initial consultation is the one that will give you the big picture both on the stages you will go through and on the team you will work closely with to achieve the goal of becoming a mother!
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