Medical auxiliary technology for elderly childbearing
With the extension of human life span and the social emphasis on individual development, the elderly childbearing has gradually become a trend. However, age increases pregnancy complications and fertility risks. In order to help older expectant mothers realize their dreams of childbirth, medical assistive technology provides them with feasible solutions. Here are some medical assistive technologies that can help older expectant mothers achieve fertility.
1. In vitro fertilization embryo transfer technology
In Vitro Fertilization - Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) is one of the most widely used and common assisted pregnancy technologies. This technology can help older expectant mothers achieve pregnancy and pregnancy. The whole process includes egg collection, sperm egg combination, embryo culture and transplantation. For older expectant mothers, IVF-ET can improve the pregnancy success rate and fetal health rate.
First, for older expectant mothers, the quality of eggs will decline with age. Through IVF-ET, doctors can select the ones with better egg quality for fertilization and embryo culture to improve the success rate of pregnancy. Secondly, through the process of embryo transfer, doctors can observe the development of embryos and screen healthy embryos to reduce the risk of early abortion.
Many hospitals nationwide, such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, have set up special reproductive medicine centers to provide IVF-ET and other assisted reproductive technologies.
2. Single embryo transfer technology
For older expectant mothers, multiple pregnancy may increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Single Embryo Transfer (SET) is a technology that can reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy.
The basic principle of SET is that only one embryo is transferred into the uterus during IVF-ET to avoid the risk of multiple births. By carefully selecting single embryo transfer with good quality, the incidence of early abortion, fetal malformation and delivery complications can be reduced. At the same time, SET can also reduce the impact of multiple pregnancy on maternal health and ensure the safety of mother and baby.
SET technology has been widely used in reproductive medicine centers around the world, such as Hope Fertility Center in the United States, Cambridge Fertility Center in the United Kingdom, etc.
3. Natural cycle IVF technology
For older expectant mothers, hormone therapy and egg stimulation may increase the risk of complications. Natural Cycle IVF is an assisted reproductive technology that does not use hormone drugs.
The principle of natural cycle IVF is to collect a well developed egg in the female natural ovulation cycle, and then conduct fertilization and embryo transfer through IVF-ET technology. Compared with the traditional IVF-ET technology, this method avoids excessive intervention on female hormone levels and reduces the risk of physical discomfort and complications caused by hormone therapy. In addition, natural cycle IVF can also avoid the risk of multiple pregnancy and reduce the possibility of embryo loss.
Some reproductive medical centers, such as the Ibaraki Prefecture Obstetrics and Women's Hospital in Japan, have begun to use natural cycle IVF technology for fertility assistance.
4. PGD/PGS technology
Older expectant mothers may face risks such as embryo chromosome abnormalities and genetic diseases. PGD/PGS technology (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnostics/Screens) can help screen the genetic status of embryos to select healthy embryos for transplantation.
PGD/PGS technology is to take a small part of embryonic cells for gene detection during IVF-ET. This technology can screen the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, monogenic diseases and some hereditary diseases. By excluding embryos with genetic problems, the pregnancy success rate and the probability of healthy fetuses are improved.
PGD/PGS technology has been widely used in reproductive medicine centers such as Lyon Clinic in the United States and Royal Women's Hospital in the United Kingdom.
In conclusion, in vitro fertilization embryo transfer technology, single embryo transfer technology, natural cycle IVF technology and PGD/PGS technology are effective medical auxiliary technologies to help older expectant mothers realize their reproductive dreams. With the continuous progress of science and technology, these technologies will bring more hope and choices to older expectant mothers.
