Meghan Markle’s IVF Story- A Beacon of Hope for Women Facing
Home / gynaecology / Meghan Markle’s IVF Story: A Beacon of Hope for Women Facing Infertility

Meghan Markle’s IVF Story: A Beacon of Hope for Women Facing Infertility

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process where egg cells are harvested and then fertilized with sperm outside of the body to create an embryo. Meghan Markle’s IVF story serves as a beacon of hope for women facing infertility. The process involves the combination of these gametes outside the body. It is usually done in a laboratory, with the resulting embryos grown for a few days.

In most cases, these embryos undergo some tests to check their viability before they are transferred into the uterus for subsequent pregnancy and birth. IVF is usually used for couples who are finding it difficult to conceive through the natural means of sexual intercourse. It can also be used to conceive twins, triplets or more. In the cases of couples that have a genetic disorder and do not want to pass it on to their offspring, IVF and genetic testing can be used to avoid that.

Meghan Markle and her IVF story 

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is believed to have used IVF in the conception of her first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. She and her husband Prince Harry, announced their pregnancy in 2018, with Archie being born in May 2019. While the exact details of the treatment are unavailable, it is thought that the Duchess used a special type of IVF/ART technique called Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This technique involves the injection of a single sperm into an egg to fertilize it. Meditour agencies facilitate medical tourism to preferred countries where this procedure can easily be carried out at affordable rates.

The technique is employed when the male partner has a very low sperm count. IVF has been proven to be a very safe and effective way of conceiving, especially for couples who suffer from difficulty in conceiving through natural intercourse, a condition that can be referred to as infertility. The success rate of the technique has been steadily increasing over the years, with the technological advancements and the refining of the already existing techniques. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement and the fact that they were expecting a child. Speculations then arose that the Duchess may have undergone fertility treatments. Before their wedding, Harry and Markle hired a London-based nutritionist to see if they could be good parents. In the run-up to the wedding, he reportedly lost about 7 pounds to be in the best physical shape of his life.

Did Meghan Markle have a natural birth?

There is no definitive fact-based answer to this question since there has been no public confirmation or denial by either Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, or their team. However, based on the available information, it seems very likely that Meghan Markle did have a natural birth. This is because the Duchess was reportedly in labour for over 10 hours, which is typically not the case for women who choose to deliver their babies through a cesarean section. In addition, Meghan Markle may have adhered to the tradition of natural births, as royal women are known to do so often.

Meghan Markle’s IVF Story- A Beacon of Hope for Women Facing
Picture courtesy: GistReel

The truth about getting pregnant at 37 or older

The announcement by Meghan Markle that she had gotten pregnant at 37 no doubt was a surprise and delight to many, especially women who are advanced in age and still have hopes of conceiving and giving birth to their biological children. The timing of the announcement soon after their marriage may also give the impression that they encountered no challenges in conceiving.

However, women over the age of 35 like Meghan, will see their chances of getting pregnant naturally rapidly decline. This is because between the ages of 30-40 years, a woman’s chance of conceiving per cycle fall from approximately 20% to just about 3%. However, a decline in fertility is not a reason to panic. It merely highlights the fact that both the woman and the man should be aware of the impact of ageing on fertility and be aware of how best to improve their chances of conceiving, given their circumstances.

Meghan Markle’s IVF Story- A Beacon of Hope for Women Facing
Picture courtesy: Verywell Family

What are the ways to improve fertility at an advanced age?

Fertility is the natural capability to produce offspring. A measure of fertility rate is the number of offspring born per mating pair, individual, or population. Fecundity, or the capacity for reproduction, is not the same as fertility. A lack of fertility is termed as infertility, while a lack of fecundity is termed as sterility.

There are several ways to improve a woman’s chances of getting pregnant naturally at an advanced age. Some of the ways, like eating more healthy foods, keeping the weight within the optimal BMI, and quitting smoking have all been proven to boost fertility. Also, knowing the cycle, the time of ovulation, and engaging in sexual intercourse during the fertile window can greatly improve the chances as well. In many instances where a couple has been trying to conceive with no success, they must consult with a fertility doctor. A fertility test may provide useful insights which they would ordinarily not be aware of.

What are the options for women who delay pregnancy?

More women than ever before are giving birth to children after the age of 35. This trend can be attributed to a variety of factors, including going to college, pursuing a career, the development of contraceptives, the rising expense of raising a family, and the reality that many women do not find a compatible partner until much later in life. Therefore there is no denying that many women have and will continue to conceive at 37 and older like Meghan Markle. With this in mind, women must be aware of the different types of assisted reproductive technologies that exist and are available to help them in their goal to conceive. There is no one recommended treatment for all the cases. The treatment will be tailored towards the needs and the individual circumstances of the patient.

The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health. Read more

Similar Posts