In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure that involves fertilizing an egg and a sperm outside the womans body in a laboratory dish. It is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that is used to help women become pregnant when other fertility techniques have failed. The procedure involves five basic steps:
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Stimulation or super ovulation: Fertility drugs are given to the woman to boost egg production. Normally, a woman produces one egg per month, but fertility drugs tell the ovaries to produce several eggs. During this step, the woman will have regular transvaginal ultrasounds to examine the ovaries and blood tests to check hormone levels.
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Egg retrieval: The eggs are retrieved from the womans ovaries using a needle guided by ultrasound. This is usually done under sedation or general anesthesia.
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Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are mixed with sperm in a laboratory dish to allow fertilization to occur.
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Embryo development: The fertilized eggs are monitored for several days to ensure that they are developing properly.
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Embryo transfer: The embryos are transferred to the womans uterus through a tube-like apparatus called a catheter. The embryo then sticks to the uterine lining and results in pregnancy.
IVF is a widely used process in assisted reproductive technologies. It was first successfully performed in 1978, when IVF gave birth to Louis Brown.
