In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps with fertilization, embryo development, and implantation, so you can get pregnant. During IVF, mature eggs are collected from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then, one or more of the fertilized eggs, called embryos, are placed in a uterus, where babies develop. The process of IVF involves several steps, which can take several months to complete. Here are the basic steps of IVF:

1. Stimulation: Medicines, called fertility drugs, are given to the woman to boost egg production. During this step, the woman will have regular transvaginal ultrasounds to examine the ovaries and blood tests to check hormone levels.

2. Egg retrieval: The eggs are retrieved from the ovaries using a needle guided by ultrasound imaging.

3. Fertilization: The eggs are mixed with sperm in a laboratory dish to achieve fertilization.

4. Embryo culture: The fertilized eggs are cultured in a laboratory for several days to allow for embryo development.

5. Embryo transfer: One or more embryos are transferred into the uterus using a thin catheter.

IVF is a treatment for infertility, a condition in which you cant get pregnant after at least a year of trying for most couples. It can also be used to prevent passing on genetic problems to a child. IVF is most often tried when other, less expensive fertility techniques have failed. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) fertility guidelines recommend that IVF should be offered to women under the age of 43 who have been trying to get pregnant through regular unprotected sex for 2 years. However, the final decision about who can have NHS-funded IVF in England is made by local integrated care boards (ICBs), and their criteria may be stricter than those recommended by NICE.