In Vitro Fertilization (ivf) Explained - Ivf Facts

Many couples need medical intervention to conceive. In fact, roughly 15% of all couples have problems with their fertility. One of the most commonly used procedures to help infertile couples conceive is called in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In vitro fertilization is a process in which a fertility doctor fertilizes an egg manually in a laboratory in a petri dish. As with normal conception, when IVF is successful an embryo is created. Once an embryo is created it is transferred to the uterus via a catheter through the cervix.

To have in vitro fertilization, there is a process that must be followed. First, a fertility doctor must collect healthy eggs form the female patient. To do this, they stimulate egg production by prescribing fertility drugs. This enables them to collect multiple eggs during one retrieval procedure. It is important to have multiple eggs for IVF to be successful because not all of the eggs will develop or fertilize.

After the eggs produced they are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure. During the procedure eggs are removed from the ovaries via a thin hollow needle. This procedure is quick and relatively painless. Most women experience only minor cramping that subsides within 24 hours. When the eggs have been retrieved they are joined with sperm in an incubator. If sperm motility is poor, the sperm may be injected directly into the egg so that fertilization occurs. In either event, after egg and sperm are introduced they are carefully monitored for signs of cell division. Once cell division takes place the egg is considered an embryo.

Once an embryo is created it is placed in the woman's uterus very quickly. Typically, the embryo transfer is done within two to three days of egg retrieval, but it can be done as early as one day and as late as six.