In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which means ‘fertilization in a glass’ is often more commonly referred to as a test tube baby. Eggs are fertilized in a laboratory dish with sperm and then place inside the woman’s womb. When other fertilization techniques have failed, the mother may be older or there is no apparent reason for infertility, then In Vitro Fertilization is frequently recommended.

Techniques of In Vitro Fertilization differ from clinic to clinic but a typical pattern of treatment might go like this: At the start of your treatment your doctor gives you drugs to block the hormones your pituitary gland usually produces during your monthly cycle. This will help them have improved control as to when your eggs will be produced. Once this has been done further drugs are given to multiply the number of eggs your ovaries produce.

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It’s important that levels of estrogen produced by the eggs are monitored so a combination of blood tests and vaginal ultrasound scans are used. Another hormone injection will be given when the tests show the time is right to help the eggs mature. The timing for this injection is crucial and must be carried out no earlier that 34 or later than 38 hours before your eggs are collected. Collecting the eggs takes about 30 minutes and is carried out using ultrasound guidance so often either drugs or a general anesthetic is given to make you feel more relaxed.

It is not until this time that the man gets involved and needs to produce a sample of fresh sperm. After a short storage period the sperm are washed and spun at high speed to enable the most active and healthiest to be chosen. Donated sperm is kept in the freezer but the same method to prepare it is used. Your eggs are then mixed with your partner’s sperm and left in a laboratory dish for 16-20 hours before they are checked to see if any have fertilized. Any that haven’t, or any that have fertilized abnormally, are discarded and the remaining embryos are then left for another 24-48 hours before being checked again.

In order to help prepare your womb, pessaries, gel or an injection are given two days after your eggs have been collected.

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