Most people know the term ‘test tube baby’ but the correct name for this process is ‘In Vitro fertilization’. Eggs are fertilized in a laboratory dish with sperm and then place inside the woman’s womb. In Vitro Fertilization is recommended if you are an older woman, have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, those whose tubes are blocked, or if other techniques have been unsuccessful.

Whilst every clinic works slightly differently, the main procedure is a fairly routine one. Your doctor will give some drugs to block the hormones normally released during the menstrual cycle. Blocking the hormones helps the doctor have greater control over your egg production. To ensure you ovaries produce more than a single egg, further drugs are given.

Failed IVF Cycle...

Vaginal ultrasound scans are carried out to monitor your developing eggs along with blood tests to chart the rising levels of estrogen produced by the eggs. All these tests are designed to show when the time is right for an injection of another hormone to help the eggs mature. This injection is given 34 to 38 hours before the eggs will be collected to the timing of this is very important. Eggs are usually collected by ultrasound guidance which takes around 30 minutes and you are either given a drug to make you drowsy or a general anesthetic.

It is not until this time that the man gets involved and needs to produce a sample of fresh sperm. Once this has been done the sperm are stored for a short period before they are washed and then spun at high speed to ensure only the healthiest ad most active sperm are used. Donated sperm is kept in the freezer but the same method to prepare it is used. Once that has been completed the sperm is mixed with the eggs in a dish and left for between 16 to 20 hours and then checked to see if they have been 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.

Once your eggs have been collected there is a waiting period of two days, then you are given pessaries, an injection or gel to ready the lining of your womb.

Failed IVF Cycle

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