In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which means ‘fertilization in a glass’ is often more commonly referred to as a test tube baby. Eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish before being placed in the woman’s womb. Women who use In Vitro Fertilization are often recommended this method when others have failed or because they are older.

The In Vitro Fertilization process should go something like the method set out below but may differ slightly between clinics. Your doctor will give some drugs to block the hormones normally released during the menstrual cycle. This will help them have improved control as to when your eggs will be produced. Further drugs are given to ensure your ovaries create more than a single egg.

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To monitor your developing eggs, vaginal ultrasound scans are taken as well as blood tests to ensure that the eggs are increasing the estrogen level. Once the time is right, another hormone will be injected to help the eggs mature. The reason for this is that the eggs will be collected between 34 and 38 hours later, even if it is the middle of the night. To collect the eggs, ultrasound guidance is used and as it takes about half an hour, either drugs or a general anesthetic is given which may make you feel drowsy.

Next the man must produce some fresh sperm at about the same time as the eggs are collected. 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. The process can take between 16 and 20 hours during which time the sperm and eggs are allowed to mix in a laboratory dish before they are inspected to find out if the fertilization was successful. Any embryo’s that have fertilized abnormally or not at all, are discarded, then those remaining are left for another 24 to 48 hours prior to a final check.

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.

Genetics And IVF Institute

Carole Mallinson is a infertility specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field of secondary infertility and infertility clinic. She regularly contributes articles to various Infertility publication. Find out more about on our site.

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