Test tube babies, as they are commonly known, are created using IVF or In Vitro Fertilization which literally means fertilization in glass. Essentially, a woman’s eggs are removed from her ovaries and sperm from her partner or donor is used to fertilize them before being inserted into her womb. Women who use In Vitro Fertilization are often recommended this method when others have failed or because they are older.

Whilst every clinic works slightly differently, the main procedure is a fairly routine one. Initially your physician will give you hormone blocking drugs normally produced during your menstrual period. This allows them better control over when your eggs are produced. To ensure you ovaries produce more than a single egg, further drugs are given.

How Does IVF Work...

Estrogen levels produced by the eggs are monitored to ensure they rise, using vaginal ultrasound scans and blood tests. Once the time is right, another hormone will be injected 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. The health of the sperm is important so after a short storage period they are spun at high speed after being washed so only the healthiest and most active are used. If you are using donated sperm, the sample is taken from the freezer and prepared in the same way. The process then continues with the eggs and sperm left for 16 to 20 hours in a laboratory dish to mix and after that period, checked to see if they have fertilized. 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.

To ensure the womb is ready for the fertilized egg, two days after they have been collected, the womb lining is prepared by giving you pessaries, gel or an injection.

How Does IVF Work

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