Most people know the term ‘test tube baby’ but the correct name for this process is ‘In Vitro fertilization’. 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. In Vitro Fertilization may be recommended for a number of reasons including; age, other techniques have failed, the woman’s tubes are blocked or the infertility cannot be explained.

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. To ensure you ovaries produce more than a single egg, further drugs are given.

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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. Another hormone injection will be given when the tests show the time is right 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. 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. After a short storage period the sperm are washed and spun at high speed to enable the most active and healthiest to be chosen. With donated sperm, the process is the same but the sample is taken from the freezer. 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. During the next stage, only successfully fertilized embryos are kept and left for a further 24 to 48 hours before a final check is done.

The womb needs to be ready to accept the fertilized egg so a gel, injection or pessaries are given to ensure the lining of the womb is prepared.

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