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. Many older women use In Vitro Fertilization as it is a recommended procedure for them, also if there is a blockage in the tubes, unexplained infertility or if other methods have failed.

Techniques of In Vitro Fertilization differ from clinic to clinic but a typical pattern of treatment might go like this: 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.

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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. Timing is crucial, as you must have this injection 34-38 hours before your eggs are collected - this may mean you having it last thing at night. Ultrasound guidance is used to help collect the egg but it means you have to be given drugs or a general anesthetic to help you relax because it takes about 30 minutes.

It is now the male’s job to ensure that a fresh sperm sample is ready. This will be stored for a short time before the sperm are washed and spun at a high speed, so that the healthiest and most active can be selected. Sperm which has been donated is kept in a freezer but the same method for preparation 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.

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.

IVF Over 40

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