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. 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. At first your physician will halt the release of hormones that are produced during your monthly cycle by giving you some drugs. The reason for this is so the physician has improved control over when your eggs are produced. You then take different drugs to make your ovaries produce more than one egg.

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Estrogen levels produced by the eggs are monitored to ensure they rise, using vaginal ultrasound scans and blood tests. As soon as the tests show that the time is right, you will have another injection of a different hormone to help your 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. 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. 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. 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.

IVF Pregnancy Test

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