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. 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: The first thing your doctor will do is to stop the hormones released by the pituitary gland during your period by the use of other drugs. 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.

IVF Procedure...

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. Another hormone injection will be given when the tests show the time is right 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. Collecting the eggs takes about 30 minutes and is carried out using ultrasound guidance so often either drugs or a general anesthetic is given to make you feel more relaxed.

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. With donated sperm, the process is the same but the sample is taken from the freezer. 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. Successfully fertilized embryos are then left for a further day to two days before the last inspection is carried out.

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 Procedure

Technorati Tags: ivf procedure, nova ivf, ivf procedures