In Vitro fertilization is the proper medical name for what the press dubbed ‘test tube babies’ many years ago. The woman’s eggs are taken from her ovaries and then in a laboratory dish, fertilized with sperm 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.

Methods of IVF will invariably differ a little from clinic to clinic but should proceed along these lines. 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. Once this has been done further drugs are given to multiply the number of eggs your ovaries produce.

IVF Process...

Blood Tests and vaginal ultrasound scans are used to monitor the estrogen level produced by the eggs. To help the eggs mature a different hormone will be injected once all the tests say the time is right. The timing for this injection is crucial and must be carried out no earlier that 34 or later than 38 hours before your eggs are collected. When it is time to collect the eggs, you may be given a general anesthetic or drugs to make you feel drowsy as they are collected by ultrasound guidance and it takes about 30 minutes.

Next the man must produce some fresh sperm at about the same time as the eggs are collected. 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. 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. 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.

In order to help prepare your womb, pessaries, gel or an injection are given two days after your eggs have been collected.

IVF Process

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