In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which means ‘fertilization in a glass’ is often more commonly referred to as a test tube baby. The process involves sperm from a woman’s partner or a donor being placed in a dish with eggs that have been removed from her ovaries and fertilizing them before being placed in 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.

Although techniques for In Vitro Fertilization vary, a normal method of IVF would go something like this. Your doctor will give some drugs to block the hormones normally released during the menstrual cycle. The reason for this is to assist control over when the eggs are ready. Once this has been done further drugs are given to multiply the number of eggs your ovaries produce.

IVF Treatment...

It’s important that levels of estrogen produced by the eggs are monitored so a combination of blood tests and vaginal ultrasound scans are used. To help the eggs mature a different hormone will be injected once all the tests say the time is right. The reason for this is that the eggs will be collected between 34 and 38 hours later, even if it is the middle of the night. 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.

Around the time the woman’s eggs are collected, the male produces a fresh sample of 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. If you are using donated sperm, the sample is taken from the freezer and prepared in the same way. Once that has been completed the sperm is mixed with the eggs in a dish and left for between 16 to 20 hours and then checked to see if they have been 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.

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 Treatment

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