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.

Techniques of In Vitro Fertilization differ from clinic to clinic but a typical pattern of treatment might go 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. After this your ovaries are stimulated by drugs to create more than one egg.

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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. To help the eggs mature a different hormone will be injected once all the tests say the time is right. This injection is given 34 to 38 hours before the eggs will be collected to the timing of this is very important. 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’s about this time that the man must produce some 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. For a woman using donated sperm, the same process is used once the sperm has been taken from the freezer. 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.

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

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