In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which means ‘fertilization in a glass’ is often more commonly referred to as a test tube baby. Eggs are fertilized in a laboratory dish with sperm and then place inside the woman’s 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. 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. The reason for this is to assist control over when the eggs are ready. 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. To help the eggs mature a different hormone will be injected once all the tests say the time is right. The eggs are collected between 34 and 38 hours after the injection is given so the timing for it is crucial. 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.

It is not until this time that the man gets involved and needs to produce a sample of fresh sperm. To make sure that the best sperm are used for the process, the sample is washed and then spun at high speed, this will give the healthiest and the most active sperm. Donated sperm is kept in the freezer but the same method to prepare it is used. After the eggs and sperm have been collected they are left to mix in a laboratory dish for between 16 and 20 hours and then inspected to see whether fertilization has taken place. 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.

Two days after your eggs have been collected; you are given an injection, gel or pessaries to help prepare the lining of your womb.

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