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.

Techniques of In Vitro Fertilization differ from clinic to clinic but a typical pattern of treatment might go like this: Initially your physician will give you hormone blocking drugs normally produced during your menstrual period. The reason for this is to assist control over when the eggs are ready. To ensure you ovaries produce more than a single egg, further drugs are given.

Stanford IVF...

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 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. Eggs are usually collected by ultrasound guidance which takes around 30 minutes and you are either given a drug to make you drowsy or a general anesthetic.

Next the man must produce some fresh sperm at about the same time as the eggs are collected. 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. If you are using donated sperm, the sample is taken from the freezer and prepared in the same way. The process can take between 16 and 20 hours during which time the sperm and eggs are allowed to mix in a laboratory dish before they are inspected to find out if the fertilization was successful. During the next stage, only successfully fertilized embryos are kept and left for a further 24 to 48 hours before a final check is done.

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

Stanford IVF

Technorati Tags: ivf schedule, ivf success rates, failed ivf