In Vitro Fertilization literally means ‘fertilization in glass’, hence the familiar name of ‘test tube baby’. Eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish before being placed in the woman’s womb. Women who use In Vitro Fertilization are often recommended this method when others have failed or because they are older.

Whilst every clinic works slightly differently, the main procedure is a fairly routine one. Your doctor will give some drugs to block the hormones normally released during the menstrual cycle. Blocking the hormones helps the doctor have greater control over your egg production. You then take different drugs to make your ovaries produce more than one egg.

Successful IVF...

Vaginal ultrasound scans are carried out to monitor your developing eggs along with blood tests to chart the rising levels of estrogen produced by the eggs. As soon as the tests show that the time is right, you will have another injection of a different hormone to help your eggs mature. This injection is given 34 to 38 hours before the eggs will be collected to the timing of this is very important. Ultrasound guidance is used to help collect the egg but it means you have to be given drugs or a general anesthetic to help you relax because it takes about 30 minutes.

Around the time the woman’s eggs are collected, the male produces a fresh sample of sperm. After a short storage period the sperm are washed and spun at high speed to enable the most active and healthiest to be chosen. Sperm which has been donated is kept in a freezer but the same method for preparation is used. 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. Successfully fertilized embryos are then left for a further day to two days before the last inspection is carried out.

Once your eggs have been collected there is a waiting period of two days, then you are given pessaries, an injection or gel to ready the lining of your womb.

Successful IVF

Technorati Tags: ivf stories, nyu ivf, free ivf