In Vitro fertilization is the proper medical name for what the press dubbed ‘test tube babies’ many years ago. Eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish before being placed in the woman’s womb. In Vitro Fertilization is recommended if you are an older woman, have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, those whose tubes are blocked, or if other techniques have been unsuccessful.

Whilst every clinic works slightly differently, the main procedure is a fairly routine one. 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. You then take different drugs to make your ovaries produce more than one egg.

What Is IVF...

Blood Tests and vaginal ultrasound scans are used to monitor the estrogen level 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. Timing is crucial, as you must have this injection 34-38 hours before your eggs are collected - this may mean you having it last thing at night. To collect the eggs, ultrasound guidance is used and as it takes about half an hour, either drugs or a general anesthetic is given which may make you feel drowsy.

Around the time the woman’s eggs are collected, the male produces a fresh sample of 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. 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. 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.

What Is IVF

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