In Vitro Fertilization
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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART). IVF is an outpatient procedure done in our office. After a patient is given gonadotropins to stimulate her ovaries, the oocytes (eggs) are aspirated, collected in a dish and inseminated.
The insemination may be conventional (adding sperm to the eggs allowing them to fertilize on their own) or via Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) whereby one sperm is directly injected into an egg.
The Processes Involved with IVF are
- prevention of premature release of eggs from the ovaries
- stimulate development of multiple eggs in the ovaries
- removal of the eggs from the ovary
- combining the eggs with sperm
- embryo transfer
- establishing pregnancy
The In Vitro Fertilization Process is as Follows
- The eggs are harvested after medication therapy
- The eggs and sperm are either left together in an incubator for about 18 hours, (conventional IVF) or they are inseminated using via ICSI whereby one sperm is directly injected into the egg. They are then checked for fertilization and further development as embryos.
- The resulting embryos are placed in the uterus. Progesterone is also used to help develop the uterine lining and increase the chances of implantation.
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