In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure in which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, in a laboratory. The process involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving these eggs, and then combining them with sperm in a controlled environment. Once fertilization occurs and embryos develop, one or more healthy embryos are transferred to the uterus for implantation, aiming to achieve pregnancy. IVF is commonly used for various infertility issues, including blocked fallopian tubes, male factor infertility, and unexplained infertility.
Hormonal medications are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
Once the eggs are mature, they are collected from the ovaries using a minor surgical procedure guided by ultrasound.
A sperm sample is collected from the partner or a donor, which is then processed to isolate the healthiest sperm.
The retrieved eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory to allow fertilization. This can be done through traditional IVF or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.
The fertilized eggs (embryos) are monitored and cultured in the lab for several days to ensure proper development.
One or more healthy embryos are selected and transferred into the woman’s uterus. This is a simple procedure performed under ultrasound guidance.
After the embryo transfer, the patient will take a pregnancy test approximately two weeks later to determine if implantation was successful and pregnancy has occurred.