About IVF:
- It is one of the more widely known types of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures used primarily to address infertility. This subject involves procedures such as IVF, intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryopreservation of gametes or embryos, and/or the use of fertility medication.
- A colloquial term for babies conceived as the result of IVF, is “test tube babies”.
- In vitro comes from the latin word ‘in glass’, i.e. studies are done in a test tube rather than in a human or animal.
- The opposite to ‘In-vitro’ is ‘In-vivo’, which comes from the latin word ‘within the living’. In vivo refers to experimentation being done in a living organism.
- In vitro means outside the body. Fertilization means the sperm has attached to and entered the egg.
IVF procedure: It works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg, and help the fertilized egg implant in the uterus.
First step– ovulation induction-Taking fertility medications for several months to help ovaries produce several eggs that are mature and ready for fertilization.
Second step- egg retrieval– Egg is removed from women’s body.
Third step- insemination– In a lab, eggs are mixed with sperm cells from other partner or a donor.
- The eggs and sperm are stored together in a special container, and fertilization happens.
- The cells in the fertilized eggs divide and become embryos.
Fourth step- embryo transfer– one or more embryos are put into the uterus.
