In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of fertility treatment that helps with fertilization, embryo development, and implantation, so you can get pregnant. It is a complex series of procedures that can lead to a pregnancy and is used by people who need help achieving pregnancy. IVF is the most effective type of fertility treatment that involves the handling of eggs or embryos and sperm. The process involves retrieving eggs from ovaries and manually combining them with sperm in a lab for fertilization. Before the IVF treatment, the healthcare provider may prescribe birth control pills or estrogen to stop the development of ovarian cysts and control the timing of the menstrual cycle. The IVF process has many steps, and it takes several months to complete the whole process. The steps involved in IVF are:
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Preparation: The IVF treatment process begins long before any egg removal and fertilization takes place. Youll need a thorough medical history before treatment begins, plus fertility tests and analysis.
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Ovulation induction: The first step in IVF is taking fertility medications for several months to help your ovaries produce several eggs that are mature and ready for fertilization. This is called ovulation induction.
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Egg retrieval: Once the eggs are mature, they are retrieved from the ovaries using a minor surgical procedure.
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Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are combined with sperm in a laboratory dish for fertilization.
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Embryo transfer: After fertilization, the fertilized egg (now called an embryo) is placed inside a uterus. Pregnancy occurs when this embryo implants itself into the uterine wall.
IVF definitely increases the chances of pregnancy if you’re having fertility problems, but there’s no guarantee that it will work for everyone. It sometimes works on the first try, but many people need more than one round of IVF to get pregnant.
