In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment in which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, typically in a laboratory dish. The fertilized egg (embryo) is then transferred into a woman’s uterus with the goal of establishing a successful pregnancy.
How IVF Works
- Eggs are collected from a woman’s ovaries after stimulation with fertility medications.
- The eggs are combined with sperm in a lab to allow fertilization.
- After fertilization, the embryos develop for a few days in the lab.
- One or more healthy embryos are then implanted into the woman’s uterus.
- If the embryo implants successfully, pregnancy occurs.
IVF is used to treat infertility and can involve using the couple’s own eggs and sperm or donor eggs, sperm, or embryos. It is an effective assisted reproductive technology that has helped many people achieve pregnancy when other methods have failed.
In summary, IVF is a complex medical procedure where fertilization occurs outside the body, and embryos are placed into the uterus to help individuals or couples conceive.
