In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body.

The process involves monitoring a woman’s ovulatory process, removing egg or eggs (Ova) from the woman’s ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a fluid medium in a laboratory and then transferring it to the patient’s uterus with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.

The reasons causing infertility include: Male relate, Female related or combined.

Sometimes the causes for infertility can be difficult to diagnose.

Most IVF treatments begin with a course of hormone therapy to stimulate the development of several follicles in the ovary. These are collected as eggs, which are then fertilized in a test-tube (‘in vitro’) to create several embryos. After up to five days in an incubator, one or two of these embryos are transferred through the vagina to the uterus, where implantation occurs and pregnancy begins. It is important to note that in IVF as in natural conception, not every embryo implants leads to pregnancy, which is why surplus embryos are frozen in an eventuality first one fails and the procedure might have to be repeated.

The most common procedure performed by IVF specialist is:

IVF