Overview of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
What is IVF Treatment?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproduction technique where sperm and eggs are combined in a laboratory to facilitate fertilization outside the body. Once fertilization occurs, the resulting embryo is then transferred back into the uterus.
Who Needs IVF Treatment?
Infertility affects over 7 million people in the United States alone. While many individuals or couples can be treated with less invasive methods, IVF may be necessary when these approaches fail or are not suitable.
IVF is commonly recommended for:
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Women with blocked, damaged, or absent fallopian tubes
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Women who do not ovulate and do not respond to less aggressive fertility treatments
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Women with recurrent pregnancy loss or multiple miscarriages
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Men with severely compromised sperm concentrations or those who produce no sperm, including those who have had a vasectomy or unsuccessful vasectomy reversal
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LGBTQ individuals or couples seeking to build a family
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Single-by-choice parents who wish to build a family
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Cases of unexplained infertility
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Situations where preimplantation genetic testing is required
IVF is a safe and effective process. The pregnancy rate through IVF often exceeds that of natural conception, although the miscarriage rate for IVF pregnancies is similar to that of natural pregnancies. However, when comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) is performed on embryos, the miscarriage rate is significantly reduced.
The IVF Treatment Process
Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation
The first step involves injecting fertility medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce a larger number of eggs. A customized medication plan is created based on your age, medical history, and the results of hormonal and ultrasound assessments. You will visit the clinic every few days for close monitoring, including ultrasound scans and blood tests, to track your progress. Learn more about ovarian stimulation.
Step 2: Egg Retrieval
Once the eggs have matured, they are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure performed under anesthesia. During this procedure, a needle is guided through the vagina into the ovary to collect the eggs, with direct assistance from ultrasound imaging. The collected fluid is then examined by experienced embryologists to isolate the eggs. Learn more about the egg retrieval process.
Step 3: Fertilization
In this step, a sperm sample is separated from the semen and carefully prepared. Using conventional insemination techniques, a specific concentration of prepared sperm is introduced to the eggs in the lab to allow fertilization. In some cases, a procedure called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is used, where a single sperm is directly injected into each egg.
Step 4: Embryo Culture
The fertilized embryos are then placed in a tightly controlled laboratory environment and cultured for 5 to 6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage. During this time, they are nurtured in a nutrient-rich solution, known as culture media.
Step 5: Embryo Freezing
At this stage, the embryos can either be transferred into your uterus using a painless ultrasound-guided procedure or flash-frozen (vitrified) for future use. If preimplantation genetic testing is required, all embryos will be frozen first, and the transfer will occur later.
Approximately 10 to 12 days after the embryo transfer, a blood test will be conducted to determine if you are pregnant.