Five-stage IVF treatment ends with implantation of embryo

In vitro fertilization is among a number of assisted reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination, and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, which involves se- lecting embryos that are free of chromosomal defects for transfer to the uterus.

IVF follows five main steps: Step 1– The patient is given hormone injections to stimulate her ovaries — a process that can last two to five weeks. The purpose of the stimulation is to “ripen” a woman’s eggs and increase the likelihood of collecting several eggs during one of the woman’s cycles. Step 2 – Eggs are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure called follicular aspiration by inserting a hollow nee- dle through the pelvic cavity. Step 3 – Sperm, either obtained from a spouse or a donor, is prepared prior to fertilization. Step 4 – The eggs and sperm are placed in incubators in the lab in a delicate process called insemination. In some cases, the embryologist will inject a single sperm directly into the egg in a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Once an egg is fertilized and cell division starts taking place, an embryo is created. Step 5 – One to six days later, the embryo or embryos are suspended in fluid and transferred into a woman’s uterus. Medication is taken to help with the implantation. A pregnancy test is later carried out to verify whether the embryo has been implanted in the uterus.