In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization is a technique of fertilizing egg cells by sperm. In this technique the fertilization of egg cells by sperm is accomplished outside the womb of a woman’s body. In vitro fertilization is an effective outcome of the advanced technology to treat infertility in women. It has eclipsed the traditional methods of treating women’s incapability of giving birth to baby. It is an incomparable alternative for those women whose wombs are too weak to support the fertilization.

Procedure

In vitro fertilization, egg cells are surgically taken out from the ovary of woman under ultrasound guidance. Then, the eggs are placed in close contact with sperms in a laboratory tube or dish outside the woman body. After nearly forty hours an examination is done with the eggs to make sure their fertilization by sperm and to see whether they have divided into cells. The fertilized eggs that are called embryos are then, inserted into the woman’s uterus where the fertilization normally occurs.

Certain hormonal drugs are given to women to stimulate their ovaries and promote the formation of eggs in the ovaries.

Then, the surgeon pushes a needle into the ovary of woman to take out eggs through the vagina. A laparoscopic surgery is performed to carry out the procedure of removing eggs. However, the needle technique is much easier and less invasive. During this time, anesthesia is not administered to women except some painkilling medication.

The fluid that is taken from the woman body is clinically examined to ensure the presence of eggs in it. On the other hand, a sample of semen is taken from a man through masturbation. The surgeon separates the sperm from the semen in a clinical procedure.

The sperm that are active are combined with eggs in a laboratory tube or dish. In vitro fertilization refers to this clinical process of fertilization. Whether the eggs are fertilized and developed into embryos is determined after nearly eighteen hours of the fertilization procedure. They are observed and incubated for the next two to three days.

The surgeon then, inserts the embryos into the uterus of woman by using a catheter through the cervix.

Recovery

The woman under the procedure is kept lying in rest for three to four hours. Certain hormones are given to the woman for the next two weeks. If the implantation of eggs works, the woman becomes pregnant.

Risks

In case, there are some genetic issues, cell biopsy and pronuclear biopsy are performed to assess the feasibility of an embryo. An IVF pregnant woman has a chance of miscarriage, but it is less than that in normal pregnancies. In some IVF cases, ectopic pregnancy takes place. It is a severe physical condition that needs instant medical care. In this case, the embryo grows outside the uterus and fails to survive.