IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. It is a medical procedure that involves combining an egg and sperm outside the body in a laboratory dish to create an embryo. Once the embryo is formed, it is then implanted into a woman’s uterus with the goal of establishing a successful pregnancy.
Here are the basic steps involved in IVF:
- Stimulation: Fertility medications are given to the woman to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
- Egg Retrieval: The eggs are collected from the ovaries using a minor surgical procedure.
- Sperm Collection: A sperm sample is provided by the partner or a donor.
- Fertilization: The eggs and sperm are combined in the laboratory to allow fertilization to occur.
- Embryo Culture: The fertilized eggs (embryos) are monitored for a few days as they grow.
- Embryo Transfer: One or more healthy embryos are selected and transferred to the woman’s uterus.
- Pregnancy Test: After about two weeks, a pregnancy test is conducted to determine if the procedure was successful.
IVF is often used by couples who are unable to conceive naturally due to various reasons such as blocked fallopian tubes, male infertility, ovulation disorders, or unexplained infertility. It is also an option for single women and same-sex couples who wish to have children.
If you have any specific questions or need more detailed information, feel free to ask!
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