IVF – In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common and effective type of assisted reproductive technology to help women become pregnant. The procedure involves fertilizing an egg outside the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanting it in a woman’s uterus. All IVF treatments start 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 between two and 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.