Bayi Tabung / in vitro fertilization

IVF is the scientific approach to getting pregnant. Originally termed "test-tube" babies by the Press, embryos are fertilized in the lab, removed from a human body. One attempt at pregnancy through IVF is termed a cycle, and can be divided into 5 general phases.

1. Preparation

You're body is manipulated with drugs. Doctors prescribe a medication such as Lupron to shut down your ovaries for two weeks.

2. Stimulation

Following the Lupron series you will receive a set of up to 14 shots of another medication, such as pergonal, to hyperstimulate egg production. At the conclusion of these shots you will be given a final medication to boost maturity of your eggs.

3. Harvesting

Once the eggs have reached maturity you are heavily sedated and between 5-15 eggs are suctioned from your ovaries via ultrasound guided vaginal retrieval.

4. Fertilization

Egg and sperm meet each other for the first time in the lab. Approximately 100,000 motile sperm are introduced to each egg. Fertilization is documented and the growing embryos are carefully observed in vitro for up to 6 days. The growing trend is to observe growth longer, past the 6-8 cell stage, and blastocyst or advanced stage embryo transfer is not uncommon. There are several benefits to a blastocyst transfer, you might wish to ask your Reproductive team about them.

5. Embryo Transfer

Mom comes back in the picture as 3 or 4 growing embryos are transferred back into your uterus in a procedure that resembles a PAP smear. With any luck a new baby begins growing. On average it takes 3 IVF cycles to establish a pregnancy.

This is a very brief draft of a typical IVF cycle, and it can be an expensive, invasive procedure. But for couples who are having trouble conceiving, IVF is a well-established, proven method to overcoming infertility. There are a million people out there who walking proof it works.

By Daniel Todd