IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. It is a method of assisted reproductive technology in which eggs are extracted from a woman’s ovaries and then fertilized by sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilized eggs, called embryos, are then transferred back into the woman’s uterus with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.
IVF is often used by couples who have difficulty conceiving naturally due to various reasons, such as infertility, blocked fallopian tubes, or low sperm count. It can also be used in cases of genetic disorders or for women who want to freeze their eggs for future use.
The process of IVF typically involves several steps, including ovarian stimulation to produce multiple egg follicles, egg retrieval, sperm collection and preparation, fertilization in the laboratory, embryo culture, and finally, embryo transfer. Additional techniques like preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can be used to screen for specific genetic conditions before transferring the embryos.
IVF has helped many couples achieve pregnancy and parenthood, although it is not always successful and may require multiple cycles to achieve a positive outcome. It is a complex and costly procedure that requires medical expertise and careful monitoring throughout the process.