What Is IVF?

IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization. The name derives from the Latin "in glass" aka "in glass fertilization", which is what IVF is - a medical procedure where a woman's egg is fertilized by a man's sperm outside of the uterus in a laboratory, usually on an IVF petri dish.[1]

Normally, eggs are fertilized inside a woman's body by a man's sperm in a process called natural or unassisted conception. IVF on the other hand, is a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), meaning that the specialized medical techniques are involved to help a woman achieve pregnancy status.[2] IVF is considered to be the go-to-option when other more lucrative fertility treatments have been unsuccessful.

The concept of IVF was the brainchild of English physiologist, Sir Robert Geoffrey Edwards, who is considered a pioneer in reproductive medicine.[3] He, along with British obstetrician and gynecologist, Patrick Christopher Steptoe, successfully saw their concept of IVF come into fruition in July 25, 1978 with the successful birth of the world's first ever "test tube baby", Louise Joy Brown.[4] For his achievements in fertility medicine, Sir Robert Edwards was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2010 "for the development of in vitro fertilization."[5]

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The process of IVF involves five general steps:

Step 1: Stimulation or Super Ovulation

Fertility drugs are prescribed to women undergoing IVF to stimulate and boost egg production - normally, a woman produces one egg a month; the fertility drug encourages multiple egg productions per month.[6]

In this first step, women will be subjected to regular transvaginal ultrasounds to monitor their ovaries and blood tests to monitor their hormone levels.[7]

Step 2: Egg Retrieval

Women undergo a procedure called follicular aspiration, which is a small minor surgery to remove the eggs from the ovaries. Usually done in the doctor's office, the procedure involves inserting a thin needle through the vagina and into the ovary and sacs where the eggs are contained. The needle which is attached to a suction device, slowly pulls the eggs and fluids out one at a time.[8]

This procedure is done to both ovaries and doctors will use ultrasound images to guide them. Some cramping is to be expected post-surgery but the symptoms normally dissipate within twenty-four hours.[9]

Step 3: Insemination and Fertilization

The best quality eggs from the woman are used and mixed together with a man's sperm in a process called insemination. The egg and sperm are then stored in an environmentally controlled chamber where the sperm will naturally fertilize the egg within a few hours of insemination.[10]

When doctors predict that chances of fertilization are low, a procedure called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is performed on the harvested eggs, which is injecting the sperm directly into the eggs.[11]

Step 4: Embryo Culture

The fertilized eggs become an embryo when it splits into two, and this embryo will be carefully monitored by laboratory staff to ensure that it is growing correctly. Usually, within 5 days, a normal embryo has several dividing cells.[12]

Step 5: Embryo Transfer

Embryos are normally transferred back into a woman's body three to five days after the process of egg retrieval and fertilization. The procedure is conducted in the doctor's office where the doctor will insert a thin catheter with the embryos into the woman's vagina through the cervix and up into the womb. The procedure is considered successful if the embryo implants into the lining of the womb.[13]