In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
The most common and well-known Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) procedure is in vitro fertilization or IVF. An IVF cycle consists of four basic steps:
- Ovulation induction
- Egg retrieval
- Fertilization and embryo development
- Embryo transfer
During the ovulation induction phases, medications are administered to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then retrieved and united with the sperm to be fertilized in the laboratory. Some of the resulting healthy embryos are transferred back into the uterus.
When semen has moderate or severe defects, we recommend treatment with a process of micromanipulation called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The embryologist (egg and sperm specialist) specially prepares the sperm, and a single sperm is injected into each egg. This technique greatly increases the chances that fertilization will occur.
New developments in reproductive medicine have been made that may greatly improve your chances of success. These include the following advanced laboratory technologies:
