An overview of IVF

IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, is a technique used to help a woman get pregnant. It is when a human egg is fertilized with sperm in a laboratory.

What happens during the IVF process?

During IVF, eggs are removed from the ovaries of a woman and fertilized in a laboratory with sperm provided by her partner or a donor. One or two embryos- fertilized eggs- are implanted into the woman’s uterus (womb).

Here are the typical stages in an IVF cycle:

• The woman is injected to be able to stimulate her ovaries so she produces several eggs, instead of just one.

• When the eggs mature, they are collected using a fine needle, guided by ultrasound, under light sedation.

• The eggs are then fertilized in the laboratory with sperm provided by the woman’s partner or a donor.

• Fertilised eggs (embryos) are grown in an incubator for a few days.

• Then the embryo is planted and if it’s successfully done, the woman gets pregnant. She will have to wait for a pregnancy test.

• Any remaining healthy embryos can be frozen and stored for later use if needed.

Chances of success with IVF:

On average, every time a woman has a cycle of IVF, she has about a 1 in 5 chance of becoming pregnant. The chance is higher for women younger than 35 years old, and lower for older women. If you’re considering IVF treatment, it is important to have a word with your doctor, so visit NU Fertility@NU Hospitals that’s known to have the best set of IVF doctors in Bangalore.