In vitro fertilization
What is IVF? And how does itwork?
IVF or In Vitro Fertilization is one ofthe more widely known types of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART).
IVF works by using a combination ofmedicines and surgical procedures, to help the sperm fertilize an egg. Here theeggs are fertilized outside the human body and implanted in the uterus. Theseprocedures can be used to help couples struggling with infertility and also inthe prevention of genetic problems. A pregnancy starts with fertilization –when a woman’s egg joins with a man’s sperm. Fertilization usually takes placein the fallopian tube within the woman, which is a tube-like organ that joinsan ovary to the uterus.
If the fertilized egg ( which is nowcalled an embryo)successfully travels down the fallopian tube and implants inthe uterus, an embryo starts growing on the endometrial wall, in the uterusWhen this normal process of fertilization does not take place in couples whoare planning to have a baby, advanced techniques of Assisted ReproductiveTechniques (ART)are utilized to increase the chances of conceiving a healthybaby.
In an IVF cycle, eggs are retrievedfrom the ovaries, and sperms are collected from the ejaculate (or surgicallyretrieved from the husband’s testes if ejaculation is not possible or ifejaculate has no viable sperms). These sperms are then allowed to fertilize theegg outside the body, in the laboratory.
This fertilization can happen if the spermsand eggs are kept in close proximity to each other (called conventional IVF) orare forced by pushing the sperm into the egg (through a process called ICSI). The fertilizedeggs are then cultured and ‘grown’ in the lab in conditions that mimic thewoman’s uterus. The fertilized egg gets all nourishment from the culture mediathat it is kept in.
An embryologist monitors the growth ofthe embryo. When the embryo has grown sufficiently, it is either transferredinto the uterus of the woman (called fresh embryo transfer) or is frozen for afuture transfer (called frozen embryo transfer). One full IVF cycle takes aboutthree weeks but sometimes the procedure is split into parts, to manage certainchallenges in the couples. This may delay the process. IVF can be done usingthe woman’s own eggs and the male partner’s sperms or it may involve sperms,eggs, or embryos from anonymous donors.
Sometimes a gestational carrier (awoman who has an embryo implanted in her uterus) might be used. Such a carrieris called a surrogate mother and the process is called surrogacy.
IVF or test tube baby is a blessing toevery couple who cannot conceive. Millions of couples worldwide have benefittedfrom IVF, over the last few decades. These IVF babies are leading ahealthy and normal life, like any other normally conceived child. Couplesaspiring to have a baby of their own need not have to lose hope. They just haveto visit a good IVF center and get the right advice.
