| IVF is the scientific approach to getting pregnant. | | | | Egg and sperm meet each other for the first time in |
| Originally termed "test-tube" babies by the Press, | | | | the lab. Approximately 100,000 motile sperm are |
| embryos are fertilized in the lab, removed from a | | | | introduced to each egg. Fertilization is documented |
| human body. One attempt at pregnancy through IVF | | | | and the growing embryos are carefully observed in |
| is termed a cycle, and can be divided into 5 general | | | | vitro for up to 6 days. The growing trend is to |
| phases. | | | | observe growth longer, past the 6-8 cell stage, and |
| 1. Preparation | | | | blastocyst or advanced stage embryo transfer is not |
| You're body is manipulated with drugs. Doctors | | | | uncommon. There are several benefits to a |
| prescribe a medication such as Lupron to shut down | | | | blastocyst transfer, you might wish to ask your |
| your ovaries for two weeks. | | | | Reproductive team about them. |
| 2. Stimulation | | | | 5. Embryo Transfer |
| Following the Lupron series you will receive a set of | | | | Mom comes back in the picture as 3 or 4 growing |
| up to 14 shots of another medication, such as | | | | embryos are transferred back into your uterus in a |
| pergonal, to hyperstimulate egg production. At the | | | | procedure that resembles a PAP smear. With any |
| conclusion of these shots you will be given a final | | | | luck a new baby begins growing. On average it takes |
| medication to boost maturity of your eggs. | | | | 3 IVF cycles to establish a pregnancy. |
| 3. Harvesting | | | | This is a very brief draft of a typical IVF cycle, and it |
| Once the eggs have reached maturity you are | | | | can be an expensive, invasive procedure. But for |
| heavily sedated and between 5-15 eggs are | | | | couples who are having trouble conceiving, IVF is a |
| suctioned from your ovaries via ultrasound guided | | | | well-established, proven method to overcoming |
| vaginal retrieval. | | | | infertility. There are a million people out there who |
| 4. Fertilization | | | | walking proof it works. |