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