IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, is a medical procedure that helps people have a baby when natural conception isn’t working. It involves a few key steps:
- Ovarian Stimulation – The woman takes medication to help her ovaries produce multiple eggs instead of just one.
- Egg Retrieval – A doctor collects the eggs from the ovaries using a thin needle.
- Fertilization – The eggs are combined with sperm in a lab to create embryos.
- Embryo Growth – The embryos are monitored for a few days to ensure they are developing properly.
- Embryo Transfer – A healthy embryo is placed into the woman’s uterus. If it implants, pregnancy begins!
Sometimes, extra embryos can be frozen for future use. IVF can be done using the couple’s own eggs and sperm or with the help of a donor.
