1. I N V ITRO F ERTILIZATION By, Lindsey New

2. In Vitro Fertilization or IVF is when eggs and sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory and then when the embryo or embryos form, they are placed inside the women’s uterus. IVF is used when a couple is infertile and cannot reproduce on their own. IVF was first done on July 25, 1978 in Great Britain. Americas first test tube baby was born on December 28, 1981.

3. “Test Tube Babies” Babies born from IVF are also called test tube babies The sperm and eggs are actually mixed in petri dishes not test tubes

4. R EASONS F OR IVF Low sperm counts Problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes Problems with ovulation Antibody problems that harm sperm or eggs The inability of sperm to penetrate or survive in the cervical mucus Unexplained fertility problem

5. IVF Process First the women must be injected with hormones, take medicine that ripens eggs and starts ovulation and have blood tests and ultrasounds done. Before the procedure is done the doctor will give an anesthetic that will help you feel more comfortable although it won’t completely knock you out. During the surgery, your doctor will locate follicles in the ovary with an ultrasound and remove the eggs with a long thin needle. The partner’s sperm will be ready and after the procedure the sperm and eggs will immediately be mixed. You must wait about 2-5 days for the embryos to be ready and once they are you will return to have them placed in the uterus.

7. The total number of embryos transferred back into your womb can vary. In some cases, a couple may decide that they would like to freeze some of their embryos for future use. Factor’s like a woman’s age, the cause of infertility in the couple, as well as the woman’s past history of pregnancy can all influence the decision of how many embryos to transfer. There is obviously a greater chance of pregnancy occurring when more embryos are transferred. However, this practice also tends to increase the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy. Anywhere from 20% to 40% of pregnancies resulting from IVF are multiples.

8. $$$ Cost of IVF $$$ The average IVF cost is $12,000, but it can be as much as $15,000. It may be as low as $10,000, but it’s rarely lower than that. The average cost for a frozen embryo transfer (FET), is about $3,000.

9. S UCCESS ? About two weeks after the transfer of the embryos, you will return to your doctor’s office for a pregnancy blood test to see if the procedure was successful. On average, about 35% of women using this fertility treatment are able to become pregnant while 29% of women will have a live birth. Your chances of success vary according to your age – a young woman in her 20s may have as much as a 50% chance of becoming pregnant while a woman in her 40s only has about a 20% chance.