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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Overview

In vitro fertilization (IVF) was first developed in the 1970’s to help women with severely damaged fallopian tubes to conceive. Since then, IVF has also been used to help couples with endometriosis, poor sperm parameters, unexplained infertility, and other indications. The success of IVF has increased as the technology in the process has dramatically changed through the years. More recently IVF has been used as a means of fertility preservation – freezing eggs or embryos to be used at a later time when parents are ready to conceive.

With IVF, an egg is fertilized outside of the body, and the resulting embryo transferred to the uterus for implantation. Eggs are removed from a woman’s body in a simple, quick procedure called an egg retrieval. The eggs may be cryopreserved (frozen) at this time or fertilized with sperm in our laboratory. A fertilized egg (embryo) may be either cryopreserved at this time or transferred to the uterus if patients are ready to conceive.

IVF icon

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Overview

In vitro fertilization (IVF) was first developed in the 1970’s to help women with severely damaged fallopian tubes to conceive. Since then, IVF has also been used to help couples with endometriosis, poor sperm parameters, unexplained infertility, and other indications. The success of IVF has increased as the technology in the process has dramatically changed through the years. More recently IVF has been used as a means of fertility preservation – freezing eggs or embryos to be used at a later time when parents are ready to conceive.

With IVF, an egg is fertilized outside of the body, and the resulting embryo transferred to the uterus for implantation. Eggs are removed from a woman’s body in a simple, quick procedure called an egg retrieval. The eggs may be cryopreserved (frozen) at this time or fertilized with sperm in our laboratory. A fertilized egg (embryo) may be either cryopreserved at this time or transferred to the uterus if patients are ready to conceive.

IVF Process and Options

IVF Articles & Resources