In vitro fertilization, better known as IVF is an assisted reproductive technology in which fertilization takes place in the lab instead of inside the body. Ever since the world’s first IVF baby was born in 1978, in vitro fertilization has given hope to millions of couples who could not conceive a child in any other way.

How IVF Works?

Here’s a very short explanation of what happens during IVF:

The woman takes fertility drugs, which stimulate the development of extra oocytes (or eggs) in the ovaries. This takes place over a number of days. Then, the mature eggs are removed from the ovaries (either from the intended mother or from an egg donor). This is done with an ultrasound-guided needle.

In the lab, the retrieved eggs are combined with sperm (from either the intended father or from a sperm donor.) The egg and sperm are put together in a petri dish, where hopefully a sperm cell will fertilize an egg cell. A fertilized human egg cell is called an embryo. The resulting embryo then develops for a few more days in the lab. This is done under very carefully controlled conditions.

Next, one or two of the healthiest embryos are transferred to the intended mother’s (or a surrogate’s) uterus. Any extra embryos are frozen for future cycles. Hopefully, pregnancy will result. IVF success rates are good, but pregnancy is never a guarantee.

What Is a Test Tube Baby?

“Test tube baby” is a term sometimes used by the media to refer to children conceived with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite the name, “test tube babies” are not developed in a test tube. Test tubes are not part of the modern IVF process at all. With IVF, the egg is fertilized in a petri dish. (Not a test tube.) When the embryo is between three and five days old, it is transferred to the uterus.

Test tube baby process-

1.  Hormonal therapy is given-

 Before collecting the eggs from the mother, she is first given hormonal injections, gonadotropin to allow the maturation of the follicles. The final stage is brought about by injecting the HCG thirty- six hours before collecting the eggs.

       2. Collection of eggs from the ovary-

 Under the effect of sedation, the mother’s eggs are retrieved by the doctors. Immediately after that, the obtained eggs are taken to the laboratory.

      3.  Semen is obtained-

 The same day of the eggs being collected. The father or the donor is called upon to give the sample semen.

4. Fertilization of the eggs and the sperms-

 The mixing of the eggs and the sperm is done and finally put inside an incubator. The doctor further checks for the growth of the embryo from within the incubator.

       5. Embryo transfer-

 The embryos are finally transferred inside the mother’s womb. Care is taken to make the surrounding of the uterus adaptable for the further growth of the seed. The uterine lining should be made thick, and to do so, progesterone is advised.