Ans: IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization (‘in vitro’ meaning ‘in glass’). It is commonly known as test tube baby treatment. In this non-surgical process, eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the womb in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus to achieve pregnancy.
[Image of the IVF process overview]
Ans: IVF is recommended when natural conception is difficult due to:
- Blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis or PCOS
- Male factor infertility (low sperm count/quality)
- Unexplained infertility or failed conventional treatments
- Genetic screening requirements (PGD/PGS)
Ans: The major steps include:
- Ovarian Stimulation: Hormonal injections for 8-12 days to produce multiple eggs.
- Monitoring: Regular Ultrasounds and Blood tests.
- Egg Retrieval: Collecting eggs under mild sedation.
- Fertilization: Mixing eggs with sperm in the IVF lab.
- Embryo Transfer: Placing the embryo into the uterus (Day 2 to Day 5).