In vitro fertilization (IVF) is, in text, understood as the fertilization process where a woman's egg and a man's sperm are combined in a laboratory dish, outside the body.
IVF is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from the ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs are transferred to a uterus. One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks. Sometimes these steps are split into different parts and the process can take longer.
Here's a breakdown of the key elements of IVF often communicated in text:
- In Vitro: Meaning "outside the body," indicating the fertilization happens in a lab.
- Fertilization: The process of the sperm joining with the egg.
- Laboratory Dish: Where the fertilization takes place.
- Egg Retrieval: The process of collecting eggs from the woman's ovaries.
- Embryo Transfer: Placing the fertilized egg(s) into the woman's uterus.
While a full medical explanation of IVF would be lengthy, in typical text communication, IVF is summarized as the process of fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the body and then implanting it in the uterus to achieve pregnancy.
