The process of in vitro fertilization

In vitro fertilization is a major way used to overcome infertility of various etiologies. Medications are used to stimulate the development of multiple follicles in the ovaries, and then the eggs are retrieved from the patient and placed into culture media. Sperm suspension is added to the containing eggs media, where they are incubated together and where fertilization takes place.

The fertilized eggs are passed to a special growth medium and left for about 5 days until the egg has reached the stage of 4 or 8 blastomers. At this stage the embryos are transferred to the patient’s uterus where they continue development. Both a woman who donated the egg and a surrogate mother may become pregnant and give birth to a child.