IN VITRO FERTILISATION (IVF)

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is the most common and effective type of assisted reproductive technology to help women become pregnant.

It involves fertilizing an egg outside the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanting it in a woman's uterus.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) can help achieve pregnancy when other treatments have not worked.

The process involves fertilizing an egg outside the body, and implanting it to continue the pregnancy.

One percent of babies born in the United States are conceived through IVF.

There is a higher chance of a multiple birth with IVF.

Overview

In a normal pregnancy, a male sperm penetrates a woman's egg and fertilizes it inside her body after ovulation, when a mature egg has been released from the ovaries.

The fertilized egg then attaches itself to the wall of the uterus, or womb, and begins developing into a baby. This is known as natural conception.

DNA sequencing technology helps doctors screen embryos created by IVF to identify those most likely to lead to successful pregnancies.