Making a baby isn't always easy.
Fortunately, there are many ways to parenthood.
In vitro fertilization, or IVF,
brings the miracle of conception
into a laboratory.
It has led to the birth
of nearly 10 million babies
since the first successful
fertilization procedure in 1978.
So how does it work?
Let's take a closer,
step by step look at the process.
Step one, preparation.
The IVF treatment process begins long before
any egg removal and fertilization takes place.
You'll need a thorough medical history
before treatment begins.
Plus fertility tests and analysis
for you and your partner.
As the procedure gets closer,
you may be prescribed birth control pills
or estrogen to control the timing
of your menstrual cycle
and maximize the number
of mature eggs available for retrieval.
Step two, ovarian stimulation.
During a typical ovarian cycle,
only one egg becomes mature enough to ovulate.
IVF treatment uses injectable hormone medication
to bring a group of eggs to maturity
to increase the odds of a successful pregnancy.
The type, dosage, and frequency of the medication
will be tailored specifically to you
for optimal results.
Monitoring of the eggs
may occur daily or every few days
during this time
to determine when they mature.
A final trigger shot
is given exactly 36 hours
before the scheduled egg retrieval
to finalize the maturation process.
Step three, egg retrieval.
Once the eggs are mature,
it's time for egg retrieval.
During this step,
a suction device connected
to a long, thin needle
is inserted through your vagina.
This will puncture ovarian follicles
and pull the mature eggs out.
Removed eggs are placed in a Petri dish
containing a special solution,
and then placed in an incubator
for a short period of time.
Since this procedure is mildly invasive,
medication and sedation are used.
Step four, fertilization.
Fertilization of the eggs
takes place within a day.
During a procedure known as
an intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ISCI,
a single sperm is introduced
into each mature egg.
On average, about 70% of mature eggs
will successfully fertilize.
Step five, embryo development.
Now comes the growing and waiting.
Fertilized eggs are monitored
and left to develop over the next several days
with cells actively dividing.
About half of fertilized embryos will progress
to the blastocyst stage
when they are suitable for transfer
into a uterus.
Embryos that are suitable for transfer
can either be used right away
or frozen for future transfer.
Step six, embryo transfer.
Within a week after fertilization,
it's time to transfer the embryos.
This is a short procedure
that only takes about 10 minutes
and feels very similar
to a pelvic exam or a pap smear.
A speculum is placed within the vagina
and a thin catheter is inserted
through the cervix
into the uterus.
An embryo or embryos are then injected
through the catheter into the uterus.
After an embryo transfer,
you may experience symptoms
such as mild bloating and cramping,
breast tenderness from high estrogen levels,
spotting and constipation.
Step seven, pregnancy.
Within 14 days after the embryo transfer,
a blood test will be done
to determine if you're pregnant.
If the pregnancy test is positive,
you begin the journey of prenatal care.
Pregnancy success rates
per embryo transfer vary
depending on the age of the woman
at the time of egg retrieval.
If the pregnancy test is negative,
you can try another embryo transfer
if you have additional embryos frozen
from the first IVF cycle.
If you do not have remaining embryos,
you can try IVF again.
IVF has been used successfully
for more than four decades.
Talk openly with your healthcare provider
about your options.