In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) refers to a medically assisted method of reproduction in which an egg is fertilised in a laboratory. IVF involves the following steps:

• An initial consultation, which includes a medical assessment and an outline of any previous treatments; legal issues, costs and possible treatment risks are also addressed
• A personalised therapy plan with instructions and a schedule to follow
• Hormone therapy to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs
• The removal of the eggs from the ovaries – a small outpatient procedure under short-term anaesthetic
• The fertilisation of the mature egg cells
• Monitoring and assessment of the embryonic development
• Introduction of an embryo into the uterus
• A pregnancy test two weeks later to see if the embryo has embedded itself