In the United States alone, more than 6 million suffer from infertility. To help infertile couples overcome the problem and conceive, a number of assisted reproduction techniques were developed including in vitro fertilization (IVF), yet fewer than 5 percent of infertile couples take advantage of IVF treatment.

What is Infertility?

Infertility is a technical term that describes a couple's inability to conceive after six months to a year of regular intercourse without the use of birth control of any kind.

What is IVF Treatment?

IVF treatment or in vitro fertilization is a method of assisted reproduction in which a woman's female gamete (egg) and the man's male gamete (sperm) are brought together in a laboratory dish and the egg is fertilized. The embryo that results from the process is then transferred to the recipient's uterus where implantation will occur and normal development will ensure. Because multiple births are common, it is customary to place no more than four embryos into the recipient's uterus in any given IVF treatment. Each time an IVF treatment is performed, it is referred to as a 'cycle.'

What Takes Place During In Vitro Fertilization?

In brief terms, IVF treatment begins when a woman has her eggs surgically removed before ovulation occurs and after ovulation induction medication is taken to induce multiple egg release. The male sperm donor then delivers a sperm sample and the two are mixed together in the lab to achieve fertilization. Within 48 hours, if the eggs have fertilized then the resulting embryos are inserted directly into the recipient's uterus.

How Long Has IVF Treatment Been in Practice?

In 1978, the first successful pregnancy came about through IVF in England resulting in a young woman named Louise Brown who turned 25 in 2003. In the United States, the first successful IVF pregnancy was in 1981 and since then, the treatment has been a regular practice.

How Many Children Have Been Born Due to IVF Treatment?

It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million babies have been a result IVF treatments since the procedure hit the mainstream.

What is a 'Test Tube Baby'?

The term 'test tube baby' can be used to refer to children conceived through IVF treatment, though this term is relatively outdated and seldom used.

Who Are the Prime Candidates for IVF?

IVF treatment is the ART of choice for women experiencing endometriosis, anovulation (no ovulation), amenorrhea (no menstruation) or blocked fallopian tubes. Women without a partner, with a female partner and those with male partners whose sperm suffers from low motility, abnormal shape or low count will also benefit from IVF.