In vitro fertilization may succeed in dealing with a couple’s infertility where other methods have failed.
The first successful pregnancy using the egg collection method, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer was achieved in England in 1978. This success heralded the dawn of a revolutionary treatment of sterility and led to the development of the new assisted reproduction technology.
At first, in vitro fertilization was used in women with obstructed or nonexistent fallopian tubes. Gradually, its use extended to other causes of sterility, such as low sperm production, endometriosis, unexplained sterility, as well as to cases where all other methods had failed. Today, it covers all causes of infertility.
In vitro fertilisation consists of a series of stages. Before the procedure begins, the couple has to undergo certain medical and blood tests, which are necessary in order to increase the success rate of the technique as much as possible.
The male partner is required to provide sperm. The woman is subjected to ovarian stimulation and transvaginal egg collection. Then, the eggs are fertilised with the male partner’s sperm and the fertilised eggs are placed in the uterus.
