In Vitro fertilization Procedures

Over 6.1 million people are affected by infertility issues in the United States. Today, there are several methods that are used to help these people get pregnant. Medications, minor and major surgeries and even in vitro fertilization are used today to help couples to conceive a child. Since the first successful IVF procedure in the United States in 1981, there have been over 250,000 babies born using this technique. Depending on what the infertility problem is, IVF procedures may bring new hope to those that have not been able to successfully conceive.

IVF is a procedure where a man's sperm is introduced to the woman's egg in a laboratory dish where it is then fertilized, for about 40 hours. After this time period they are checked to see if fertilization has indeed occurred. This IVF process is one method of infertility treatment and is also known as assisted reproduction. After the woman's egg has been fertilized, the embryo is then transferred into the womb and allowed to develop naturally. When the implanting process takes place, 2 to 4 embryos are normally placed into the uterus or womb.

The term "test tube baby" has often been used to refer to a child who was conceived by in vitro fertilization. The very first test tube baby was born in 1978 in England. This technique can be used for several different reasons, but is usually used when a woman has severely damaged fallopian tubes, has a tubal blockage or does not have fallopian tubes at all. It is also used when endometriosis has attacked the reproductive organs of the female. It can also be used as a procedure when the male spouse or partner involved has a very low sperm count and procedures need to be used to raise the sperm count.

While miscarriage is always a concern, the rate of miscarriages with in vitro fertilization conceptions is the same as with those that occur with spontaneous conception. There is however, a 3 to 5 percent of occurrence of ectopic pregnancy with IVF. Ectopic pregnancy is where the embryo grows outside of the uterus, becoming a serious medical condition. When a ectopic pregnancy occurs, the embryo will not survive. Any individual who is thinking of having an IVF procedure or any other fertility treatment should always disclose their medical history and any current medical problems, no matter how small they may seem.