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While the idea is simple — combine eggs and sperm outside the body and inject fertilized eggs back into the uterus — in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a highly complex process requiring advanced training, technology, and precision.
Our specialty team at Gago Center for Fertility in Brighton, Lansing, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, is motivated by a desire to help couples achieve their dream of becoming parents.
We have the skill and expertise to deliver top-level fertility services in a caring environment designed to destress and demystify your experience.
To that end, we’re happy to break down the complexities of IVF into four relatively simple steps.
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, which involves hormonal medications that prompt the ovaries to produce multiple eggs in a cycle.
Women usually produce one egg per menstrual cycle. Stimulating the ovaries to release multiple eggs for retrieval increases the chances of successful fertilization.
Follicles, which the female fetus develops while in utero, are small fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries that contain immature eggs. During a natural menstrual cycle, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) produced in the ovaries prompts an egg to mature.
At about day 14 in your cycle, a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) causes the release of a mature egg (ovulation).
Medications used for IVF ovarian stimulation include FSH and LH injections that mimic the body’s natural process.
Frequent ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor follicle growth and hormone levels ensure the ovaries respond appropriately.
Once the follicles mature, it’s time to retrieve the eggs. A hormone injection, typically human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), prepares the eggs for retrieval.
During an ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive outpatient procedure, your fertility specialist collects eggs from the ovaries that are evaluated for quality before proceeding to the next step.
Anesthesia prevents pain during egg retrieval, which is generally well tolerated. You may experience mild cramping or bloating afterward, perhaps similar to what you experience during ovulation.
Next, the retrieved eggs are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory setting.
Methods of fertilization may include:
Used most often, traditional IVF involves combining sperm and eggs in a petri dish, allowing natural fertilization.
This advanced, intricate process involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg, often used for male factor infertility.
The fertilized eggs are then cultured in a controlled environment for 3–5 days and monitored carefully by embryologists as they develop.
The final step involves transferring one or more fertilized eggs into the uterus, typically 3-5 days after fertilization.
Using a thin catheter, under ultrasound guidance, your fertility specialist places the eggs into the uterus, where, ideally, implantation occurs. Your provider may prescribe medications like progesterone to support the uterine lining and implantation.
We perform a blood test about two weeks later to confirm a successful outcome.
Learn more about IVF and other fertility services we offer by scheduling a visit to Gago Center for Fertility. Call the office near you or request an appointment online.
