In vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET)

The most common form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is IVF-ET. IVF-ET involves fertilization of eggs with sperm in vitro (outside of the body), in the laboratory. The process involves stimulating a woman's ovaries with injectable hormones to cause multiple eggs to grow, harvesting of the eggs from the ovaries, fertilization of the eggs with sperm in the laboratory, culturing of embryos in the laboratory, and finally transfer of embryo(s) into the uterus. Many natural processes leading to pregnancy are bypassed using IVF, allowing IVF to reach high success rates. IVF is an appropriate treatment protocol for virtually all infertility diagnoses: anovulation, tubal factor, male factor, endometriosis, cervical factor...