In vitro literally translates to “in glass,” referring to the glass laboratory containers in which an in vitro fertilization (IVF)occurs. Although babies fertilized in vitro are commonly called “test tube babies” (mind you, this isn’t the most politically correct terminology), in vitro fertilization actually take place in a petri dish.

Today, a procedure performed in vitro simply means outside the body or living organism. The blastocyst/embryo is implanted inside the uterus after fertilization occurs.

 

IVF requires three things for success:

 

healthy eggs.

 

fertile sperm.

 

and a uterus that can carry the pregnancy to term.

 

IVF makes the birth of a child possible even when these variables aren’t provided by the people who will parent the child.

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Benefits of IVF

 

Anyone can have a baby. In vitro fertilization makes it possible for nearly any individual or couple to have a baby, regardless of familial status or sexual orientation. Single women and men, gay and lesbian couples, and couples who’ve had a hard time conceiving have all used IVF as a way to have a child.

It addresses infertility issues. IVF was traditionally used to help both men and women address infertility issues. Women with missing, damaged, or blocked fallopian tubes were some of the first patients to carry successful IVFs. The egg is fertilized outside the female body and then placed inside the uterus for a more likely implantation.

Many men with both known and unexplained infertility issues have benefited from IVF, especially in combination with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ICSI targets and extracts a single sperm from a sample and injects it into the egg’s cytoplasm for optimal fertilization rates.

In many cases, IVF combined with ICSI is the only way for men with a low sperm count to still be able to biologically father a child. Their only other options may be using donor sperm or adoption.

Testicular sperm aspiration can be performed on men who can’t ejaculate sperm,

including those with irreversible vasectomies, testicular cancer survivors, and

men with low or no sperm count, blockages, and other conditions.

It increases chances of conception. Both IVF and ICSI increase the chances of

fertilization regardless of whether infertility is an issue or not. Many couples

choose in vitro fertilization because it helps them conceive more quickly at a time that’s right for them.

It increases chances of a healthy pregnancy and child. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is possible, allowing couples to identity chromosomal deficiencies in an embryo before is it implanted inside the uterus.

Have a baby when you want to: The availability of IVF means couples don’t have to try for years to get pregnant naturally. IVF gives couples more control over factors such as spacing out children, being pregnant at the right time, and even when a child will be born.