the menstrual cycle of fertile women
usually lasts about a month during this
time and under the influence of the
body's own natural hormones a tiny sack
within the ovary containing an egg grows
to about the size of a grape at a point
midway in the cycle this egg is released
from the ovary and ovulation occurs
population is also regulated by hormones
the egg in which from this moment on is
ready for fertilization then passes into
the uterine tubes to await the arrival
of fertile sperm ovulation is a
naturally occurring event and the desire
to have children is a similarly natural
instinct but that instinct cannot always
be fulfilled the causes of unwanted
childlessness are numerous but so are
the means of treating them
the technique of in vitro fertilization
or IVF remove several eggs from the
ovary for fertilization in the
laboratory after a few days one or two
of these fertilized eggs which are now
known as embryos are returned to the
uterus in the hope that they implant and
become a pregnancy women having IVF are
given special reproductive hormones to
encourage several eggs to develop in the
ovaries final maturation of the egg
itself is induced by the administration
of a further hormone 36 hours later
fluid containing the eggs is drawn from
the ovary with a needle this is usually
performed under light sedation in a
short outpatient procedure with the
doctor using ultrasound to check
proceedings
the eggs collected from the ovary are
then mixed with a sample of the male
partner sperm which has already been
washed and concentrated the eggs and
sperm are left in an incubator set at 37
degrees for 24 hours so that
fertilization can take place during this
time only one of the many sperm cells
will penetrate the outer layer of the
egg and achieve fertilization following
fertilization the cells divide and
multiply and form an embryo after two or
three days
a healthy embryo will comprise around 8
cells it is then transferred to the
uterus by means of a thin flexible tube
where it is left to implant and form a
pregnancy all these methods of assisted
reproduction offer couples a good chance
of bringing a healthy baby into the
world a consultation and thorough
examination are necessary for each
individual patient for finding the most
appropriate treatment with the highest
chance of success because female
fertility decreases quite quickly after
the age of 35 infertile couples should
not delay seeking appropriate medical
advice
you