What is IVF?
IVF stands for ‘In Vitro Fertilisation’ and is the most well known of all infertility treatments.
A sample of eggs are taken from the woman and placed in a Petri dish with sperm from the male (or donor sperm). This takes place under controlled conditions within a laboratory.
The eggs and sperm are left to fertilise in this dish and develop into embryos. These embryos are then implanted back into the woman’s body (the uterus) with the hope that one of them will result in pregnancy.
More information can be found in our infertility treatment section, under ‘IVF’.
Infertility treatment FAQS Guide Index:
- I am a single woman, can I have fertility treatment?
- I am in relationship with another woman, can I have fertility treatment?
- How do I find a fertility clinic?
- What questions should I ask the specialist?
- What is an assisted reproductive technique?
- Do I need to take time off work during treatment?
- How long does treatment take?
- Does infertility treatment hurt?
- What is IVF?
- What is GIFT?
- What is IUI?
- What is ZIFT?
- What is ICSI?
- What is ‘genetic screening?’
Infertility Guide
- Infertility Guide
- what is infertility?
- infertility myths
- infertility facts
- female infertility
- medical conditions
- emotional aspects of infertility
- donor insemination
- infertility and your general practitioner
- fertility success rates
- fertility treatment abroad
- infertility tests
- infertility treatment
- infertility faqs
- the cost of infertility tests and treatment
- ivf (in vitro fertilisation) and gift (gamete intra fallopian transfer)
- finding a fertility clinic
- male infertility
- miscarriage
- pregnancy tests
- Fertility Extension
- glossary