What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

In vitro fertilization, or “IVF,” is a medical procedure that brings an egg and sperm together to create a pregnancy. If you’re not having luck getting pregnant, you might consider IVF.

How IVF Works

If your baby-making regimen of regular sex isn't doing the trick, IVF can help. With IVF, a doctor will extract your eggs, combine them with your partner’s (or a donor’s) sperm in a petri dish, ensure that the two combine to create an embryo, and then transfer the embryo into your uterus. One IVF cycle typically takes between 4 to 6 weeks to complete.

IVF has been around for over 30 years, and the success rate is as high as 43%, depending on your age, your lifestyle, and the cause of your infertility. IVF may also require more than one cycle to work, but the odds of success are increased by subsequent cycles. IVF can also be very costly and take an emotional toll if the treatment doesn’t work.

Who Uses IVF?

There are a few different profiles of people who use IVF:

- Couples who have been actively tracking fertility and trying to conceive for one year without success. 

- Women who know they have fertility issues, such as endometriosis, PCOS, or tubal issues.

- Couples who do not produce either healthy eggs or healthy sperm.

- Single women or same-sex couples who want to be parents. One benefit of IVF is that it can be pursued with the help of donor eggs/sperm.

IVF is a common tactic used by women who know they have fertility issues, such as tubal issues, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Couples who do not  produce either healthy eggs or healthy sperm, can pursue IVF with the help of donor eggs/sperm.

For couples who don’t know why they’re having trouble getting pregnant, the first step is to have a fertility workup to identify the issue. Men provide a semen sample to be analyzed, so doctors can look at sperm count and possible problems with the transportation of the sperm. Women undergo a number of tests, including ovulation analysis and careful review of their fallopian tubes and uterus. Once the reason you haven’t gotten pregnant is identified, IVF can begin.

Does IVF Involve a Health Risk?

The medications involved with IVF may have a number of side effects, including cramping, bloating, and constipation. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a more extreme reaction to IVF medications and is due to too much hormone medication in your body. Symptoms of OHSS may include vomiting, shortness of breath, fainting, severe stomach pains, and weight gain.

Miscarriage is a health risk for all pregnancies. While this risk is not higher or lower with IVF versus natural conception, it is a possibility.

Another health risk of IVF is multiple pregnancy, or twins. This is a health risk because carrying multiples is much more risky than carrying one child. Depending on your age, your doctor will personalize your IVF experience to work toward conceiving only one baby at a time.