IVF

Definition	:	In Vitro Fertilisation
Category	:	Medical » Treatments & Procedures
Country/Region	:	Worldwide
Popularity	:

What does IVF mean?

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the body: in vitro (Latin: in glass; taking place in a test tube). IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman’s ovaries and letting sperm fertilise them in a fluid medium. The fertilised egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient’s uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy. The first successful birth of a “test tube baby” , Louise Brown, occurred in 1978.