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What is In Vitro Fertilization?
IVF involves taking eggs from the woman, fertilizing them in the
laboratory with her partner's sperm and transferring the resulting
embryos back to her uterus within 72 hours.
The first IVF baby in the world was born in July of 1978 in England.
Today, many thousands of children are born annually as a result
of this technique.
Who should be treated with In Vitro Fertilization?
In Vitro fertilization can be used as an effective treatment for
infertility of all causes except for women with infertility caused
by an anatomic problem with the uterus, such as severe intrauterine
adhesions.
It is generally used in couples that have failed to conceive
after at least one year of trying who also have one or more of
the following:
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Blocked fallopian tubes
or pelvic adhesions with distorted pelvic anatomy. Women that
have had tubal ligation and are considering tubal reversal
surgery as well as men that are considering vasectomy reversal
surgery might also consider IVF. |
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Advanced female age -
over 38. |
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Failed 2-6 cycles of ovarian
stimulation with intrauterine insemination. |
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Reduced ovarian reserve,
which means lower quality (and quantity) eggs. A day 3 FSH
and estradiol test is used as a general screening test for
egg quality. Poor egg quality is usually treated with either
IVF, or with IVF using egg donation from another woman. |
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Severe endometriosis. |
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Severe male factor infertility
(low sperm count or low motility). |
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