What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

If you or your spouse struggles with fertility issues, you may be familiar with In Vitro Fertilization, more commonly known as IVF. IVF is a manual fertilization process in which a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm in a laboratory. Once the fertilized egg becomes a high-quality embryo, it is transferred to the woman’s uterus.

Recent Advancements in IVF

1978 marked the first human birth through successful IVF. Since then, there has been much advancement across all aspects of the treatment and process. These advancements have all helped to improve the overall success rate for In Vitro Fertilization.

  • Gonadotropins. The first step in fertility treatments involve hormone therapy, usually administered through injections, to activate a number of eggs and prepare them for extraction.
  • Improved pre-implantation genetic screening (PGT). This screening helps identify embryos that have chromosomal abnormalities. This examination helps improve pregnancy and live birth rates so couples can have healthy babies that are not affected by disease.
  • Higher success rates with embryo vitrification. A fast-freezing technique that freezes embryos quickly, preventing ice crystals from forming inside the embryo. This process decreased the potential damage caused by traditional cooling techniques. Fast-freezing embryos also result in higher post-warming survival rates.

Perhaps one of the most exciting advancements for women is egg freezing. More women over 40 are having babies, and for good reason. According to a 2015 study by Pew Research Center, 41% of women agree that having children after they’re well established in their career was most beneficial to both their work life and family-planning goals.

Experience counts when it comes to your chance for success with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). At Center for Reproductive Medicine, our success rates are consistently higher than the national average and among the best in Minnesota. If you think In Vitro Fertilization is right for you, we’ll help you every step of the way. Call 612-863-5390 to schedule your appointment today.