What Is an In Vitro Baby?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure where mature eggs from a female and sperm from a male are collected and stored in a laboratory under sterile conditions. The eggs are transferred to a shallow container called a petri dish and fertilized with the sperm. Once the eggs are fertilized, one to two embryos that are three to five days old are transferred into the uterus of the female.

Multiple embryos may be transferred depending on the age of the woman. This enhances the chance of implantation because the rate of implantation declines as women get older. IVF may offer higher chances of pregnancy because it allows a regulated interaction of eggs and sperm. Doctors can assess each embryo to see which ones are the most likely to result in a pregnancy.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex procedure, where one full cycle may take two to three weeks or longer. Before starting an IVF procedure, determining the status of reproductive hormones, quality of eggs (female) and semen (male) and functionality of the reproductive system of the woman are done.

The five basic steps of IVF are:

1. Stimulating the process of ovulation with drugs for the release of multiple healthy eggs
2. Egg and sperm collection
3. Fertilization of eggs with sperm under aseptic conditions
4. Development of embryo and genetic testing if required
5. Transfer of embryo into the woman’s uterus

The major risk associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) is multiple births, which may lead to several complications, including:

• Pregnancy and labor complications
• Premature delivery
• Medical and developmental complications in the babies

Additionally, women undergoing IVF will be put on hormones for an extended period, which can cause physical and emotional stress, as well as potentially severe symptoms.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone is administered to induce the maturation of eggs, but it may also cause the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from hyperstimulated ovaries. VEGF increases the permeability of the blood vessels due to fluid leaks from the vessels. Accumulation of fluid causes:

• Swelling of the abdomen (ascites)
• Shortness of breath secondary to fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion)
• Abnormal kidney function due to decrease in blood volume
• Pain due to swelling and twisting of ovaries (torsion).

Other complications include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

The success rate of IVF is determined by a variety of factors, including reproductive history, maternal age, infertility reasons, other medical issues and lifestyle factors.

The first IVF baby was born in 1978, and an estimated eight million more have been born since then. In the United States, about 270,000 IVF rounds are performed each year, resulting in more than 74,000 kids being delivered each year.