Understanding the Process of Test-Tube Baby

 In vitro fertilisation or IVF is a kind of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps women get pregnant who cannot conceive naturally due to some certain conditions.

Louise Joy Brown was the first-ever baby to be born through the IVF procedure in 1978 and then, the non-medical term used for it was ‘test tube baby.’ By the mid of 2018, over 8 million test tube babies have been born with this technique.

Natural conception vs. In vitro fertilisation

For a woman to get pregnant naturally, the fertilisation has to occur inside the body and it happens when the male partner’s sperm penetrates the egg of the woman. The fertilised egg then attaches itself to the lining of the uterus and starts developing into a baby.

Talking about in vitro fertilisation, the fertilisation occurs outside the body in a laboratory dish under the environmentally controlled chamber. Once the egg is fertilised, it turns into an embryo which is then implanted into the uterus.

Process of test tube baby

Ever since the first test tube baby born, the IVF process has seen several advancements. However, the core process always remains the same.

Suppression of natural menstrual cycle

In the very first step of the IVF procedure, the fertility specialist doctor gives drugs through injections daily for two weeks to suppress the natural menstrual cycle of the woman.

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Also known as superovulation, in this step, the doctor gives the woman drugs containing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that cause ovaries to produce more eggs than normal. With the help of ultrasound scans, the doctor keeps an eye on the process of ovaries.

Retrieval of eggs from ovaries

The doctor performs follicular aspiration, a minor surgical procedure for the retrieval of eggs from ovaries. Before beginning this procedure, they give mild sedatives or anaesthetic to the woman so that she does feel any pain or discomfort. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into the ovary through the vagina which is connected through a suction device to help with the ejection of eggs.

Conception and fertilisation

In this step, retrieved eggs are kept under observation in an environmentally controlled chamber. When fertilisation successfully happens, it undergoes the process of embryo culture. The process usually takes two to three days.

Embryo transfer

In the final step of the IVF process, the doctor, on the approval of the couple, selects one or more embryos for the implantation. With the help of a very thin tube or catheter, they transfer the embryo(s) which attaches itself to the lining of the uterus and then starts developing into a baby.

So, this is how a test tube baby is born. However, choosing the right fertility clinic also plays a crucial role in the success of an IVF treatment.