In vitro fertilization (IVF), is medical term used to describe a process of fertilization where an egg is combined with sperm outside the woman’s body in a lab. IVF is practically a household word today compared to decades back when it was first referred to as test-tube babies. In 1978, the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, born in England, was the first such baby to be conceived outside her mother's womb.

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The process of IVF involves combining eggs and sperm outside the woman’s body in a lab. Then once an embryo or embryos form, they are immediately placed in the uterus. Apart from being complex, IVF is an expensive procedure. Only about 5% of couples with infertility issues go for this option of conceiving. However, since its introduction in the U.S. in 1981, IVF and other similar procedures have given rise to in more than 200,000 babies.

What Causes of Infertility Can be treated with IVF?

For couples trying to conceive without much success, IVF may be an option, particularly if you or your partner have been diagnosed with:

• Endometriosis
• Low sperm counts
• Problems with the uterus
• Problems with fallopian tubes
• Ovulation problems
• Antibody problems that harm sperm or eggs
• Failure of sperm to penetrate or survive in the cervical mucus
• An unsolved fertility problem

IVF is never the first step in the treatment of infertility except in cases of complete tubal blockage. Instead, it's reserved for cases in which other methods such as fertility drugs, artificial insemination, and surgery have been unsuccessful.
Before deciding to choose IVF as the last option, carefully assess any treatment center before undergoing the procedure.

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Some questions to ask the staff at the fertility clinic may include:

• What is the success rate of pregnancy per embryo transfer?
• How much does it cost to store embryos and how long can we store them?
• What is the success rate of pregnancy for couples with fertility issues in our age group?
• How many twins or other multiple births are from those deliveries?
• What is the live birth rate for all couples who undergo this procedure each year at your facility?
• Do you take part in an egg donation program?
• What is the cost of the procedure, including the cost of the hormone treatments?

What Can I Expect From IVF?

The first step in IVF involves injecting hormones so you produce multiple eggs monthly instead of only one. Tests would be conducted on you to check whether you're ready for egg retrieval.
Injections of medication that develops the eggs and begins the ovulation process will be administered to you before the retrieval procedure. It is very vital that the timing is strictly adhered to because the eggs must be retrieved just before they emerge from the follicles in the ovaries.

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Retrieving the eggs too late or too early will cause the eggs not to develop properly. Your doctor may perform blood tests or an ultrasound to be sure the eggs are at the right stage of development before retrieving them. Instructions will be given to you the night leading to the procedure which you must adhere to.
Most facilities give pain medication to women and the choice of being mildly sedated or going under full anesthesia.

During the procedure, ultrasound will be used to locate follicles in the ovary and the eggs are extracted with a hollow needle. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes to one hour.
Your partner will have donated his sperm on the same day. After your eggs are retrieved, they will be properly mixed with your partner’s sperm in the lab. The fertilized eggs are then kept in the clinic under observation to ensure optimum growth. You may even wait up to five days until the embryo reaches a more advanced blastocyst stage.

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Once the embryos are ready, you will be asked to return to the IVF facility so doctors can transfer, one or more into your uterus. This procedure is quicker and easier than the retrieval of the egg. A flexible tube called a catheter will be inserted by the doctor through your vagina and cervix and into your uterus, where the embryos will be deposited. Most IVF experts transfer up to three embryos at a time to increase the chances of pregnancy, most IVF experts recommend transferring up to three embryos at a time. Though this could mean multiple pregnancy.

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You will remain in bed after the procedure for several hours and be discharged four to six hours later. About two weeks after the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test will be conducted on you.
In some cases, a man may have low sperm count. In this case, the doctors may combine IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In this procedure, a sperm is taken from semen or from the testicles and inserted directly into the egg. Once a viable embryo is produced, it is transferred to the uterus using the IVF procedure.

What Are the Success Rates for IVF?

A woman’s age and the cause of infertility are some factors that determine the success rates for IVF. According to the CDC, the most recent report from 2009 found:
• Pregnancy was achieved in an average of 29.4% of all cycles (higher or lower depending on the age of the woman).
• The percentage of cycles that resulted in live births was 22.4% on average (higher or lower depending on the age of the woman).

Are There Other Issues With IVF to Consider?

Embryos that you do not use in your first IVF attempt can be frozen and kept for later use. This will save you money if you undergo IVF a second or third time. You may decide to donate them to another infertile couple if you do not want your leftover embryos. Also, you and your partner can decide to ask the clinic to destroy the embryos. Both you and your partner must agree before the clinic will destroy or donate your embryos.

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A woman's age is a major factor in the success of IVF for any couple. For instance, a woman who is under age 35 and undergoes IVF has a 39.6% chance of having a baby, while a woman over age 40 has an 11.5% chance. However, the CDC recently found that the success rate is increasing in every age group as the techniques are refined and doctors become more skilled.

What Are The Costs of IVF?

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the average cost of an IVF cycle in the U.S. is $12,400. This price will differ depending on where you live, the amount of medications you're required to take, the number of IVF cycles you undergo, and the amount your insurance company will pay toward the procedure. 

Source: http://www.healthdiary365.com/2018/04/30/infertility-and-in-vitro-fertilization/