What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure to treat infertility. It uses assisted reproductive technology (ART), where eggs and sperm are handled outside the body. During the IVF process, fertility specialists fertilize eggs with sperm in a laboratory to create embryos.
The embryos are implanted in a person’s uterus to help them become pregnant. People may also choose to freeze eggs or embryos for future IVF treatments.
Penn Medicine has decades of experience in infertility care and assisted reproduction. Our team performs more than 400 IVF procedures each year, helping many people facing infertility become parents. You receive compassionate care from highly trained specialists dedicated to helping you build your family.
Who is a candidate for IVF treatments?
IVF is a popular treatment for infertility due to its high success rate. We may recommend IVF for people with:
- Female infertility caused by advanced age, damaged or blocked fallopian tubes, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), or endometriosis
- Male infertility caused by low sperm count, azoospermia (lack of sperm in semen), or an obstruction
IVF is also a treatment option for:
- LGBTQ+ family building
- People using third party reproduction sources like donor sperm or eggs or a gestational carrier
- People who want to preserve future fertility before having procedures or treatments that can affect their reproductive health
What to expect during the IVF process
IVF is a complex process that requires coordinated lab work and procedures to achieve ideal results. We provide outpatient IVF services at Penn Medicine locations across southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We also offer in-hospital IVF for people with complex medical conditions requiring specialized care.
The IVF process involves several steps and visits to our facility:
People who have IVF may choose to use their own eggs or donor eggs for the procedure. If you choose to use your eggs, we stimulate your ovaries with fertility medication that helps your body produce more eggs. Our providers use blood tests and transvaginal ultrasound to monitor your hormones and egg development.
When your eggs are ready, we collect them during an outpatient procedure called follicular aspiration. Our provider uses transvaginal ultrasound to guide a thin needle through your vagina and into your ovaries to retrieve your eggs. You may choose to freeze eggs for future implantation.
Your partner provides a sperm sample while we remove your eggs, or you may choose to use donor sperm. We wash the sperm to find the healthiest ones.
After retrieving your eggs, we take them to our lab to fertilize them immediately. We can also inject sperm directly into the eggs through a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
We give you medication to prepare the lining of your uterus for your embryo(s). You may choose preimplantation genetic testing to check embryos for genetic or chromosomal disorders before we implant them.
Three to five days after fertilizing your eggs, we insert the embryos into your uterus using a long, thin tube (catheter). If you’ve chosen to freeze your embryos, we flash-freeze them in the lab and store them for your future use. We’ll test your blood a few weeks after the embryo transfer to determine if you’re pregnant.
Specialty expertise meets state-of-the-art facilities at Penn Medicine
We ensure you receive the highest quality care through every step of your fertility care. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained specialists in reproductive endocrinology oversee your IVF treatments. They have extensive training in obstetrics and maternity care, reproductive surgery, and infertility.
Embryos are handled in our state-of-the-art on-site embryology lab by skilled embryologists who maintain the highest safety and quality standards. Your specimens are safeguarded with 24/7 security.
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