IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)

IVF is the “classic” form of artificial insemination and is also used as an umbrella term for all other forms of artificial insemination.

The basic idea of artificial insemination is bringing together egg and sperm cells outside of the human body.

We call this method IVF (In Vitro Fertilization), since the fertilization of the egg cell takes place in a petri dish.

First, the egg cells must be extracted:

• Following hormonal stimulation, multiple follicles grow.
• Under a brief general anesthetic, the egg cells are suctioned out of the vagina while the process is monitored on ultrasound.
• They can then be combined with the sperm cells in a petri dish.
• Finally, after a few days of maturing, an embryo can then be transferred into the uterine cavity using a small catheter.

This method is primarily used if, for instance, a woman experiences blocked fallopian tubes on both sides, and if the man’s sperm cell quality is fairly unremarkable.