What is IVF?
IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in which sperm and an egg are fertilized outside of the human body.
IVF is a complicated procedure that entails extracting eggs from ovaries and physically mixing them with sperm in a lab for fertilization. The fertilized egg (now called an embryo) is implanted inside a uterus several days after fertilization. When this embryo inserts itself into the uterine wall, pregnancy begins.
How common is IVF?
Approximately 5% of infertile couples will try IVF. Since 1978, more than 8 million babies have been born through IVF. It’s one of the most effective reproductive technologies (ARTs) on the market.