What is In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)?

The first successful in vitro fertilisation procedure took place in Great Britain in 1978. Since then, IVF has given hope to infertile couples, and thousands of babies have been conceived through IVF.

The following is a brief description of IVF (more detailed IVF procedures are covered later in the website): First, the woman takes fertility drugs to help her produce a number of eggs. Once the eggs are mature, they are retrieved from the woman's body, then fertilised outside the womb in a laboratory. If all goes according to plan, the fertilised eggs become embryos within a few days. The embryos are then placed in the woman's uterus in hopes that one or more will implant and become a successful pregnancy.