Texas Center for Reproductive Health

In Vitro Fertilization/Embryo Transfer (IVF/ET) The IVF/ET Process involves removing mature eggs from the wife's ovaries and placing them in a sterile liquid (a culture medium) with the husbands sperm to let the natural process of fertilization take place outside the womb. After fertilization, developing embryos are transferred to the wife's uterus in a few days.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection (ICSI) This micromanipulation technique involves the careful injection of one sperm directly into one of the retrieved eggs. ICSI has enabled reproductive specialists to overcome common "male factors" such as low sperm count, reduced number of normal sperm and sperm with reduced motility. In ICSI the highest quality sperm available can be selected for injection into the egg.

Assisted Hatching with IVF This technique involves chemically or mechanically weakening the shell of an egg after the process of In Vitro Fertilization is complete. Weakening the egg shell makes it easier for the embryo to "hatch out" and implant successfully into the mother's womb. It is used most often in women 35 years and older, in cases where ICSI has been utilized to produce the pre-embryos and in cases where standard IVF has not resulted in pregnancy.

Day 1: As the sperm fertilizes the egg, it causes a change in the egg change and become almost impossible to penetrate by another sperm. At this point the fertilized egg is called a zygote. Within a day following fertilization the zygote begins to divide.

Day 2: The pre-embyro has started the process of cell division called "cleavage"." This image is a four cell embryo measuring approximately 120 microns in diameter. (One micron equals 1/25,000 of an inch.)

Day 3: When the pre-embyros reach four to eight cells, they are ready for transfer into the mother's uterus. After transfer, complete bed rest is recommended for four days.