How IVF Works
Yes, this is a brief description of the main in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. After hormonal stimulation, eggs are collected from the ovaries in a retrieval procedure. In the laboratory, an egg is fertilized by sperm—either by placing them together or by ICSI, in which one sperm is injected directly into the egg. The resulting embryo develops in the lab for several days and may then be transferred into the uterus.
More precisely, an embryo—not an “egg”—is transferred back to the uterus. Not every fertilization results in an embryo suitable for transfer, and an embryo may be frozen for transfer in a later cycle. IVF is a sequence of clinical steps, and details vary with the treatment protocol and patient circumstances.