IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology in which mature oocytes are retrieved from the ovaries via transvaginal aspiration after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, fertilized externally in the laboratory (by conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI), cultured to cleavage or blastocyst stage, and transferred into the uterus as one or more embryos. IVF bypasses the reproductive process rather than restoring it. The underlying anatomical, hormonal, and immunologic problems that prevented conception remain uncorrected. Controlled hyperstimulation routinely produces more embryos than will be transferred. Those not transferred may be frozen, donated to other couples, donated for research, or destroyed. Each of those is a consequential decision, not a logistical one. Known risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), multiple pregnancy when more than one embryo is transferred, elevated rates of preterm birth and low birthweight, and ongoing uncertainty about long-term offspring outcomes at the registry level. Per-cycle live-birth rates decline sharply with maternal age. Within RRM, IVF is a bypass technology. The question RRM asks is different: not how to work around a failing reproductive system, but what is causing it to fail, and whether that cause can be corrected. See IVF vs. RRM: Key Conceptual Distinctions for a side-by-side comparison.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.