In Vitro Fertilization
In Vitro Fertilization (pronunciation: in-ˈvē-ˌtrō-ˌfər-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən) is a medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanted in a woman's uterus.
Etymology
The term "In Vitro Fertilization" originates from the Latin phrase "in vitro", meaning "in glass", and the English term "fertilization", referring to the fusion of gametes to initiate the development of a new individual organism.
Procedure
The process of In Vitro Fertilization involves monitoring and stimulating a woman's ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova (egg or eggs) from the woman's ovaries, and letting sperm fertilize them in a liquid in a laboratory. The fertilized egg (zygote) undergoes embryo culture for 2–6 days, and is then transferred to the same or another woman's uterus, with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.
Related Terms
- Ovulation: The release of eggs from the ovaries.
- Sperm: The male reproductive cell.
- Zygote: The cell formed by the union of a sperm and an ovum.
- Embryo: An early stage of development of a multicellular organism.
- Uterus: The organ in the lower body of a woman where offspring are conceived and in which they gestate before birth.
See Also
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