The In Vitro Method

For many couples, the inability to conceive a child is devastating. Infertility affects 15 percent of couples in the United States, however, statistics show that 40 percent of women who use in vitro fertilization become pregnant.

Definition

• Vitro literally means "glass," as compared to vivo, which means "alive." An in vitro conception refers to a pregnancy that occurs with laboratory assistance, whereas in vivo refers to a naturally occurring, biological conception.

Procedure

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a laboratory procedure in which a man's sperm and a woman's egg are placed in a glass dish, also called Petri dish, to achieve fertilization. After the eggs are fertilized, they are placed in the uterus using a catheter to begin pregnancy.

Causes

• While IVF was originally developed to help women with damaged Fallopian tubes conceive, the cause of infertility can rest in a man or a woman. Genetic conditions, health problems, environmental or lifestyle factors can all affect a couple's likelihood to conceive.