In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process that has made it possible for many wom en to get pregnant who cannot

conceive in the traditional way. IVF manually fert ilizes an egg with a sperm in a laboratory dish. The process starts with ovulati on induction, which occurs when the female begins taking a drug. Her ovulation s tops until she is given a hormone, at which point the doctor takes on control of her cycle. At this point, the doctor may prepare the patient for egg retrieval. First, a fertility doctor puts the patient under general anesthesia and uses a s mall needle to capture eggs from the ovarian follicles. Next, the embryologist s eparates the eggs from follicular fluid, and later, a sperm is injected into eac h egg. After the eggs are fertilized, they go into an incubator for three to fiv e days. Finally, the fertilized eggs, now known as embryos, are transferred to t he uterus in a painless procedure. About the author: Daniel Potter, MD, focuses his practice on reproductive endocr inology and infertility and has a great deal of experience with in vitro fertili zation. He treats patients at HRC Fertility, which serves clients throughout Cal ifornia.