Hello and welcome to the zero to finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about in vitro

fertilization.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero to finals.com slash IVF or in the fertility

section of the zero to finals obstetrics and gynecology book.

So let's get straight into it.

In vitro fertilization or IVF involves fertilizing an egg with a sperm in a lab, then injecting

the resulting embryo into the uterus.

There are many steps along the way and it's a complicated and expensive process.

As a result, funding criteria are very strict and they vary between different areas.

Couples are limited to a set number of cycles funded by the NHS.

Each attempt at IVF has a roughly 25 to 30% success rate at producing a live

birth. Intriuterine insemination, or IUI, is different to IVF. It's a more straightforward process

and involves injecting sperm into the uterus,

avoiding intercourse. Intriutrient insemination is used in situations such as donor sperm

for same-sex couples, HIV to avoid unprotected sex, and where there's practical issues with

vaginal sex.

Let's talk about IVF cycles. A cycle of IVF involves a single episode of ovarian stimulation

and collection of oocytes or eggs. A single cycle may produce several embryos. Each of these embryos can be transferred

separately in multiple attempts at pregnancy all during one cycle of IVF. Embryos that are not used

immediately may be frozen and used at a later date.

Frozen embryos can potentially be used years later, even after a successful pregnancy.

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