Test Tube Baby

‘Test Tube Baby’ is a term that has certainly changed the lives of millions of infertile couples. With modern advancements and innovations, the dream of having a baby is now turning into reality. The results are very encouraging and further improving all over the world.

In Test Tube Baby treatment a child conceived in a lab and outside a woman’s body is one of the medical procedures which help people to deal with infertility problems. This entire process is done in a laboratory in a petri dish, in this process the eggs are taken from the mother’s ovary and fertilized by the sperm from the father.

It is a non-medical term used decades ago while referring to IVF or In-Vitro Fertilisation. The term Test Tube Baby was first used in the 1930s. Then, it was used to refer to artificial insemination- not IVF. In artificial insemination specially washed semen is directly transferred into a woman’s uterus via the cervix.

When the first human egg was fertilized outside of the body in 1944, the term test tube baby began to refer to IVF babies. Louise Joy Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, is still frequently referred to as the world’s ‘first test tube’ baby.

Test Tube Baby Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation

A woman usually produces 1 mature ovum in her single menstrual cycle. So, prior to egg retrieval, the woman is prescribed injectable hormones to promote the synchronous growth and maturation of the follicles inside her ovaries for a period of 8-10 days in order to produce at least 10 -12 eggs in a single menstrual cycle. The final maturation of the eggs is accomplished through the injection of HCG 36 hours before egg collection.

Step 2: Eggs retrieved from ovary and sperm collection

Egg retrieval is done under general anesthesia so that the female won’t feel pain or other discomforts during egg retrieval. With the use of an ultrasound vaginal probe with a fine hollow needle attached to it, the fertility specialist aspirates eggs from the woman’s ovaries. These samples are promptly brought to the laboratory. The male partner produces a semen sample through masturbation or in the case with zero sperm count surgical sperm retrieval is performed.

Step 3: Embryo Formation

For the Test Tube Baby procedure, the sperm and eggs are mixed together in a Petri dish and then placed inside an incubator for a few days. In some certain casesIntracytoplasmic Sperm Injection process is done i.e a single egg is fertilized with one sperm via a micromanipulator. The embryos thus formed are graded and the best quality embryos are chosen for transfer. During this period, the fertility specialist checks for signs of fertilization and monitors the growth of the embryos.

Step 4: Embryo Transfer

On the day of embryo transfer, 2-3 embryos are transferred into the uterus of the woman with the use of a fine catheter. Also, in certain cases when fresh embryo transfer cannot be done due to certain factors (endometrial, high progesterone levels, hyperstimulation), all embryos are frozen and are later transferred after the individual factors are corrected through medications or hysteroscopy.

Who should consider a Test Tube Baby Treatment?

A couple who has been trying without any results for a year to have a child should consider the possibility of undergoing fertility treatments. It is important to consult with a fertility specialist in order for the cause of their infertility to be correctly diagnosed so that the right treatment will be given.

Reasons to go for a Test Tube Baby:

• Blocked Fallopian Tubes
• Severe Endometriosis
• Progressing Maternal Age
• Unknown Factors or Unexplained Infertility
• Male Factor Infertility
• Diminished Ovarian Reserve