The birth of Louise Brown on July 25, 1978 was the first successful result of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a pioneering process developed by researchers Steptoe & Edwards. This event was heralded as one of the great breakthroughs in history. Today it is a common medical procedure.
The process involves fertilizing an egg with sperm outside of the woman's body. Once fertilized, it is placed inside the woman's uterus for development, and ultimately, a normal birth. But the IVF process developed in 1978 hardly resembles the vast array of techniques and procedures used today. Over two decades of clinical research and application have made IVF a routinely used, highly effective tool to overcome infertility resulting from a wide range of causes.
The IVF and embryo transfer procedure involves five basic steps, but at the Emory Reproductive Center, each patient's individual medical history and condition is evaluated for customized treatment and therapy. The following is step by step outline of the general treatment.