Test Tube Baby FAQ Infertility Guide

The term "test tube baby" is used to describe the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF). While it's not the most graceful descriptor, it’s one that many of us grew up hearing.

If you’ve been experiencing fertility problems, then it may be time to learn more about how specialists can help you conceive with IVF.

What is a test tube baby?

First coined in the late 1970s, it describes an embryo conceived when an egg is fertilized with sperm outside of the womb to create an embryo. In fact, the term that is used now, in vitro, actually means “in glass” in Latin. A girl named Louise Brown was the first successful birth using IVF in 1978. IVF is different than artificial insemination (AI), which involves the insertion of sperm directly into the uterus to fertilize the egg(s) as they are released from the ovary.

Why use IVF?

This treatment is typically used in women who have trouble conceiving because of infertility challenges such as endometriosis, ovulation difficulties, or conditions that affect the uterus or fallopian tubes. It’s also been used to assist in conception for male infertility issues such as poor sperm quality.

What happens during IVF?

It’s actually a several-step process:

1. Stimulate the ovaries. The first step in conceiving a baby through IVF is to take fertility medications, which are prescribed by a reproductive specialist. Reproductive hormone injections are the primary types of medication that are used to encourage the ovaries to produce eggs. Because the goal is to produce multiple eggs to increase the chances of conception, this step is sometimes called super ovulation.

2. Retrieve the eggs. Once the eggs are stimulated, another hormone (called LH or luteinizing hormone) is taken to trigger ovulation or the release of eggs from the ovary. Using an ultrasound guided needle, a reproductive specialist removes the eggs through the vagina. It’s an outpatient procedure that usually takes less than 30 minutes.

3. Introduce the egg to the sperm. No, it’s not as romantic as a weekend in Cabo, but the egg and sperm will mingle courtesy of lab technicians. The sperm, which the male partner will have donated on the same day as the egg retrieval (unless a sperm donor is used in which case frozen sperm will be taken from storage and processed), will be introduced to the egg. Ironically enough, fertilization does not take place in a test tube as the term test tube baby indicates, but likely in a Petri dish. The fertilized eggs are nurtured in the lab for up to five days to ensure they’re growing properly.

4. Implant the fertilized eggs. The woman returns to the doctor’s office for implantation. It’s an outpatient procedure in which the doctor inserts a catheter that contains the embryo into the womb through the vagina.

5. You wait. Perhaps the trickiest part of IVF is waiting for about two weeks to take a pregnancy test. You may be directed to insert vaginal suppositories to enhance implantation of the embryo(s). If the quest for a baby isn’t successful the first time, you can start the process all over again or utilize eggs that were already retrieved but not implanted.

What is the success rate?

Whether an IVF procedure is successful or not depends on a litany of factors, from age and health to the cause of the infertility problems.

Generally speaking, about one-third of IVF treatments lead to conception and about one-quarter of those pregnancies result in live birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

How much does IVF cost?

Couples with infertility often experience sticker shock at the price tag of IVF. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine says the average cost for one cycle is more than $12,000. If you’re considering IVF, always check with your insurance company to find out if they’ll cover any of the costs involved.

Is IVF right for you?

There are many considerations if you’re thinking about IVF, but for many couples the procedure is well worth the cost and effort. Talk to an experienced reproductive specialist about conceiving a baby through IVF (i.e., formerly known as a "test tube baby").

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