In vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization involves removing mature eggs from the woman's ovaries and placing them in a sterile liquid with her husband's sperm to let the natural process of fertilization take place outside the womb. The fertilized eggs (pre-embryos) are then transferred to the wife's uterus.

Assisted hatching involves chemically or mechanically softening the shell of an egg after the process of IVF is complete. Opening the shell makes it easier for the embryo to "hatch" out the implant successfully into the mother's womb. This procedure is used most often with women over 38 and in cases where ICSI has been used to produce the pre-embryos.