India, Aug. 23 -- In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technique in which a woman's eggs are fertilised by sperm outside the body in a controlled laboratory environment. Among the general public, it is commonly referred to as the 'test-tube baby' procedure. The embryos formed after fertilisation are cultured for a few days before being transferred directly into the uterus to establish a successful pregnancy. An IVF cycle typically follows a structured, multi-week approach involving the following steps: ovarian stimulation with hormone medications; frequent monitoring through transvaginal ultrasounds; a final hormonal injection to complete egg maturation; egg retrieval; and fertilisation, in which the retrieved eggs are combined with prepared sperm in a laboratory dish. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used, where a single high-quality sperm is injected directly into an egg. The final steps consist of embryo culture and blastocyst formation over two to six days. Optional pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) can be performed to screen for chromosomal abnormalities. Healthy embryos are selected and guided through a thin catheter directly into the uterus (embryo transfer). IVF is an advanced fertility treatment for women with tubal damage, severe endometriosis and ovulatory disorders. It also helps couples with unexplained and male-factor infertility (poor sperm count or quality). IVF and PGT are done to prevent the transmission of known inherited genetic disorders to the child. The overall success rate is highly variable and depends on multiple medical and technical factors. There is hardly any doubt that IVF helps a large number of childless couples experience the blessing of having a child. The author of the article is an IVF and fertility specialist at Jindal IVF, SCO 21, Sector 20-D, Dakshin Marg, Chandigarh, who can be contacted at 958-246-9429...