TEST TUBE

BABY

TEST TUBE OR NOT, A BABY

IS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF
ALL THINGS…

PRIY JHA

12TH B
 ROLL NO. 05
What is Test Tube Baby: Process,
Cost & Success Rate
The term “Test Tube Baby” has become synonymous with
in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a revolutionary procedure that
has helped millions of couples around the world conceive
a child. However, many people still have questions about
what exactly is difference between IVF & Test Tube Baby,
and what the Test Tube Baby process in detail.

What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF), commonly known as the test tube
baby procedure, has become a popular solution for
couples struggling with infertility. The process involves
retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing
them with sperm in a laboratory dish. The resulting embryo
is then transferred back into the woman’s uterus, where it
can implant and develop into a healthy baby. While IVF has
helped many couples achieve their dream of starting a
family, there are risks and side effects associated with the
procedure, as well as significant costs and varying
success rates.

What is a Test Tube

Baby?
A test tube baby is a term that was coined in the early days of IVF to describe
the process of fertilizing an egg outside of the body and then transferring it
back into the uterus to develop and grow. The term “test tube” is actually a
misnomer, as the fertilization process actually takes place in a Petri dish rather
than a test tube.
During IVF, mature eggs are harvested from the woman’s ovaries and
combined with sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilized egg is then allowed to
develop into an embryo before being transferred into the woman’s uterus,
where it can implant and develop into a fetus.

What is the Difference Between

IVF and Test Tube Baby?
The term “test tube baby” is often used interchangeably with IVF,
but there are some subtle differences between the two. While IVF
refers specifically to the process of fertilizing eggs in a laboratory
dish and transferring them to the uterus, “test tube baby” can be
used more broadly to refer to any type of assisted reproductive
technology that involves fertilizing eggs outside of the body.
For example, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a type of
ART that involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg in a
laboratory dish, rather than allowing the sperm to fertilize the egg
naturally. This technique is often used in cases where the male
partner has a low sperm count or poor sperm motility.
Another type of ART is gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), which
involves placing eggs and sperm directly into the fallopian tubes in
the hopes that fertilization will occur naturally. Unlike IVF and ICSI,
GIFT does not involve fertilizing eggs outside of the body in a
laboratory dish.

Test Tube Baby

Process:
1.Ovarian Stimulation
2.Egg Retrieval
3.Sperm Collection
4.Fertilization
5.Embryo Transfer
6.Pregnancy Testing
Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation
In order to increase the chances of retrieving multiple
mature eggs for fertilization, the woman may undergo a
course of hormonal medication to stimulate her ovaries to
produce more eggs.

Step 2: Egg Retrieval

Once the eggs have matured, they are retrieved from the
woman’s ovaries using a thin, flexible needle guided by
ultrasound. The eggs are then placed in a laboratory dish
for fertilization.

Step 3: Sperm Collection

Sperm are typically collected from the male partner on the
same day as the egg retrieval procedure. If the male
partner has a low sperm count or poor sperm motility, ICSI
may be used to improve the chances of fertilization.

Step 4: Fertilization
The eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish and
left to fertilize for several days. During this time, the
embryos are monitored to ensure that they are developing
normally.

Step 5: Embryo Transfer

Once the embryos have reached a certain stage of
development, one or more of them are transferred back
into the woman’s uterus using a thin catheter guided by
ultrasound. Any remaining viable embryos may be frozen
for future use.

Step 6: Pregnancy Testing

After the embryo transfer, the woman will typically wait for
a period of time before undergoing a pregnancy test to
determine if the procedure was successful. If the test is
positive, the woman will continue to receive monitoring
and care throughout her pregnancy to ensure a healthy
outcome.

How is the IVF Process

Done Today?
IVF has brought hope into the lives of many couples. With
the enhancement in technology, the success rate of this
procedure is also increasing. The steps to form a test-tube
baby are as follows:

1.The doctor will prescribe some fertility drugs

to the woman so that they can boost her egg
production. It means her body will produce
more than just one egg per month. She will
receive transvaginal ultrasounds and blood
tests regularly during the IVF process to
 check on her ovaries and monitor her
hormone levels.
2.The woman will receive a hormone (HCG)
injection a little before a day of retrieval of
her eggs. This injection will help her eggs
mature quickly. Then, she will undergo a
minor surgical procedure called follicular
aspiration to remove the eggs. The doctor
will use an ultrasound to guide a thin needle
into her ovaries through the vagina in an IVF
procedure. A device is attached to the needle
that suctions the eggs out one at a time.
3.While the woman is going through an IVF
procedure, her partner will be asked to give
the sample of his sperm. Then they proceed
for high-speed sperm washing cycles to find
the healthiest ones.
4.Now her best eggs are combined with the
best sperms – this stage is called
insemination.
5.The petri dish is kept under observation to
check whether the egg is dividing or
developing.
6.About three to five days after fertilization,
the doctor will place the embryos in the
woman’s uterus using a catheter.

A woman who gets pregnant using IVF has a slightly

higher risk of severe complications around the delivery
time compared to women who conceive naturally. But it
happens in rare cases only.
Pain is subjective; everyone has a different tolerance to
pain, but if we talk about IVF injection, they do not involve
much pain.
Pros And Cons Of The Process Of
Having A Test Tube Baby
Although the process is bringing new life and giving hope
to couples suffering from marriage failures, there are a few
things that you need to know about IVF.

Pros of IVF
 It gives couples a chance to have their baby who
can not otherwise.
 The success rate in IVF is much better than that
of IUI. In IUI, healthy selected sperm is directly
placed into the uterus, making the chances of
fertilization thinner. If a woman’s fallopian tubes
are blocked or have fewer eggs or a partner with a
low sperm count, then IVF is a more optimal option
for them.

Cons of IVF
 The success rates depend on egg quality, sperm
quality , uterus lining etc., tests like AMH, Sperm
analysis Hysteroscopy etc. will tell the details that
help determine success rates.
 Multiple embryos transfer can increase the risks of
twins pregnancy.

THE FIRST TEST TUBE

BABY
On July 25, 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the
world’s first baby to be conceived via in
vitro fertilization (IVF) is born at Oldham
and District General Hospital in
Manchester, England, to parents Lesley and
Peter Brown. The healthy baby was
delivered shortly before midnight by
caesarean section and weighed in at five
pounds, 12 ounces.
Before giving birth to Louise, Lesley Brown
had suffered years of infertility due to
blocked fallopian tubes. In November 1977,
she underwent the then-experimental IVF
procedure. A mature egg was removed from
one of her ovaries and combined in a
laboratory dish with her husband’s sperm
to form an embryo. The embryo then was
implanted into her uterus a few days later.
Her IVF doctors, British gynecologist
Patrick Steptoe and scientist Robert
Edwards, had begun their pioneering
collaboration a decade earlier. Once the
media learned of the pregnancy, the
Browns faced intense public scrutiny.
Louise’s birth made headlines around the
world and raised various legal and ethical
questions.
The Browns had a second daughter, Natalie,
several years later, also through IVF. In
May 1999, Natalie became the first IVF
baby to give birth to a child of her own. The
child’s conception was natural, easing some
concerns that female IVF babies would be
unable to get pregnant naturally. In
December 2006, Louise Brown, the original
“test tube baby,” gave birth to a boy,
Cameron John Mullinder, who also was
conceived naturally.
Today, IVF is considered a mainstream
medical treatment for infertility. Hundreds
of thousands of children around the world
have been conceived through the
procedure, in some cases with donor eggs
and sperm.

Is IVF safe?
IVF is generally considered safe, but like any
medical procedure, it carries some risks. The most
common side effects of IVF include:

1.Cramping: Some women experience

cramping during or after the egg retrieval
process.

2.Bloating: IVF can cause bloating and

discomfort as a result of the hormones used to
stimulate the ovaries.

3.Mood swings: The hormonal changes

associated with IVF can cause mood swings
and emotional ups and downs.
 4.Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
(OHSS): OHSS is a rare but potentially
serious complication of IVF. It occurs when the
ovaries become swollen and painful as a result
of the hormone medications used during the
treatment.

5.Ectopic pregnancy: In rare cases, the

embryo may implant outside of the uterus,
which is known as an ectopic pregnancy. This
can be dangerous and requires immediate
medical attention.

CONCLUSION
While the test tube baby procedure has helped many
couples achieve their dream of starting a family, it is
important to understand the potential risks and side
effects associated with the procedure, as well as the
significant costs involved. Couples considering IVF
should carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks
of the procedure, and consult with a qualified
fertility specialist to determine the best course of
treatment for their specific situation.
That cant be stopped but as