Fertilization in vitro.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a technical process in which retrieved oocytes are fertilized outside the body. The developing embryos grow in a laboratory environment and are subsequently transferred into the woman's uterus. The IVF technique was first introduced as a treatment for infertility in 1978 and success rates have steadily increased in the subsequent decades. Many factors have contributed to the improvement of IVF including the advent of novel techniques and laboratory procedures, such as sperm treatment, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), embryo culture, cryopreservation, and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This chapter will review the commonly employed laboratory procedures and include perspectives on how to maximize success rates via efficient laboratory procedures and technology. The purpose is to provide relevant information that will continue to evolve IVF technology as an accessible, effective, and safe treatment for infertility.