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In vitro fertilization

Illustration of in vitro fertilization

With in vitro fertilization, a doctor uses a needle inserted through the wall of the vagina to remove eggs from the ovary. The needle is guided by ultrasound to reach the fluid-filled ovarian follicles that contain the eggs (A). Once retrieved from the ovary, the eggs are combined with sperm in a petri dish (B) and placed in an incubator (C). If fertilization occurs, the embryos are transferred by means of a fine, ultrasound-guided cannula (D) to the uterus three to five days later (E).

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