IVF vs. Test Tube Baby: Understanding the Key Differences
In vitro fertilization (IVF) and the term "test tube baby" are often used interchangeably. Inspite of this, they carry different meanings a. IVF is a medical procedure which helps individuals with infertility by fertilising eggs in a lab and implanting the embryos into the uterus. On the other hand, "test tube baby" is a more informal term. This article speaks about the differences between IVF and test tube babies.
IVF-In Vitro Fertilization just like the name suggests, is a process where the mature eggs are collected and are fertilized by sperms in a lab (in-vitro).
The surgeon retrieves multiple mature eggs from the woman and then fuses them with the collected sperms from the donor for this procedure. Once the fertilization is done in the laboratory set-up, the embryo is implanted inside the uterus known as implantation.
The process occurs in 5 steps namely stimulation of the egg, retrieving of the egg, insemination and fertilization, culturing of the embryo and finally embryo transfer into the uterus of the female for implantation.
When there is fertilization of the egg and the sperm without any sexual intercourse, the result is a test-tube baby. In the modern days, it is the result of an IVF and a layman term.
Even before the development of the IVF technology, a baby that was born by methods of artificial insemination during the twentieth century was referred to as a test tube baby.
The term test tube baby came into being because of the common idea that an embryo is formed in a test tube instead of the woman’s fallopian tube. In present time, there is no difference between a test-tube baby and an IVF, and are used interchangeably.
Test tube babies are made through the process of an IVF and it is done by the following steps,
Stimulation Medications known as fertility drugs which help to increase the production of eggs are given to the woman initially. A woman under normal conditions, releases one egg per month.
Whereas these medicines help the ovaries to produce several eggs. To check how the ovaries are responding to the drugs, regular ultrasounds are done.
Egg Retrieval For this step, minor surgery is done to collect the eggs. Using an ultrasound to guide, the doctor inserts a needle through the vagina into the ovaries and removes the eggs. This quick procedure might cause the patient mild cramping after the surgery.
Insemination and Fertilization Eggs upon collection are mixed with sperm in a controlled lab. The sperms are injected directly into the egg if fertiliation does not look possible.
Embryo Culture Embryos are formed after fertilisation and are monitored to ensure they are growing properly. Embryos are tested for genetic disorders before transfer in some cases.
Embryo Transfer Implantation of the healthy embryos in the woman’s uterus using a thin tube. Pregnancy occurs if embryo implantation is successful. In certain cases, more than one embryo is transferred, thereby increasing the chance of twins.
Let's explore the key differences and common misconceptions surrounding these terms to better understand what each entails.
The term 'test-tube baby' is a layman term. This term is used in an informal way. It originated because common people did not understand in the early days about IVF. People imagined that the fertilization is taking place inside a test tube. The term "test-tube baby" is informal and outdated, as in reality, IVF occurs in a petri dish and not test tube. iv
Test-tube baby back in the olden days was something that people were able to understand since it was imagined as a process happening in a test tube.
The idea of creating life in a laboratory set up was new and not accepted by the general public well. The term was used a lot in the media after the birth of Louise Brown, which was world's first baby that was conceived through IVF in 1978. Currently, the term 'test-tube baby' is rarely used.
There has been a lot of advancements after IVF first came technologically. There are methods like ISCI-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injections which is similar to IVF except here a single sperm is directly injected into the cytoplasm of the egg.
Therefore, in modern days when someone says or uses the term 'test tube baby' it can refer to more than one of these procedures even though the common one is IVF.
There are several misconceptions about IVFs and Test Tube Babies that are going around people which include,
The egg stimulation part involves administration of fertility drugs which can cause little discomfort for the patients. But the surgeon will ensure that very little pain is felt by the patient by providing pain management strategies.
It is a crucial step for choosing the best IVF clinic when you are on your path to parenthood. At Aksigen IVF Center, our team of experienced specialists are dedicated to providing personalised care and advanced fertility treatments to help you achieve your dreams.
By using gentle, minimally invasive IVF techniques that focus on both physical and emotional well-being the journey towards parenthood is made as smooth as possible. The team offers individualised treatment plans.
Don’t wait—schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward a brighter future. Call us at +91-916 779 9885 or +91-740 008 6833, or visit our website at www.aksigenivf.com to learn more about how we can support you in your fertility journey.
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