How does in vitro fertilization work?

Step One: Ripening egg(s) in the woman's ovaries are stimulated and their development is monitored.

Step Two: The eggs are collected.

Step Three: A sperm sample (ejaculate) is collected and prepared.

Step Four: The egg(s) and sperm are incubated together in the laboratory, to allow for fertilization and early embryo growth. If the sperm are of poor quality, fertilization is facilitated by injecting sperm into an egg using micromanipulation techniques (ICSI) <http://www.conceive.org/eng/programs_ivf_icsi.htm>.

Step Five: The embryo(s) are transferred into the uterus.

Step Six: A two-week wait for pregnancy or menstruation begins.