In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the treatment of choice for couples with nonreparable tubal disease or severe male factor infertility as well as for all other causes, including unexplained infertility, when conventional treatment has not been successful. During the IVF process, the ovaries are stimulated with injectable fertility medications to mature multiple eggs. Once monitoring with ultrasound and blood tests indicate that the eggs are ready, they are collected nonsurgically with an ultrasound-guided needle under deep sedation. The in vitro fertilization procedure takes about 20 minutes and is painless. Fertilization is accomplished by exposing the eggs to sperm in a culture dish, or by directly injecting a single sperm into each mature egg (intracytoplasmic sperm injection - ICSI). After fertilization, embryo development is monitored over the next 3-5 days at which time usually 2 to 3 embryos are placed into the uterus with a small catheter through the cervix. Excess embryos may be frozen for future use.
Nina Desai, Ph.D., joined Dr. Goldfarb's team in 1993 and was appointed Director of the In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory in 1995. Under her direction the laboratory has been at the cutting-edge of new technology. Her efforts resulted in the program’s first ICSI pregnancy and first pregnancy with the transfer of frozen blastocyst stage embryos. Dr. Desai is well known for her work on novel culture systems to improve in vitro embryo development, growth factors, morphologic evaluation of embryos and the design and development of successful clinical IVF laboratories.
The Cleveland Clinic offers a full range of treatment options for infertility at a variety of convenient locations. Our web site is designed to help you learn more about in vitro fertilization and other infertility services.
When the first baby conceived by in vitro fertilization was born in 1978, she opened the door for millions of couples who are unable to conceive. At first, in vitro fertilization was used only to treat infertility caused by damaged fallopian tubes. As physicians gained experience with the technique, in vitro fertilization evolved into an effective treatment for many causes of infertility. Today, it is performed for almost all causes of infertility when simpler treatments have not been successful or are not an option.
