The IVF procedure involves fertilizing an egg outside the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanting it in a woman’s uterus.

In a normal pregnancy a male sperm penetrates a woman’s egg and fertilizes it inside her body after ovulation – when a mature egg has been released from the ovaries. The fertilized egg (now an embryo) then attaches itself to the wall of the uterus (womb) and begins developing into a baby. This is known as natural conception.

However, some women are unable to become pregnant through natural or unassisted conception and have to undergo fertility treatment to become pregnant.

If less expensive fertility techniques do not work, some women may decide to opt for IVF. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, about 1% of U.S. infants are conceived through IVF. To date, IVF has contributed to approximately 5 million births.