This pictorial follows a couple through the IVF procedure – from oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer. It may take a few moments to load the pictorial, please be patient. We hope you find virtual IVF interesting and informative.

Step 1 - Upon arrival at The RMG/IVF Surgery Center, our pre-op staff greets the patient. In many cases, the patient may be accompanied by her husband to the pre-op area. Our friendly and knowledgeable nurses are available to answer any questions you may have.

Step 2 - One of our physicians then greets the patient and answers any last minute questions. The patient is then transferred to the O.R. for the oocyte retrieval procedure.

Step 3 - The ART team includes the physician, nurses, and embryologist. The patient is placed in a comfortable position and given a sedative to maintain a relaxed state during the procedure.

Step 4 - A transvaginal ultrasound probe is placed into the vagina and a needle is used to aspirate the egg from the follicle. The aspirated egg is then transferred to a special test tube. The picture in the upper right hand corner is an ultrasound of the ovary. The dark circles are the follicles.

Step 5 - This picture illustrates the use of the vaginal probe ultrasound guided needle to withdraw the egg from the follicle. The egg is aspirated and transferred to a test tube.

Step 6 - The aspiration machine produces gentle suction, which is transmitted to the test tubes. This suction allows the egg and surrounding fluid to be “pulled” from the follicle on the ovary into the test tube. The eggs are kept warm at a constant temperature.

Step 7 - Once the fluid containing the eggs is aspirated from the follicle, it is passed to the embryologist who identifies and isolates the eggs. The fluid containing the eggs is placed in an incubator that is kept at a constant temperature, CO2, and humidity. The eggs are identified with the help of a microscope.

Step 8 - The eggs are then incubated with the husband's sperm or donor sperm. The fertilized eggs are identified on day one. On the third to fifth day, generally two to three embryos are transferred into the uterus.

Step 9 - This picture illustrates a fertilized egg at the eight cell stage on day two or three after retrieval.

Step 10 - The petri dishes used to incubate the eggs and sperm are pictured here. The long tubular “syringes” are the catheters that are used to transfer the embryos into the uterus.

Step 11 - Our embryologist identifies the embryos prior to replacement into the uterus.

Step 12 - The embryo transfer is performed in The RMG IVF/Surgery Center's procedure room on the third to fifth day. The transfer is a painless procedure, and does not require anesthesia.

Step 13 - In this final step, the embryos are replaced into the uterus. Activities are to be limited for the next 24 hours. A pregnancy test will be checked in approximately 14 days.