What to know about in vitro fertilization

[Insider, December 07, 2018] In vitro fertilization (IVF), is a complicated process and arguably one of the most well-known fertility treatments. You've likely at least heard the term before, but you still might not know much about what it is. According to the US National Library of Medicine, IVF is the "joining of a woman's egg and a man's sperm in a laboratory dish," which can help couples conceive.

You may also know that it takes a lot of time and is quite expensive. But there's more that you need to know if you're considering the process for yourself.

Though you might know more about IVF than any other fertility treatment, it may not be the right one to help you conceive.

"There's a lot of other fertility treatments other than IVF out there and if it's appropriate, the physician should be going through some of those as well," Dr. Joshua Kapfhamer, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist with the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Abbott Northwestern Hospital, told INSIDER. "Now there are cases where IVF is very clearly indicated and may be necessary, but there are also other cases where less aggressive interventions, if you will, may be very appropriate."

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