Quite simply, IVF is a process whereby a woman's ovaries are stimulated by a series of hormone shots, causing the ovaries to produce multiple eggs (in a normal menstrual cycle, a woman produces only one egg). These eggs are then "harvested" or "retrieved" from the ovaries. The retrieval is a minor surgical procedure in which the eggs are removed from the ovaries by inserting a needle through the vagina with ultrasound guidance.

After the eggs are retrieved, the embryologist prepares them for fertilization. The husband's (or partner's or donor's) sperm is then used to fertilize the eggs, after which they are now put in a specialized media. After 2 days, the fertilized eggs, now called embryos, are examined. Based on the number and quality of the embryos, Dr. Springer will recommend either a day 3 transfer or a day 5 transfer (commonly called a blastocyst transfer). In either case, a select number of embryos are then chosen and transferred back into the uterus by a procedure similar to a pap smear. There are many individual considerations in determining whether a day 3 or day 5 transfer will be best for you. Please discuss this with Dr. Springer.