What reproductive technology involves fertilizing eggs with sperm outside of the body?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a reproductive technology that specifically involves the fertilization of eggs with sperm outside of the body. During this process, eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovaries and combined with sperm in a laboratory dish to facilitate fertilization. Once fertilization occurs and embryos start to develop, one or more of these embryos can be implanted back into the uterus with the goal of achieving a successful pregnancy.

This approach is distinct from artificial insemination, which involves placing sperm directly into a woman's reproductive tract without the eggs being fertilized outside her body. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a specialized form of IVF that involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg; however, it is also part of the IVF process. Gestational surrogacy refers to the arrangement in which a surrogate carries the pregnancy for another person or couple but does not involve the fertilization procedure itself occurring outside the body.

Through IVF, individuals or couples facing fertility issues or certain genetic concerns have the opportunity to conceive, making it a vital option in reproductive medicine.