In vitro fertilisation

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a technique in which egg cells are fertilized outside the woman's body. IVF is a major treatment in infertility where other methods of achieving conception have failed.

Regulatory events

While in the United States IVF programs operate under voluntary guidelines, programs in many other countries are subject to regulations that regulate many aspects of IVF practice. In such settings regulations may dictate:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The number of oocytes that can be fertilized.
• The number of embryos that can be transferred.
• The use of cryopreservation.
• The use of third party reproduction.
• The ability to perform tests or interventions on the embryo.

In 2004, the government of Italy made it a crime to freeze human embryos or to perform preimplantation diagnosis.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~