A Comprehensive Handbook of IVF

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby. During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop. This book is a complete guide to IVF for specialists and trainees in reproductive medicine. Divided into two parts, the first sections discuss clinical aspects of IVF, including laboratory set-up, patient selection and preparation, drugs and stimulation protocols, male infertility, the operating theatre and assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques, special situations such as endometriosis and recurrent implantation failure; and recent advances in ART. The second part of the book covers laboratory aspects, explaining the physical and practical processes of IVF including management of culture conditions, quality control, male and female gametes, embryo gradation and implantation, cryopreservation and sperm freezing, and advanced embryology. With a recognised, international team of authors, this comprehensive text is further enhanced by diagrams and figures to assist learning.