by Royce Radcliffe

Created on: April 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

The term "test tube baby" is one we have all heard but hardly anyone knows what that term actually refers to. It is slang terminology for in vitro fertilization, something people have also heard of but don't quite know what it is... If I had to describe it in one sentence, I would say in vitro fertilization is a source of hope for couples everywhere, and the term is unfortunate.

It is so odd when a couple cannot have a baby. When you research the science of it all, it is almost astounding that the phenomenon can occur at all. Humans are very well designed as far as reproduction is concerned. It is a simple process of joining the male and female reproductive delivery systems, the sperm and ova.

Not only are humans in heat all the time, women have a million reproductive ova produced in the ovaries, and men produce millions of sperm in the testes every day! And it only takes one of each....

Despite all of this, one out of every ten couples that want to have a baby cannot do so. If a couple has been trying to have a baby for more than eighteen months then they are most likely infertile. This can come as quite a shock. A lot of people want children but have no interest in adoption, so for them this sort of kills the dream. But technology is providing a much needed answer, and that answer is in vitro fertilization.

The problem with most infertile couples is that something goes wrong during the process of conception. When the problem is low sperm count, there are a number of methods to help the couple, but when the infertility is located in the woman, the issue becomes more complicated. That is where in vitro fertilization comes into play.

In vitro fertilization allows for the couple to conceive outside the female's body. There is a procedure done called laparoscopy where the doctor collects the ova from the woman during a time of ovulation. The ova are put on a petri dish or, yes, a test tube. Then the man provides sperm and this is joined with the ova in the tube.

The ova and sperm are manipulated in the dish or tube by the physician. These two reproductive elements are microscopic in size and must be interacted with through a process called micromanipulation. This involves the use of microscopic tools that are operated through a computer. The whole procedure usually only takes a few hours, and then the fertilized ova is inserted back into the woman where it will blossom naturally.

The cost of this procedure varies, but is usually in the thirty to fifty thousand dollar range. Some countries like Singapore and Switzerland offer discounts, for the couple willing to have it done in a foreign country. This price is usually seen as a worthwhile investment for infertile couples who can make it.

Overall, if you are a couple having trouble conceiving, first find out what the cause is, and if it is the female that is having troubles, this method is the answer. I should know. My cousin is a test tube baby, and he is one of the smartest guys I know!

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