Which procedure involves fertilizing eggs with sperm in a lab?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the procedure that involves fertilizing eggs with sperm in a laboratory setting. During IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and mixed with sperm in a controlled environment, which allows for the fertilization process to occur outside the body. This method enables healthcare providers to closely monitor fertilization and early embryo development before transferring one or more embryos into the uterus.

The significance of this procedure lies in its ability to help individuals and couples facing infertility issues, such as blocked fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, or male factors that affect sperm production or function. The controlled laboratory conditions of IVF can enhance the chances of successful fertilization and subsequent pregnancy.

Other options, while related to reproductive assistance, do not involve the laboratory fertilization process that defines IVF. For instance, artificial insemination and intrauterine insemination involve placing sperm into the reproductive tract, but they do not encompass the laboratory fertilization of eggs. Surrogacy involves another woman carrying a pregnancy for someone unable to do so, which also sidesteps the direct fertilization of eggs and sperm in a lab context.