6 - What Is IVF and What Does It Entail?

Summary

As described in Chapter 4, the tubes (Fallopian tubes) are intricate structures, which are easily damaged. Although tubal microsurgery was introduced into gynaecology in the 1970s, the results of operating on damaged tubes were disappointing. This is understandable because of their intricate structure. Even when blocked tubes were reopened (i.e. patency was restored), the tubes still sometimes did not work normally. Other strategies were therefore called for. With the developments in organ transplantation, attempts were made to transplant healthy Fallopian tubes from a donor who did not wish to have children to someone whose damaged tube would be removed and replaced by the normal tube. This, however, required lifelong immunosuppression to avoid rejection, and was not feasible, and the one reported attempt did not work. Another ‘out-of-the-box’ solution that was attempted was to cover the ovaries in a plastic envelope and drain these with artificial tubes into the uterine cavity. Again, and not surprisingly because of the intricate function of the Fallopian tubes, this attempt did not work. Consequently, another solution was needed.