What is the process of in-vitro fertilization?

The process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) specifically refers to the method of fertilizing a human egg outside the body. This involves extracting eggs from a woman's ovaries and combining them with sperm in a laboratory setting to facilitate fertilization. Once fertilized, the resulting embryos are allowed to develop for several days and can then be implanted into a woman's uterus to establish a pregnancy.

This definition precisely aligns with the understanding of IVF, distinguishing it from other reproductive processes such as natural insemination, which occurs within the body, or surgical delivery, which pertains to the method of childbirth. Monitoring fetal development is also unrelated to the actual process of IVF, as it comes into play later, during pregnancy.