in vitro fertilization

noun

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Definition of in vitro fertilization

: fertilization of an egg in a laboratory dish or test tube; specifically : fertilization by mixing sperm with eggs surgically removed from an ovary followed by uterine implantation of one or more of the resulting fertilized eggs —abbreviation IVF

Recent Examples of in vitro fertilization from the Web

Other Vitamin D/pregnancy studies Authors of the study noted that research has shown that women who have higher levels of Vitamin D before undergoing in vitro fertilization have higher pregnancy rates than those with lower levels.

— sonja haller, USA TODAY, "Vitamin D deficiency tied to miscarriages, study says," 31 May 2018
Some groups have said in vitro fertilization is being developed too late to save the northern white rhino, whose natural habitat in Chad, Sudan, Uganda, Congo and Central African Republic has been ravaged by conflicts in the region.

— Time, "A Pregnant Rhino in San Diego Could Help Save a Related Subspecies," 19 May 2018
Some groups have said in vitro fertilization is being developed too late to save the northern white rhino, whose natural habitat in Chad, Sudan, Uganda, Congo and Central African Republic has been ravaged by conflicts in the region.

— Washington Post, "Rhino in San Diego pregnant, could help save subspecies," 17 May 2018
These will be united by in vitro fertilization to create an embryo.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Rhino pregnancy stirs hope for a nearly extinct species," 17 May 2018
Image Acupuncture is sometimes recommended as a complementary treatment for women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

— nicholas bakalar, New York Times, "Acupuncture Does Not Improve Pregnancy Rates," 17 May 2018
Among them: in vitro fertilization with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to screen embryos for the genetic mutation before implanting them, a common practice for families with single-gene disorders.

— sumathi reddy, WSJ, "The Parent Has a Cancer Gene—Should the Child Get Surgery?," 6 Mar. 2018
Research also suggests that failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles may affect a woman’s self esteem and further exacerbate depression.

— samantha saltz, m.d., miamiherald, "Few discuss the emotional toll of struggling to conceive a child," 30 May 2018
While Tarek was being treated for cancer, he and Christina were also struggling to get pregnant via in vitro fertilization.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "Inside Tarek El Moussa's Scary Cancer Battle—and One of His Healthiest Flip or Flop Seasons Yet," 29 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'in vitro fertilization.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of in vitro fertilization

1969

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

in vitro fertilization

noun

medical Definition of in vitro fertilization

: fertilization of an egg in a laboratory dish or test tube; specifically : mixture usually in a laboratory dish of sperm with eggs which have been obtained from an ovary that is followed by introduction of one or more of the resulting fertilized eggs into a female's uterus —abbreviation IVF