How Does IVF Work?
Our IVF Process: From Oocyte to Pregnancy
Our in vitro fertilization (IVF) service provides a high-quality, reliable pathway to produce embryos from your donor females (cow, doe, and ewe). Each step is performed with precision to support optimal embryo development. Additionally, we have the capacity to test the fertility of your sire, using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes to test for fertilization rates and embryo development.
Steps of the IVF process
1. Oocyte collection
Our lab receives oocytes (eggs) collected from female animals after follicle aspiration (Ovum Pick Up/OPU; for more information, contact the UC Davis Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction Service). Additionally, when your animal passes away or needs to be euthanized for some medical reason, ovaries can be collected, and we can aspirate them in our lab and recover oocytes, offering a final opportunity to preserve the animal’s genetics.
2. Oocyte maturation
Collected oocytes are placed in a supportive maturation medium and incubated under controlled conditions for 20-24 hours until they are ready for fertilization.
3. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Mature oocytes are subsequently fertilized by combining them with sperm. We assess the sperm every time to determine the optimal concentrations necessary to obtain good fertilization rates.
4. Embryo culture and evaluation
Fertilized oocytes are transferred to a nutrient-rich culture system that supports embryo development. Over several days (6-8), we follow up the embryos as they progress toward the blastocyst stage.
5. Embryo freezing
High-quality embryos can be preserved through vitrification, an ultra-rapid freezing technique that ensures excellent survival after warming. Embryos may be stored in liquid nitrogen for future use.
6. Embryo transfer (ET)
Embryos can be transferred fresh or after vitrification/warming. Recipient females are carefully synchronized to provide the ideal environment for implantation and pregnancy.
