A couple are told by their doctor that they are infertile. The doctor suggests they consider in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Describe what happens during IVF and explain why IVF may be successful for a couple where infertility is caused by the woman's body not producing enough follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

1. In IVF, the woman’s ovaries are stimulated with hormones to produce multiple eggs.
2. The eggs are then harvested from the ovaries using a needle.
3. The eggs are mixed with the partner’s sperm in a laboratory dish.
4. Fertilisation occurs outside the body, producing embryos.
5. One or more embryos are transferred into the woman’s uterus, where implantation can occur.

The treatment is successful when the woman’s body does not produce enough follicle‑stimulating hormone (FSH) because the doctor supplies synthetic FSH. This hormone stimulates the ovaries to mature multiple eggs, increasing the chance that at least one egg will fertilise and develop into an embryo that can implant in the uterus.