How you prepare

Before beginning a cycle of  in vitro fertilization using your own eggs and sperm, you and your partner will likely need various screenings, including:

• Practice (mock) embryo transfer

Your doctor might conduct a mock embryo transer to determine the depth of your uterine cavity and the technique most likely to successfully  place the embryos into your uterus.

• Uterine exam

Your doctor will examine the inside lining of the uterus before you start in vitro fertilization. This might involve a sonohysterography-in which fluid is injected through the cervix into your uterus-and an ultrasound to create  images of your uterine cavity. Or it might include a hysterocopy-in which a thin, flexible, lighted telescope (hysteroscope) is inserted through your vagina and cervix into your uterus.