in vitro fertilization

English

Alternative forms

Noun

in vitro fertilization (countable and uncountable, plural in vitro fertilizations) (Abbreviated as: IVF)

  1. (medicine) The fertilization of an ovum by sperm outside of a woman's body; normally used as a treatment for infertility.
    • 2017 March 21, Carl Zimmer, “A New Form of Stem-Cell Engineering Raises Ethical Questions”, in The New York Times[1], archived from the original on 23 March 2017:
      In recent years, scientists have moved beyond in vitro fertilization. They are starting to assemble stem cells that can organize themselves into embryolike structures.

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