What is the term for the medical procedure in which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the correct term for the medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body. This process involves several steps: ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved, and subsequently, sperm is introduced to fertilize the eggs in a controlled laboratory environment. After successful fertilization, one or more embryos can be implanted into a uterus with the aim of achieving pregnancy.

This method is particularly significant in the field of reproductive medicine, as it allows individuals or couples facing fertility issues to conceive, bypassing some of the challenges presented by natural conception. Other options listed refer to different reproductive technologies or processes, such as fertilization occurring naturally within the body or artificial insemination, which involves introducing sperm directly into a woman's reproductive tract without fertilization occurring externally. Gestational surrogacy involves the implantation of embryos in a surrogate mother, but does not pertain to the fertilization process itself.