In this procedure the egg of the female and sprem of the male are brought in contact in a glass tube and if the fertilization occurs, it is allowed to develop further and then transferred to the womb of the female for normal growth.
The first successful baby was born in 1978 due to this procedure in UK and the first baby was born in USA in 1981. Presently 4 million babies were given birth this way.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/in_vitro_fertilization/article_em.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/in-vitro-fertilization/MY01648
