How does IVF actually work? Plus what the process is like and how much it costs.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a widely talked about process. Following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos created during IVF are legally protected like any other child, medical experts want to clear up misconceptions.

"When Roe fell, many of us in the field of OB/Gyn knew immediately that IVF and birth control were at risk as well," gynecologist Karen Tang, M.D., tells USA TODAY. "This is because there is such misinformation about how they work. ... Lack of understanding of the science and facts behind reproductive health have led to terrible consequences and the dismantling of reproductive rights."

IVF can be used to address several infertility struggles, according to Tang. It can be an option for patients who have scarred or blocked fallopian tubes caused by endometriosis or past infections. It can also be helpful in cases when the patient's partner has a low or abnormal sperm count.

"IVF also provides the highest chance of successful pregnancy of all the reproductive technologies and may be recommended for couples who have not had success with less invasive treatments like insemination or for female patients who are in their 40s," says Tang, author of the upcoming book “It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told)."

Of lawmakers, she adds: "They don't have the scientific understanding of what the consequences of their actions could be. The knee-jerk reaction of calling embryos children has now prevented many people in Alabama from being able to have the children they desperately want."

Since the ruling, Google searches for IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, have reached an all-time high on the search engine. Here's what a board-certified gynecologist wants you to know about some of the top-searched questions about IVF.

How does IVF work? 

IVF stand for in-vitro fertilization. It's a medical procedure that combines eggs and sperm in a lab dish before transferring the fertilized eggs into the uterus, according to Yale Medicine.

The process of IVF begins with patients taking medication to stimulate ovary follicle growth, according to Tang. Doctors then conduct a procedure to retrieve those eggs, during which they put the patient under anesthesia and use a long, thin needle that's inserted through the vagina.

Following the procedure, medical professionals will fertilize the eggs with sperm. Then the "resulting embryos are grown and evaluated for appearance and quality" before transferring them to the uterus, Tang says.

How long does IVF take to get pregnant? 

The short answer: It depends.

While Tang notes that IVF does have a higher average success rate than intrauterine insemination (IUI), another fertility procedure, that still doesn't mean there's a guarantee of getting pregnant the first time around.

Cost can also be a deterrent in trying multiple rounds of IVF. The estimated average cost per IVF cycle is about $12,000, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASMR). But Tang notes that it can wind up a tab as much as $25,000 or more.

What is IVF?Explaining the procedure in Alabama's controversial Supreme Court ruling.

Can you choose gender with IVF?

Technically you'd be able to choose the sex of your embryo with IVF, but it's a controversial practice.

In some cases before inserting embryos into the uterus, doctors will genetically test the embryos. This is usually done if the patient has experienced several miscarriages, or if one of the parents is a carrier of a serious medical condition, Tang notes.

That test, called preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), can also track traits such as sex. But the concept of choosing an IVF embryo's sex is an "ethically-controversial practice," according to the ASRM.

While proponents of the practice argue it should be protected for the sake of "patient autonomy and reproductive liberty," critics say the negatives outweigh the potential benefits.

The ASRM cites issues including "risks and burdens of the procedure, gender bias, sex stereotyping and nonacceptance of offspring, efforts to guard against coercion, the potential appearance of sanctioning sex selection, and issues of justice."

When IVF felt hopeful,this couple suddenly lost all their embryos. Here's who they blame.