In vitro fertilization has presented a scientifically advanced yet deeply personal way for childless couples to achieve their goal of parenthood. Understanding the step-by-step IVF procedure can help ease some of the uncertainties and anxieties this process may entail. Here are the steps in detail-one at a time and some of the commonly asked questions about them.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Pre-Treatment Testing
The IVF journey begins with a consultation with a fertility specialist. During this visit, the doctor reviews your medical history and discusses your fertility goals. Pre-treatment testing at this stage is very useful to evaluate the reproductive health of both partners. Such tests generally include the following:
Hormone Testing: Blood tests for the levels of hormones such as FSH, LH, and AMH provide an idea about ovarian reserve and total fertility health.
Pelvic ultrasound: this way, the doctor can see the ovaries, uterus, and other reproductive structures.
Other Tests: The doctor may recommend other tests for a person in that situation like hysteroscopy, genetic screening, or infectious disease screening.
Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation
After the first consultation and testing, ovarian stimulation is started. The purpose of this stage is to stimulate the ovaries to develop multiple eggs, which increases the chances of successful fertilization. Fertility medications-most of the time, a combination of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH)-are usually administered for 8-14 days.
Monitoring: In this stage, blood tests and ultrasounds become very important to check on the development of the follicles. Based on the development of the follicles, the dosage is modified by the doctor in order for optimum production of eggs.
Step 3: Trigger Shot and Egg Retrieval
When the follicles reach a size, usually around 17-18mm in diameter, a trigger shot is administered. This shot helps in the maturation of the eggs and prepares them for retrieval.
Egg Retrieval: 34-36 hours after the trigger shot, the eggs are retrieved under short general anaesthesia. Guided by an ultrasound, a thin needle is inserted through the vaginal wall to aspirate the eggs from the ovaries. This procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes, and patients are often able to go home later that day within a few hours of the procedure
Step 4: Fertilization and Embryo Culture
A semen sample is also collected on the day of egg retrieval. The eggs and sperm are then combined in one of two ways in the laboratory to achieve fertilization:
Conventional IVF: Eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish. natural fertilization between the eggs and sperm occurs.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): A single sperm is injected into each egg using a very fine needle. this is often used in cases of male factor infertility.
Embryo Culture: After fertilization, the embryos are cultured for 3-5 days. The developing embryos are monitored by the embryologists, who select the best quality embryos to transfer.
Step 5: Embryo Transfer and Luteal Phase Support
The final stage of the process involves the embryo transfer itself-a painless and simple procedure with no requirement for anesthesia. In the transvaginally conducted transfer, the best-quality embryo(s) are released in the uterine cavity via a thin catheter.
Luteal Phase Support: Progesterone supplements are usually advised post-transfer to help the uterine lining and improve the success rates of implantation.
The Waiting Period and Pregnancy Test
The most psychologically challenging time in the IVF cycle is the wait after embryo transfer. A blood test to confirm pregnancy, through measurement of hCG levels, is carried out some 10-14 days later.
Positive: The close monitoring of pregnancy will be carried out in the early weeks, if the test results are positive, to ensure everything goes through without any complications.
Negative: If it is negative, the future steps that may be proposed by the doctor could be the repetition of another cycle of IVF or alternative strategies tailormade to the couple’s issues
FAQs
1. What is the duration of the IVF process right from its initiation to completion?
The entire process of IVF, from the very beginning stimulation to the pregnancy test date, usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks. This may, however, vary depending on the times for each particular case.
2. Does it hurt to do IVF?
Some steps involved in the IVF process may be painful-for example, the egg retrieval process. Since sedation or anesthesia is used during the procedures, a patient will only feel very mild cramping and some bloating during ovarian stimulation and after retrieval.
3. What are the success rates with IVF?
The success rates with IVF would depend on a number of factors: the woman’s age, the cause of infertility, and the quality of the embryos. The average success rate ranges from 30-50% per cycle for women under 35 and lowers with increasing age.
4. Are there risks with IVF?
Since it is another medical practice, there are risks related to IVF, as with any other treatment, like OHSS, multiple pregnancies, and complications arising from the operations for egg retrieval in rare cases. Yet serious risks hardly happen.
5. Can lifestyle changes boost IVF success?
Yes, a healthy lifestyle would help improve chances of success with IVF. There are some recommended suggestions as follows: a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, the mitigation of stress, and a healthy weight.
Read more like this: What to Expect During Male Fertility Test
