Egg retrieval, sperm collection, fertilization, and embryo transfer are all part of the process of IVF. About two to three weeks are needed for an IVF cycle to complete. It’s possible that more than one cycle will be required.
Inducing ovulation
The first step in an IVF cycle is to use synthetic hormones to encourage the ovaries to create numerous eggs instead of the single egg that matures normally each month. Because some eggs will not fertilize or develop normally following fertilization, many eggs are required.
Some of the drugs that may be utilized include:
• Medications for ovarian stimulation. There are a variety of medications that may be used to stimulate your reproductive system. These include injections of FSH, LH, and combinations of the two. These drugs encourage the development of many eggs at once.
• Oocyte maturation medications. A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or some other drug is administered to the ovaries when the follicles are ready for egg extraction, which usually occurs between eight and fourteen days following the beginning of the treatment.
• Premature ovulation prevention medications preventing your body from releasing the maturing eggs too early is the goal of these drugs.
• Preparation medications for the uterine lining. Your doctor may advise you to begin taking progesterone supplements to prepare your uterus for implantation on the day of egg retrieval or the day of embryo transfer.
You and your doctor will work together to select which drugs to take and when to take them.
One to two weeks of ovarian stimulation is often required before your eggs are ready for harvest. You may be able to tell when the eggs are ready to be picked up if:
• Ultrasound imaging of the ovaries is used to track the growth of follicles, the fluid-filled sacs in which eggs develop.
• When using ovulation-stimulating medicine, your estrogen levels rise and your progesterone levels stay low until ovulation occurs.
There are a few reasons why an IVF cycle could have to be stopped before the egg retrieval:
• Insufficient development of follicles
• Premature ovulation
• There is a danger of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome if there are too many follicles growing.
Additionally, there are other medical conditions
In the event that your IVF cycle is cancelled, your doctor may advise you to try different drugs or dosages in the future to see if your body responds better. An egg donor is also an option, if necessary.
Retrieval of the eggs
A clinic or doctor’s office can do an egg retrieval 34 to 36 hours after the last injection and before ovulation.
It is common practice to use transvaginal ultrasound aspiration for egg retrieval, which involves sedation and pain medication.
• A vaginal ultrasonography probe is used to locate follicles. An ultrasound guide is then put into the vagina and the needle is pushed into the follicles to extract the eggs.
• Abdominal ultrasonography may be used to guide the needle if transvaginal ultrasound cannot access your ovaries.
• Via a needle and suction, eggs are extracted from follicles. About 20 minutes is all it takes to extract several eggs.
• You may have cramps and a sense of fullness or pressure following egg retrieval.
• Culture medium (nutritive liquid) is added to the mature eggs and incubated. Embryos will be created by combining healthy, mature eggs with sperm. However, not all eggs will be fertilized at the same time.
Sperm collection
The morning of egg retrieval, you’ll need to bring in a sample of your partner’s sperm to your doctor’s office or clinic. Masturbation is the usual method of obtaining a semen sample. To harvest sperm from the testicles, further means, such as a needle or surgical operation, are occasionally necessary. It is also possible to use donor sperm. In the laboratory, sperm and semen fluid are separated.
Fertilization
There are two common approaches to fertilization:
• Conventional insemination is an option. Traditional insemination involves mixing healthy sperm and ripe eggs and incubating them for an entire night.
• Intracytoplasmic injection of sperm (ICSI). In ICSI, a single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg that is ready for fertilization.
• When there is a difficulty with the quality or quantity of the semen, or if previous attempts at fertilization during IVF cycles failed, ICSI is frequently performed.
• Before transferring embryos, your doctor may propose further treatments.
• Assistive hatching. An embryo “hatches” from its surrounding membrane (zona pellucida) about five to six days after fertilization, allowing it to implant into the lining of the uterus.
• Aided hatching may be an option for you if you’re an older lady or have had numerous unsuccessful IVF cycles. This method entails making a small hole in the zona pellucida right before embryo transfer in order to aid hatching and implanting.
• Additionally, assisted hatching can help eggs or embryos that were previously frozen since it hardens the zona pellucida, allowing them to hatch.
• Genetic testing prior to conception. If a little sample can be taken from an embryo after five to six days of development, it can be checked for certain genetic illnesses or the right number of
• Chromosomes. It is possible to transfer embryos that do not have genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
• The danger of a parent passing on a genetic disorder can be reduced, but it cannot be completely eliminated through preimplantation genetic testing. It’s possible that prenatal testing is still a good idea.
Embryo transfer
Egg-retrieval technique
ICSI
Blastocyst
Two to five days following egg retrieval, your doctor or clinic will perform an embryo transfer.
• A light sedative may be administered to you. Although some cramping may occur, the operation is generally painless.
• A catheter is a long, thin, flexible tube that is inserted into the vagina, the cervix, and the uterus by the doctor.
The catheter’s tip is fitted with a syringe that holds a few embryos suspended in a little quantity of fluid.
The doctor inserts the embryo or embryos into your uterus using a syringe.
About six to ten days following egg extraction, if all goes well, an embryo will be implanted in your uterus’ lining.
Immediately afterward,
Immediately following the embryo transfer, you can go back to your normal daily routine. You may still have enlarged ovaries. Avoid strenuous exercise, which may cause pain.
• The passing of a little amount of clear or red fluid quickly after the operation — due to the swabbing of the cervix before the embryo transfer — are typical adverse effects.
• Tenderness in the breasts as a result of elevated estrogen levels
• There may be some discomfort in the abdomen.
• Muscle twitching
• Constipation
• Contact your doctor if you experience moderate or severe discomfort following the embryo transfer. He or she will look for infections, ovarian torsion, and severe ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome, among other things.
Results
Your doctor will do a blood test to see if you’re pregnant during the first 12 to two weeks following egg retrieval.
You will be directed to a prenatal care expert if you are pregnant by your doctor.
Your menstruation will come within a week after stopping progesterone treatment if you’re not pregnant. Contact your doctor if you don’t receive your period or if you see unusual bleeding. It’s possible that your doctor will recommend actions you can take to increase your chances of conceiving through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
There are a number of variables that affect the likelihood of conceiving a healthy baby with IVF, such as:
Age of the mother – Your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby with your own eggs via IVF increase as you become older. If you’re above the age of 41, you may want to talk to your doctor about utilizing donated eggs during IVF.
Status as an embryo Pregnancy rates are higher when embryos are transferred that are more mature than embryos that are less developed (day two or three). However, not all embryos make it through the process of cellular development. If you’re not sure what to do, discuss it with your doctor or other healthcare practitioner.
Family history. When it comes to IVF, women who have given birth before are more likely to succeed than women who have never given birth. Women who have previously done IVF numerous times but have not become pregnant have lower success rates.
Infertility is a result of this. The more eggs you have, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to get pregnant with IVF. Endometriosis patients are less likely to be able to conceive with IVF than women with unexplained infertility, according to this new study.
Personality traits. Women who smoke are more likely to miscarry during IVF and to have fewer eggs retrieved. Using IVF, a woman’s chances of having a baby decrease by 50% if she smokes. Pregnancy and childbirth are more difficult if you are obese. Alcohol, recreational drugs, too much coffee, and some prescription medicines can all be dangerous in moderation.
People also search
What is the first treatment for infertility?
Citrate of clomiphene: In many cases, Clomid is taken as the initial medicine in a therapy plan. Infertility in women is the most common indication, although it can also occur in men.
What is the process of fertility drugs?
Follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones (FSH and LH) are the two most often prescribed fertility medicines. Also, in women who ovulate, they’re employed in an attempt to elicit a better egg or more eggs.
What are the 5 stages of IVF?
Five steps are involved in the process:
• To begin, take medication. Injections of hormones are administered to the lady in order to promote proper egg growth.
• The second step is collecting the eggs.
• The Fertilization Process
• Embryo culturing is the fourth step
• Embryo transfer is the final step.
• Bringing excellent news to the people.
