Six Important Steps of a Single IVF Cycle

As an infertile couple, you might have researched many possible ways to become a parent. In that quest, you might have learned about IVF, In-vitro Fertilization, which is an artificial process of carrying fertilization out of the body.

Now, most of the couple only know the basic definition, but they don’t know how it takes place.

For such couples, this article willshed light over six important steps of a single IVF Cycle.

IVF Cycle at a glance

As you go to a doctor for IVF treatment, you have a lot of questions in your head and associated anxiety. To overcome that, the doctor may introduce you with the process to lessen the anxiety.

1. Step one: Preparation of ovaries for the stimulation

The whole process starts with a mock embryo transfer in which doctor test the size of the embryo to be placed according to your anatomy. The process is very simple and quick. It takes a few minutes to insert an ultra-thin catheter into your uterus with the help of sonogram guiding.

As the process completes, the doctor calls you for observation. The result of the observation helps in planning the treatment and its protocol. The protocol includes the tentative dates, frequency of visits, a timeline of treatment, etc.

2. Step two: Ovarian Stimulation and Monitoring

In a natural cycle, only one egg matures in a month whereas, in IVF, doctors have a goal to mature as many eggs as possible to increase the success rate of the treatment. During the whole process, concerned doctors use injectable medicines for approximately 8 to 14 days for the ovary stimulation and egg production at higher rates. Injectables are nothing new but LH and FSH.

During the stimulation process, you may be called more than eight times for morning monitoring.

The appointments are for bloodwork and transvaginal ultrasound. Later, depending upon the observation, the doctor might call you for the update and necessary care if required.

3. Step three: Egg and Sperm retrieval and trigger shot

The step second, which is ovarian stimulation, ends up with a trigger shot. It helps in the final maturation of developing follicles to set ovulation. During this step, keeping track of timing is very important. The doctor decides the time of trigger shot with the help of two clues;

• When the matured follicles have 18 mm size.

• Or when the level of estrogen is neither too high or nor too low.

After the final trigger shot is given, doctors generally wait for 36 hours. During these hours, male sperm is collected. As the day arrives, you will be given with short-lived anesthesia for the egg retrieval. As the egg retrieval process takes only 30 minutes, after that, you are fit to go home. Eggs are retrieved with a suction process guided with ultrasound and special needles.

Step Four: Embryo Development inside the lab

The collected semen and eggs are handed over to embryologist for the fertilization process. Embryologist generally uses any of the two fertilization processes; 1) Convention Fertilization and, 2) Intracytoplasmic Fertilization.

The decision of using one of the fertilization techniques is based on the number of quality sperm. As the fertilization is carried out, the embryo starts to develop. The development of the embryo is watched for seven consecutive mornings.

Step Five: Embryo Transfer

Embryo Transfer or ET takes just 10 minutes to achieve without giving any anesthesia. As the transfer is scheduled by the doctor, you are informed a day before. On the day of ET, your embryo is examined one more time. The doctor used a fine catheter to transfer embryo from vagina to cervix and into the uterus.

As the ET is complete, you are made to rest on your back in for 30 minutes in the hospital. You may be advised to take a 24-hour rest after the embryo transfer.

Step Six:   Testing the pregnancy

This is the last step of the IVF Cycle where the test is done after the 14th day of Embryo Transfer. It is not the simple pregnancy test carried out at home. It includes a blood test to measure the beta-HCG level. If the level is more than 100, the transfer is successful. If the result is below 100 then, its negative and it could be disappointing for intending couples.

So, above are six steps of IVF Cycle to get you  introduced with.

Author Bio:-

The author write the content on the behalf of best IVF Clinic Mumbai. For more information you can visit here: IVF Clinic in India

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