Men and women are put through a battery of testing before beginning the IVF IVF treatment procedure. The existence of infection is explored, and the uterus is inspected. Ovarian reserves are evaluated, sperm quality is tested by spermiogram, the presence of infection is investigated, and the uterus is examined. Many questions must be answered, including the number of embryos that will be transplanted during the pre-treatment phase.

IVF involves a variety of procedures. The ovaries are stimulated, and egg and sperm cells are harvested during this procedure. The embryo cell acquired after fertilization in the laboratory is implanted in the uterus.

What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. IVF is one of the assisted reproductive techniques available to couples who have been diagnosed with infertility but still want to have a family. The effectiveness of IVF procedures, which may be aided in the early stages by a variety of therapies for the couple, can be improved owing to knowledgeable medical professionals and cutting-edge medical technology. As a result, it is critical for couples seeking IVF therapy to thoroughly consider their options when selecting a clinic.

What are the stages of IVF treatment?

The phrase "in vitro fertilization," or IVF for short, refers to fertilization in a glass container. It works on the idea of fertilizing the created embryo in the uterus of the woman by bringing together the egg cell and sperm cell produced throughout the procedure in a laboratory setting. This whole procedure differs depending on the patients' health status.

Treatment Has Begun

When beginning the IVF treatment procedure, information regarding the couple's medical history is acquired initially, followed by a physical examination. The reason of infertility is explored by the tests done during the evaluation. Infertility may strike either a woman or a guy.

The man's sperm and hormone state are examined, as are the woman's ovaries, reproductive organs, and hormone level. At this point, information is gathered to help guide the therapy procedure.

Stimulation of the Ovaries

During regular menstruation, the pituitary gland's luteinizing hormone and ovarian stimulating hormone assure the egg's development and transit to the uterus. Ovarian stimulating hormone injections are given every day for 9-14 days throughout this IVF therapy procedure.

Ultrasound and blood testing are used to determine the impact. The hormone and pituitary suppressive GnRH injections are stopped as a consequence of the testing. For the egg to attain its ultimate development and fall from the follicular wall, a human chorionic gonadotropin injection is delivered.

Collection of eggs and sperm

On the second morning, or 34 to 36 hours following the previous injection, the egg cell is generally harvested. It takes around 20-30 minutes to gather the eggs. The fluid in each follicle is collected from the vaginal canal using the ultrasound instrument, and the egg is sought for. Patients may need to stay in the clinic for roughly an hour after the operation before returning home. The man's sperm cells are also taken on the same day.

fertilization

The sperm collected prior to fertilization is concentrated, and the sperm cells are mixed with the eggs four hours after the egg is acquired. After around one night in the machine, the next day is checked for fertilization. Unless the sperm cells are defective, 60 percent to 70 percent of the eggs are fertilized. Fertilized eggs are kept in the machine for further 48 hours after fertilization.

Transfer of Embryos

After the egg retrieval procedure, the embryo is ready to be transplanted 2 to 5 days later. The embryo to be implanted is put in a plastic catheter, which is then passed through the cervix and gently released into the uterus. The treatment normally takes just a few minutes and is painless.

In most cases, one or two embryo transfers are carried out. More embryos may be implanted depending on the couples' preferences or the quality of the embryo. Embryos that aren't transferred may be frozen if they aren't transplanted. When the embryos used in the initial transfer fail, these embryos are preserved for retransfer.

Phase of Lutea

The two-week time between embryo transfer and pregnancy testing is known as the luteal phase. Care should be exercised within the first 24 hours following the transfer, and excessive activity should be avoided. Before the pregnancy test, you may notice spotting or bleeding.

This may not necessarily imply that the therapy has been unsuccessful. In reality, implantation bleeding may occur as the embryo connects to the uterus. As a consequence, the medication must be continued until the pregnancy test results are obtained.

Pregnancy test

Pregnancy test is performed 14 days after embryo transfer. After the positive results, the things to be considered during pregnancy are explained in detail to the expectant mothers. In cases where the treatment fails for various reasons, the frozen embryos, if any, are transferred again. If there is no frozen embryo, treatment can be started again.

What Happens After IVF Treatment Is Completed?

For couples undergoing IVF therapy, embryo transfer is like a long-awaited dream come true. That day marks the beginning of the most challenging part of therapy for many couples. Following then, a thrilling and enthralling waiting time starts.

For the couples, the wait for the pregnancy test results is both joyful and nerve-wracking. Failure to acquire positive outcomes in IVF therapy the first or second time around should not be a reason for despair.

The Day of the Transfer

Embryos are chosen for placement on the day of transfer based on their quality. One or two embryo transfers are usually conducted. This number, however, is subject to alter at the couple's desire. The procedure just takes a few minutes and does not need any anesthetic.

During the process, patients experience no pain. It is not required to remain secluded from life during the post-transfer period, contrary to common opinion. Women may return to their everyday life in a short period unless it is mentioned that further care should be made for the pair.

Following the Transfer

In the first 24 hours following transfer, it is typically suggested that patients relax. Although it is not necessary to spend the whole day in bed, excessive exercise or activity should be avoided. Patients should take their prescription medications on a regular basis after the transfer. Many people may be advised to continue taking progesterone for many weeks after the procedure.

Nutrition

If all goes according to plan, a baby will grow in the womb over the following 9 months after IVF therapy is completed. As a result, it is feasible to gradually begin paying attention to nutrition following the shift. During pregnancy, it's critical to eat calcium-rich, protein-rich, iron-rich, and B-vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits.

Supplementing with B vitamins may also be recommended for certain ladies. It is well known that taking folic acid when pregnant has several advantages. Supplementing with folic acid lowers the risk of congenital heart disease in children.

When Is IVF Treatment the Best Option?

Couples should attempt to conceive naturally before beginning IVF therapy. IVF therapy may be initiated if pregnancy is not obtained after a year of regular and unprotected sexual intercourse. However, the fulfillment of the one-year term may not be anticipated in certain instances. It is advised that a woman's age be taken into account when calculating the length of a year.

When Should a Second IVF Treatment Trial Be Conducted?

Although IVF is an assisted reproductive procedure that is tailored to the couple's needs and has a high success rate, pregnancy does not always happen on the first try. In reality, it is well recognized that there is a chance of not becoming pregnant the first or even second time.

There are a variety of reasons why the initial IVF attempt fails. In most cases, failure occurs in the chromosomes or as a result of genetic abnormalities. The embryo is too weak to continue growing properly in such circumstances. This, however, has little effect on the couples' chances of succeeding on their second or third efforts.

Embryos that have been frozen

At the couples' option, embryos that were fertilized the first time but were not transferred to the mother may be preserved. As a result, if the initial application fails, there is no need to restart IVF therapy.

In the uterus, frozen embryos of adequate quality are implanted. As a result, the second IVF procedure takes less time than the first. The cost of treatment procedures is reduced as a consequence of the freezing of embryos, which allows certain phases of IVF therapy to be skipped.