The IVF Process Timeline
Severe cases of infertility such that the female's fallopian tube is blocked or the male's sperm lacks count (azoospermia), decreases the couple's chance of achieving conception. In records 10% to 15% of couples are likely to fail pregnancy because of infertility. This is when couples resort to various fertility treatment.
IVF is one of the fertility treatments that is best recommended when all other fertility treatments have failed. Posing 20% to 65% average success rate, IVF can be very exciting but the process itself can be very daunting and stressful and the cost of IVF means it is expensive too. IVF cycle basically takes up two to six months and within these months couples may experience various us and downs. Knowing the IVF process helps couples understand the nature of the treatment itself and its consequences. This makes couples more prepared and open-minded.
The in vitro fertilization process
Stage 1 - Ovarian Hyperstimulation
In order to produce a high number of healthy follicles for fertilization, hyper stimulation is done from the first 10 to 14 days of the women's first stage of the IVF cycle. IVF needs more follicles to increase the percentage of successful fertilization and have extra eggs to freeze, in case the first attempt does not work.
This process can be done in two ways, the first involves down regulation or exhaustion of the pituitary glands by prolonged use of GnRH agonist to produce more follicle stimulating hormone or FSH and the second includes gonadotropin injection and the use of GnRH antagonist to block the natural production of luteinizing hormone.
Stage 2 - Egg retrieval
When the required number of follicles has been reached, doctors may induce HCG as a trigger shot and egg retrieval follows after 34 to 36 hours. The process is done through transvaginal oocyte retrieval where a needle vacuum is inserted through the vagina to absorb all the healthy follicles. Such process may be painful taking up to a maximum of 20 minutes that is why women are placed in general anesthesia.
Stage 3 - Post retrieval medication
Egg retrieval can be a very sensitive operation. After the egg retrieval, women are prescribed to take antibiotics to prevent infections such as steroids and progesterone to stimulate regular blood flow in the reproductive system and healthy uterine lining.
Stage 4 - Sperm retrieval
Whilst the women's eggs are prepared and examines in the laboratory, the male partner provide a sample of his own semen through masturbation. However, when the man has undergone vasectomy treatment, surgical removal of the sperm may be done.
Stage 5 - Preparation and Fertilization
Couples may go home after the retrieval while the egg and sperm are prepared for fertilization in the laboratory. The egg undergoes oocyte section to screen the high quality eggs while the sperm undergoes sperm washing to separate the inactive cells and seminal fluid. After such, 2 to 4 eggs are placed in a petri dish to allow fertilization to occur leaving the others frozen in a special conditioning unit for future use. Depending on the clinic and fertility history of couples, fertilization monitoring may take up to 3 months to achieve a perfect timing embryo transfer.
Stage 6 - Embryo Screening
Before embryos are transferred back to the women, laboratories make sure that the embryos are healthy by screening them for any chromosomal disorder.
Stage 7 - Embryo Transfer
Embryo transfer needs a perfect timing. Likewise, the number of embryos to be transferred depends on the age and infertility condition. In this stage, the embryo is suspended together with a fluid in a catheter which is then inserted into the women vagina, and is guided through the womb lining. The process can be painful and most often women feel pelvic cramps and abdominal ache. They may be required to rest for 2 days or a week after the process before resuming to normal activities.
The bottom line of the process is to wait. After the embryo transfer, couples may wait two to three weeks to know whether the overall in vitro fertilization process has been successful. Women may be required to take supplements to assist positive pregnancy and a blood test may be done for a more accurate result. Women who acquire positive result for the first try are very lucky to have surpassed the lengthy IVF process. Even so, disappointment may arise to the little possibility of a negative result. This is when IVF can be a stressful process, wherein women have to undergo half of the process again. Timing and waiting for a positive result may take up couple's years of their lives for one healthy, nevertheless all the sacrifices will be worth for a positive result.
