Duration of IVF treatment: from diagnosis to success
IVF treatment, also known as assisted reproductive technology, is a way to help couples who are unable to conceive naturally achieve their reproductive aspirations. The duration of treatment is affected by many factors, such as age, childbearing history, health status and medical conditions. In this article, we will introduce the duration of IVF treatment in detail from the aspects of preparation stage, treatment process, rehabilitation period and success rate.
Preparation phase
Before deciding to accept IVF treatment, couples need to carry out a series of physical examinations and related tests. These tests can assess the reproductive health of both parties and determine whether assisted reproductive technology is needed. The examination contents include the ovarian function, endometrial thickness, uterine cavity shape, etc. of women, as well as the quality and quantity of sperm of men. Generally, the duration of this phase is 2-3 months. In addition, some couples will also provide psychological counseling before starting treatment to help them cope with the pressure and emotional fluctuations during treatment.
Before officially starting IVF treatment, the woman needs to be treated with ovulation promoting drugs. These drugs can improve the number and quality of ovarian follicles and increase the chance of pregnancy. This stage usually lasts for 10-12 days, and couples need to go to the hospital every day for monitoring and injection. In this process, the doctor will adjust the drug dose according to the test results in order to obtain better therapeutic effect.
Treatment process
After the preparation phase, the doctor takes out the mature egg from the female body and fertilizes it with the sperm donated by the male in the laboratory. Then, the fertilized egg will be cultured in a petri dish for several days until it develops into a blastocyst stage that can be implanted into the endometrium. This process usually takes 5-7 days.
The implantation phase is a minimally invasive operation in which the blastocyst is removed and placed in the endometrium. The operation is very simple, usually completed in a few minutes. Then, the patient needs to rest for 1-2 days after the operation. The doctor will advise the patient to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor in the next 2 weeks to improve the pregnancy success rate.
Convalescent period
After implantation, patients need to wait about 2 weeks for blood or urine tests to confirm whether they are pregnant. During this waiting period, patients need to reduce stress and avoid emotional fluctuations to improve the success rate of pregnancy. If the test result is positive, the doctor will advise the patient to continue taking progesterone and other drugs to keep the endometrium stable until the pregnancy reaches a stable stage.
If the test result is negative, it means that the treatment of the cycle has failed. In this case, the patient needs to discuss further treatment plans with the doctor and try again at an appropriate time. In general, couples may need more than one treatment cycle in order to achieve a better success rate.
Success rate and summary
The success rate of IVF treatment is affected by many factors, including age, reproductive health and medical conditions. According to different laboratories and hospitals in the world, the success rate is between 30% and 50%. Generally speaking, young and healthy couples have a higher success rate, while older couples or couples with other health problems have a lower success rate. Therefore, couples should consider their equipment and technical level when choosing hospitals, and seek professional advice and suggestions.
In general, the duration of IVF treatment varies from individual to individual. From the preparation stage, it may take several months to a year for the treatment to succeed. However, this process is the only way for many couples to realize their dreams. Although it may take a long time, it is worth the pain and effort.
