Time nodes of IVF pregnancy cycle
IVF is a kind of assisted reproductive technology, which realizes pregnancy through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. There are multiple time nodes in IVF pregnancy cycle that need attention and grasp. The time nodes of IVF pregnancy cycle will be described in detail from the following four aspects.
1. Develop personal treatment plan
Before IVF treatment, doctors will conduct detailed consultation and evaluation with patients. This stage includes comprehensive physical examination, medical history investigation, gynecological disease screening, etc. Then, according to the individual condition of the patient, the doctor will make a personalized IVF treatment plan.
The ultrasound examination before treatment on the second or third day of the menstrual cycle confirmed that there were no ovarian cysts and endometrial thickening. According to the number and size of follicles, the doctor will determine the appropriate dosage of ovulation promoting drugs and start hormone therapy. Subsequently, blood tests, uric acid tests, endometrial thickness tests and other monitoring work need to be carried out regularly to ensure the effect and indications of hormone therapy.
The whole process of making personal treatment plans usually takes 1-2 weeks, and requires the active cooperation of patients and doctors.
2. Egg collection and sperm extraction
After hormone treatment, the patient entered the ovarian stimulation period. On the 12th to 14th days of the treatment cycle, the doctor will arrange follicle puncture, which is an important node in the IVF cycle.
Before ovarian puncture surgery, patients need to make a series of preparations, including the choice of anesthesia methods, preoperative fasting and the use of special drugs.
During the operation, doctors use ultrasound guidance to puncture the ovarian follicle with a fine needle through the vagina to absorb immature eggs. At the same time, in the same treatment cycle, the man needs to provide fresh semen samples, or use semen cryopreservation as required. These eggs and sperm will be sent to the laboratory for in vitro fertilization.
3. Embryo culture and embryo transfer
After in vitro fertilization, the embryo will be cultured in the laboratory until the appropriate time for transplantation is reached.
Usually, the embryos are cultured in the incubator for 2 to 6 days, and then the doctor will select one or several embryos with the most development potential for embryo transfer.
Embryo transfer is another key time node in the IVF cycle. The procedure is simple and requires no anesthesia. It is usually performed on the third or fifth day.
4. Pregnancy judgment
On 10-14 days after embryo transfer, blood hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test is required to preliminarily determine whether pregnancy is possible. If the hCG level exceeds the normal reference value, the pregnancy is successful.
Pregnancy judgment can be preliminarily screened by urine test, but the final result still needs to be confirmed by blood test.
The whole IVF pregnancy cycle usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, and the specific time will vary according to the individual condition of the patient and the doctor's advice.
Summary
The time nodes of IVF pregnancy cycle include making personal treatment plan, egg collection and sperm extraction, embryo culture and embryo transfer, and pregnancy judgment. Each stage is the key to the success of IVF, which requires close cooperation and joint efforts of patients and doctors.
Although IVF technology has certain risks and uncertainties, with the increasing progress of medical technology and the continuous improvement of hospital facilities, more and more couples have successfully realized their reproductive dreams through IVF technology. Because of this, understanding the time nodes of IVF pregnancy cycle is crucial for couples with fertility needs.
