How long does the whole process of IVF take?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical process that combines the fertilized eggs and sperm in the laboratory and cultivates them to the early embryonic stage, then transfers the embryos to the female uterus for development, and finally realizes pregnancy. The time required for the whole process of IVF will be described in detail in the following four aspects.
Assessment and diagnosis
The first stage is assessment and diagnosis. Before starting the IVF process, both the husband and wife need to receive a comprehensive evaluation from the doctor, including antisperm antibody test, sex hormone test, uterine morphology evaluation, etc., to determine whether it is suitable for IVF. In addition, women also need to conduct ovarian function assessment and menstrual cycle monitoring. The whole assessment and diagnosis phase usually takes 1-3 months to complete.
Next, we will evaluate the quality of male sperm. Men need to provide semen samples for sperm quality testing to determine whether treatment for improving sperm quality is needed. This can take up to a few weeks, depending on the quality of male sperm.
In general, the evaluation and diagnosis phase takes about 3-6 months.
Ovarian stimulation and egg collection
The second stage is ovarian stimulation and egg collection. At this stage, women will receive hormone therapy to increase egg production. Doctors will develop personalized hormone programs according to women's specific conditions. This phase usually takes about 10-14 days. After hormone therapy, doctors will use minimally invasive surgery technology guided by ultrasound to collect eggs from the ovary. This operation is usually completed under local anesthesia and takes only 10-20 minutes.
Most IVF hospitals provide one-stop services, including egg collection and embryo cultivation, to ensure the smooth progress of each step.
In vitro fertilization and culture
The third stage is in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. After egg collection, doctors will fertilize the egg and sperm in vitro, usually through percutaneous semen injection or direct injection into the egg. The embryos are then cultured in the laboratory. Normally, the embryo will stay in the incubator for 2-6 days, and the doctor will closely observe the development of the embryo.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy
The fourth stage is embryo transfer and pregnancy. In the process of embryo culture, doctors will select the most likely embryo to be successfully pregnant for transplantation according to the development of the embryo. The transfer process is usually a simple operation, and doctors will use a catheter to transfer the embryo into a woman's uterus. On average, embryo transfer is usually carried out on the 3rd or 5th day after culture.
After successful embryo transfer, it needs to wait about 10-14 days for HCG detection in the maternal blood to confirm whether the pregnancy is successful. If the test result is positive, it means that IVF is successful and pregnancy begins. Then, women will receive regular ultrasound examination and the supervision of obstetricians and gynaecologists until delivery.
Summary
To sum up, the whole process of IVF usually takes about 6-9 months. From evaluation and diagnosis, ovarian stimulation and egg collection, in vitro fertilization and culture, to embryo transfer and pregnancy, each stage requires precise and detailed operation and timing. However, each person's situation is different, and the specific time may vary. With the help of scientific medical technology and professional medical teams, many couples have successfully realized their IVF dreams.
