How long does IVF take?
IVF technology is a way to help couples who cannot conceive naturally realize their dreams of childbirth. Through assisted reproductive technology, doctors can combine eggs and sperm in the laboratory, and then implant the fertilized eggs into the female uterus. In the process of IVF, time factor is very important. This article will elaborate on how long IVF needs from four aspects.
Diagnosis and pregnancy preparation stage
Before choosing IVF technology, couples need to carry out a series of medical examinations, including reproductive system, hormone level and sperm quality. This phase usually takes several weeks. Once a fertility problem is diagnosed, the couple can start pregnancy preparation. The preparatory stage may take several months or even longer. During this period, women may need to take ovulation promoting drugs to increase the production of eggs, while men need to improve the quality of sperm.
When couples have been pregnant for a period of time but still fail to conceive naturally, they can consider IVF technology. At this time, they need to consult and apply with a professional IVF hospital. After obtaining the approval of the hospital, the couple will enter the formal treatment stage of IVF.
Egg taking and fertilization
The next stage of IVF is egg retrieval and fertilization. After women have undergone treatment with ovulation promoting drugs, doctors will use ultrasound guided puncture technology to remove eggs from the ovary. This process is usually completed in the operating room and usually only takes 20 to 30 minutes. After taking eggs, women may feel some pain, but they can usually recover in a short time.
At the same time, men need to provide a semen sample. This sample will be treated with sperm and used to combine with the extracted eggs. The fertilization process can be completed by traditional test tube method or by micro injection technology (ICSI). The traditional test tube method places several sperm and eggs in the same culture dish, allowing natural selection to occur. ICSI is a technology that injects a single sperm directly into the egg, which can improve the success rate of fertilization.
Within a few days after fertilization, the doctor will observe the development of the embryo and select the embryo most likely to be implanted successfully. This process may take about 3-5 days.
embryo transfer
Embryo transfer is a key step in the process of IVF. The doctor will implant the selected embryo into the female uterus in the laboratory to promote its implantation and development in the uterus. Embryo transfer can usually be completed in a few minutes, and the whole process, including preparation and observation, may take several hours.
Waiting results and pregnancy monitoring
After embryo transfer, women need to rest for a few days to help the embryo implant better. After that, couples need to wait for about two weeks to complete pregnancy monitoring to determine whether the pregnancy was successful. This waiting time may be the longest part of IVF process.
Once the pregnancy is confirmed to be successful, women will be advised to have regular pregnant women's examinations to ensure the healthy development of the embryo. These pregnancy checks usually continue until delivery.
summary
The time during IVF varies from stage to stage. From diagnosis and pregnancy preparation stage to egg taking and fertilization, to embryo transfer and pregnancy monitoring, the whole process may take several months or even longer. Couples need patience and confidence, and work closely with the team of professional doctors to ensure the smooth progress of IVF process.
