Flow of IVF
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a kind of assisted reproduction technology, which aims to help couples who are difficult to be born achieve their reproductive aspirations. The process of IVF is generally divided into four main stages: hormone therapy, egg collection, sperm extraction and embryo transfer.
hormone therapy
The process of IVF is the first stage of hormone therapy. Women begin to inject ovulation stimulating hormone and gonadotropin on the second day of the menstrual cycle. Through the regulation of these hormones, the ovaries produce multiple mature follicles. The doctor will conduct regular ultrasonic examination and blood test to determine the follicular development and hormone level. When the follicle develops to a certain stage, ovulation stimulating hormone will be injected to promote ovulation of the follicle.
During hormone therapy, doctors need to adjust the hormone dose according to the specific conditions and signs of patients to maximize the quality and quantity of eggs. This stage usually lasts about 10 days, and the specific time depends on personal conditions.
Egg collection
Egg collection is the second key step in the IVF process, which is usually conducted 48 hours after ovulation. The patient will receive general anesthesia in the operating room, and the doctor will puncture the ovarian follicle through a slender catheter guided by ultrasound to collect mature eggs.
The egg collection process generally lasts 20-30 minutes, and the patient needs to rest for a period of time after the operation in order to restore physical strength. The doctor will send the collected eggs to the laboratory for fertilization with sperm.
Sperm extraction
Sperm extraction is the third step in the IVF process. Male patients usually need to provide sperm samples on the day of egg collection, which can be collected by masturbation or using special condoms. Laboratory technicians will process sperm samples and screen out high-quality sperm. If the number of sperm in male patients is extremely low or there are other problems, doctors may use sperm donation for fertilization.
embryo transfer
Embryo transfer is the last stage of the IVF process. Doctors will cultivate embryos after fertilization of eggs and sperm in the laboratory, usually for 2-5 days. During this process, the doctor will evaluate the quality and development of the embryo.
According to the evaluation results, doctors will select one or several embryos with the best quality for transplantation. The process of embryo transfer is similar to the hysteroscopy. The doctor will put the embryo directly into the uterine cavity through a slender catheter. Patients usually do not need general anesthesia, but only local anesthesia or painless delivery drugs.
After embryo transfer, the patient needs to lie down for a period of time to promote embryo implantation. One week later, the patient can conduct a blood test to determine whether the pregnancy is successful.
summary
The process of IVF includes four main stages: hormone therapy, egg collection, sperm extraction and embryo transfer. Hormone therapy promotes the ovarian production of multiple mature follicles by regulating hormone levels. Egg collection is the process of removing mature eggs from ovarian follicles. Sperm extraction is usually conducted on the day of egg collection by male patients to provide sperm samples and screen the sperm. Finally, doctors will select the best quality embryos for transplantation into the patient's uterine cavity. IVF technology provides a way for couples who cannot conceive naturally to achieve their reproductive aspirations.
