How does HCG in IVF affect pregnancy outcomes?
IVF is a kind of assisted reproduction technology. The purpose of pregnancy is achieved by culturing the fertilized eggs in the laboratory for a certain period, and then transplanting them into the mother's uterus. HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) plays an important role in IVF. This article will elaborate the influence of HCG on IVF pregnancy results from four aspects: stimulating ovulation, fixing embryos, pregnancy judgment and pregnancy support.
1. Stimulate ovulation
Stimulating ovulation is a key step in IVF treatment. Usually, doctors use HCG injections to urge the ovaries to release mature eggs. HCG has a similar effect to luteinizing hormone, which can promote the development of follicles and the release of eggs. After ovulation is stimulated, the doctor will determine the best time for egg retrieval according to the maturity of the egg and other factors. Therefore, HCG plays a key role in stimulating the ovulation process of available eggs.
However, there are some risks and side effects in the use of HCG injection. Sometimes, the injection may cause multiple eggs to mature forcefully and increase the chance of multiple births. In addition, excessive HCG levels may lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is a serious complication and may pose a threat to women's health.
2. Fixed embryo
In the process of IVF, the cultivated fertilized eggs need to be observed and evaluated in the laboratory, and after selecting the best embryo, they will be transferred to the mother's uterus. At this stage, the concentration of HCG can be used to evaluate the quality and development of embryos.
Generally speaking, the higher the concentration of HCG, the better the cell division and development of the embryo. Therefore, HCG concentration plays an important role in embryo selection and fixation. By accurately measuring the concentration of HCG, doctors can select the best embryo for transplantation, thus improving the success rate of pregnancy.
3. Pregnancy judgment
After IVF treatment, pregnancy judgment is very critical. Generally speaking, pregnancy results will be reliably measured within 10-14 days after embryo implantation. HCG is considered to be one of the earliest markers in the blood of pregnant women.
Usually, after pregnancy, the level of HCG in pregnant women will rise rapidly. By measuring the level of HCG, we can determine whether the pregnancy is successful and understand the progress of pregnancy. If the HCG level increases continuously, it usually means that the pregnancy is normal. However, if the HCG level does not increase or increases slowly, it may mean that the pregnancy has not occurred or there is a problem.
4. Pregnancy support
After the successful pregnancy of IVF, the role of HCG did not end. In early pregnancy, the embryo further supports and promotes the fertilization process by releasing HCG. HCG can help maintain the luteal function, promote the endometrium to better accept the embryo, stimulate the production of progesterone, and maintain the stability of pregnancy.
Some women may have the risk of early pregnancy abortion, and HCG treatment can be used as a pregnancy support and prevention measure. In this case, doctors usually inject HCG at the early stage of pregnancy to improve the embedding and survival rate of embryos, thus reducing the risk of abortion.
summary
HCG plays an important role in IVF pregnancy results. It not only promotes pregnancy by stimulating ovulation and fixing embryos, but also serves as a marker for early pregnancy judgment and provides support and protection in early pregnancy. However, rational use of HCG is also very important to avoid side effects and complications. In the process of IVF, doctors will accurately determine the use and dosage of HCG according to the patients' conditions and needs, so as to improve the success rate of pregnancy.
