Flow of IVF
IVF is a method of culturing fertilized eggs in vitro through assisted reproduction technology and implanting the best quality embryo into the mother, which provides a way for couples who are difficult to conceive naturally to realize their reproductive aspirations. The flow of IVF will be described in detail from four aspects.
Select the right hospital
First of all, choosing the right hospital is the first step for IVF. When evaluating a hospital, couples should pay attention to the professional background, equipment and technical level of the hospital. For example, well-known hospitals in China include the Reproductive Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and the Reproductive Medical Center of Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.
Next, the couple needs to make an appointment for expert consultation. Experts will learn about the marriage and childbearing history of the couple in detail, and carry out physical examination, fertility history survey, sperm and egg quality assessment, etc. to clarify the couple's fertility problems and treatment plans.
Finally, the couple also needs to understand the hospital's costs and relevant policies, and sign a treatment contract with the hospital in due course.
Implementation of assisted reproductive technology
Assisted reproductive technology is a key step in IVF. According to the individual conditions of the couple, there are several main assisted reproductive technologies to choose from:
1. In vitro fertilization (IVF): by combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory dish, and implanting the fertilized embryos into the uterus when they reach a certain stage of development.
2. Single sperm microinjection (ICSI): applicable to patients with low sperm quality. A single sperm is injected into the egg through micromanipulation to further improve the fertilization rate.
3. Top embryo screening and blastocyst implantation technology: by evaluating the morphology, genetics and developmental potential of embryos, select the best quality embryos for transplantation, and improve the pregnancy success rate.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy monitoring
Embryo transfer is the key to the success of IVF. Doctors will decide how many embryos to implant into the uterus according to the embryo quality and specific risk factors. Usually, 1-2 embryos are implanted to improve the success rate and reduce the risk of multiple births. A few days after implantation, couples need to go to the hospital regularly for pregnancy monitoring, and adjust according to the monitoring results.
If the pregnancy is confirmed, it means that IVF has succeeded. The doctor will continue to monitor the pregnancy and gradually transfer the couple to obstetrics and gynecology for pregnancy management as the embryo develops.
Analysis of infertility causes and secondary selection
If IVF is not successful, the couple needs to analyze the cause of failure together with the doctor, and decide whether to carry out secondary selective treatment according to the doctor's advice after a period of rest.
For couples with infertility, IVF is both a hope and a test. Couples need to be patient and persistent. At the same time, it is important to actively participate in treatment and work closely with doctors to improve the probability of success of IVF.
Summary
The process of IVF can be divided into four aspects: the selection of appropriate hospitals, the implementation of assisted reproductive technology, embryo transfer and pregnancy monitoring, and the analysis of infertility causes and secondary selection. The whole process requires couples to be psychologically prepared and actively cooperate with doctors for treatment. It is hoped that through this advanced assisted reproductive technology, more couples can achieve their reproductive aspirations.
