How long is the cycle of IVF?
IVF is an assisted reproductive technology, which is applicable to couples or individuals who cannot conceive naturally. It combines the female egg with the male sperm in the laboratory, and then transfers the fertilized egg into the female uterus to achieve the purpose of pregnancy and fertility. How long is the cycle time of IVF? It will be elaborated from four aspects below.
1. Preparation stage (1-2 months)
The IVF cycle begins in the preparation phase. At this stage, couples or individuals need to consult professional doctors or fertility experts to understand the relevant information of IVF technology, and complete necessary examinations and assessments. These examinations may involve the ovarian function of women, the thickness of endometrium and the quality of male sperm. At the same time, women need hormone therapy to promote the growth and maturation of follicles. This preparation phase usually takes 1 to 2 months.
At the end of the preparation phase, the doctor will use ultrasound technology to monitor the growth of follicles and determine the best time to retrieve eggs. In this way, gynecologists can formulate appropriate egg retrieval plans according to the size and number of follicles.
2. Egg retrieval stage (10-14 days)
The egg retrieval stage is one of the key steps in the IVF cycle. Before taking eggs, women need to receive hormone therapy for a period of time to increase the number and quality of ovarian follicles. Then, the doctor will use a slender needle guided by ultrasound to extract the ovarian follicle through the vagina. This process is usually performed under intravenous anesthesia and lasts about 10 to 14 days.
After the follicle is taken out, laboratory technicians combine the egg in the follicle with the male sperm to generate a fertilized egg. This process is called in vitro fertilization or in vitro fertilization. Laboratory staff will observe the development of the fertilized egg and select the healthiest embryo for transfer.
3. Embryo culture and transfer (3-6 days)
After taking the eggs, the fertilized eggs will go through the cultivation process in the laboratory. This incubation process usually lasts 3 to 6 days. During this period, the embryo will develop into different cell tissues, forming the ectoderm, endoderm and trophoblast.
Doctors will select the best embryo for transplantation according to the development of the embryo. Embryo transfer is usually completed in the uterus of a woman and does not usually require general anesthesia. Doctors will use long and thin tubes to move the embryo into the endometrium to help the embryo implant and develop.
4. Pregnancy observation and pregnancy test (14 days later)
After embryo transfer, women need to continue to receive hormone therapy to help the endometrium maintain its optimal state and promote the implantation and growth of embryos. Generally, women can have a pregnancy test about 14 days after embryo transfer.
The main method of pregnancy test is to check the level of progesterone in urine or blood. If the result is positive, it means that the woman is pregnant successfully. At this time, women need to continue to receive relevant pregnancy care and gynecological and obstetric examinations to ensure the healthy development of embryos and smooth delivery.
Summary
The cycle time of IVF varies from individual to individual, but generally can be divided into preparation stage, egg retrieval stage, embryo culture and transfer stage, pregnancy observation and pregnancy test stage. The whole cycle usually takes 3 to 6 months. The actual cycle length also depends on individual physiological conditions and treatment plans. For couples or individuals who cannot conceive naturally, IVF technology provides a hope for them to realize their dream of having a healthy baby.
