How long does the IVF process take?
IVF is an assisted reproductive technology, which aims to help couples who are difficult to conceive due to physiological reasons to achieve their reproductive aspirations. The whole IVF process needs to go through multiple steps, involving multiple medical links, and takes different time. The following will introduce how long the IVF process will take from the following aspects.
1. Preparatory stage:
The IVF process began when the couple went to a professional reproductive hospital for help. At this stage, the doctor will conduct a detailed birth history, physical examination and comprehensive related examination to determine the appropriate program for IVF. This stage usually lasts for several weeks to several months.
After that, the woman will enter the stage of drug treatment and develop follicles by taking ovulation promoting drugs. This process usually lasts 10 to 14 days, and doctors will regularly check the growth of follicles.
Once the follicle reaches the proper size, the doctor will make an appointment for the operation date to take the eggs. This process takes about 2-3 weeks, including drug treatment and follicle monitoring.
2. Egg taking and sperm treatment:
The egg retrieval operation is usually carried out when the female's follicles are properly developed, and in general, under local anesthesia. Doctors will use ultrasound guided fine needle puncture to remove eggs. This procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
After egg retrieval, the woman will have a rest for a period of time, while the doctor will process and combine the obtained eggs with the man's sperm. The process of sperm processing usually takes several hours, including sperm screening, washing and combining with eggs.
3. Embryo culture and transplantation:
After the combination of sperm and egg, the fertilized egg will continue to be cultivated in the laboratory. This culture process usually lasts for 2-6 days. Doctors will regularly check the development of embryos and select the most promising embryos for transplantation.
Embryo transfer is an important step in the process of IVF. The doctor inserts the selected embryo into the woman's uterus through a catheter. This process is usually painless and does not require anesthesia. The whole embryo transfer process only takes a few minutes.
4. Rest and Results:
After embryo transfer, the woman needs to take a rest for a period of time to maintain good living habits and avoid strenuous exercise and fatigue. Generally, about 2 weeks after transplantation, the woman can perform a serum HCG test to determine whether she is pregnant. If the pregnancy is successful, the woman will continue the prenatal examination to ensure the normal development of the embryo. If the pregnancy is not successful, the couple can choose to carry out the IVF process again.
To sum up, the time consumption of IVF varies with individual differences and medical processes. The whole process, from the preparatory stage to egg taking and sperm treatment, to embryo culture and transplantation, takes about 4-6 weeks. With the time for rest and result judgment, the whole IVF process may last for 2-3 months. However, this time varies according to individual circumstances. It is important for both husband and wife to maintain patience and cooperation throughout the process and actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment plan to improve the success rate of IVF.
