How long does the IVF hospital treatment cycle take?
IVF technology is an assisted reproductive technology that helps infertile couples realize their reproductive dreams. However, for many patients, an important question they are concerned about is: how long does the IVF hospital treatment cycle take? The time of the treatment cycle will vary depending on the general practice of the hospital and individual conditions. The following will elaborate on the time of IVF hospital treatment cycle from four aspects.
Patient screening and evaluation stage
In the first stage of the IVF hospital treatment cycle, doctors will screen and evaluate patients. This stage usually lasts from 2 weeks to 1 month. First of all, the doctor will understand the couple's medical history in detail, and carry out relevant physical examinations and examinations to determine whether it is suitable for IVF treatment.
At this stage, the doctor will carry out a series of examinations, including blood examination, ultrasonic examination, semen analysis, etc. Sometimes, further genetic counseling and genetic testing may be required. The time of these examinations and assessments depends on the patient's situation and the hospital's arrangements.
Once the patient has passed the screening and evaluation, the doctor will work with them to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Ovulation induction stage
After the treatment plan was determined, the patient entered the second stage of the IVF hospital treatment cycle: ovulation induction stage. This phase usually takes 10-14 days. At this stage, patients will receive drugs to induce their ovaries to ovulate and produce more eggs.
Patients need to go to the hospital regularly for ultrasonic examination and blood examination to monitor the development of follicles and estrogen level. According to these monitoring results, doctors will adjust the dosage of drugs and treatment plan to maximize the quality and quantity of eggs.
When the follicles reach the desired size and number, the doctor will arrange an egg retrieval operation.
Egg retrieval and fertilization stage
Egg retrieval is usually performed in the last days of the ovulation induction phase. This process needs to be carried out in the operating room and requires general anesthesia. Doctors use ultrasound guided vacuum suction to remove eggs from the ovary.
The retrieved eggs will be fertilized in the laboratory with the sperm of the husband or donor. The fertilized eggs will continue to be cultured in the laboratory to form embryos.
The whole process of egg retrieval and fertilization usually takes 1-2 days.
Embryo transfer and subsequent observation stage
After the fertilized embryo is cultured, the doctor will select the embryo most suitable for transplantation. Embryo transfer is usually carried out on the 3-6th day after fertilization. This is the last stage of the IVF treatment cycle.
After transplantation, patients need to rest for a period of time, usually a few days to a week. Then, they can carry out daily activities, but need to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting.
After about two weeks, the patient can take a blood test to determine whether the pregnancy is successful. If the test result is positive, congratulations on their success in realizing their dream of IVF.
Summary
The time of IVF hospital treatment cycle varies according to hospital practice and individual conditions, and it takes about 2 to 3 months. Patients need to go through screening and evaluation stage, ovulation induction stage, oocyte retrieval and fertilization stage, as well as embryo transfer and follow-up observation stage. Although the whole process may require patience and time, IVF technology has become a viable option to solve the problem of infertility, bringing hope to couples who are eager to become parents.
