Introduction of IVF pregnancy cycle
IVF is a kind of assisted reproductive technology, which aims to help couples who are unable to conceive naturally due to physiological reasons realize their reproductive dreams. The pregnancy cycle of IVF usually includes the following key steps: ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm processing and embryo culture, embryo transfer and pregnancy detection. The steps of IVF pregnancy cycle will be introduced in detail from these four aspects.
Ovarian stimulation
Before the IVF procedure, women need to receive ovarian stimulation therapy to promote ovarian development and produce multiple eggs. This usually requires the use of fertility hormone drugs, such as gonadotropins. Doctors will develop personalized ovarian stimulation programs according to the specific conditions of patients, and then monitor the growth and development of follicles.
In the process of ovarian stimulation, the doctor will conduct regular ultrasonic examination and blood testing to determine the development of eggs and growth rate.
Generally speaking, ovarian stimulation lasts for 10-14 days. Once the eggs have reached a sufficient level of development, the doctor will arrange an egg retrieval operation.
Egg retrieval
Fetching eggs is one of the key steps in IVF procedure. Egg retrieval is usually carried out when the follicle develops to an appropriate size, and the operation is generally carried out under local anesthesia. Doctors will use a fine needle guided by ultrasound to puncture the ovary and extract the liquid egg from the follicle.
The egg retrieval operation lasts for a short time, usually within 20-30 minutes. After taking the eggs, they will be handed over to the laboratory for further processing.
After the operation, women may feel some discomfort, such as slight abdominal pain, fullness and slight bleeding. These symptoms usually disappear within a few days.
Sperm processing and embryo culture
After egg retrieval, the laboratory will combine the sperm and eggs collected at the same time with egg retrieval, usually using in vitro fertilization (IVF) or micro injection (ICSI) technology. Both techniques inject sperm into the egg to promote fertilization.
After fertilization, the fertilized eggs will be cultured in the laboratory. The commonly used medium can provide nutrients and environment for embryo growth. Embryo culture usually lasts for 3-5 days, during which the embryo will develop into multiple cell structures.
In the process of embryo culture, doctors and laboratory personnel will regularly monitor the development and quality of embryos, and select the most likely embryos to be successfully implanted for transfer.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy detection
Embryo transfer is the last step in the IVF program. The doctor will select the most promising embryo and insert it into the patient's uterine cavity through a thin tube. This process is similar to endometrial biopsy, and usually does not require the use of anesthetics. The time of embryo transfer is usually 3-5 days after egg retrieval.
After transplantation, patients need to rest for a period of time, control physical activity, and take drugs according to the doctor's instructions to help embryo implantation and pregnancy. Usually, within 10-14 days after transplantation, the patient can conduct pregnancy test to determine whether the pregnancy is successful.
summary
The IVF pregnancy cycle includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm treatment and embryo culture, embryo transfer and pregnancy detection. This process requires close cooperation between doctors and laboratory personnel to ensure smooth progress. Through IVF technology, many couples have successfully realized their reproductive dreams, but the success rate will vary depending on individual conditions. Therefore, professional doctors should be consulted and comprehensively evaluated before IVF.
