How long does IVF take?
IVF, also known as assisted reproductive technology, is a way to help couples who cannot conceive naturally achieve their reproductive aspirations. As a well-known medical institution in China, Peking University First Hospital has rich experience and professional team in the field of IVF. The following will elaborate on the timing of IVF from four aspects.
Initial diagnosis and examination in hospital (1-2 weeks)
Before choosing Peking University First Hospital for IVF treatment, couples need to have a preliminary diagnosis. In the initial diagnosis, professional doctors will learn about the couple's birth history, physical condition and other relevant information to assess whether it is suitable for IVF treatment. Initial diagnosis usually takes only one day or several hours.
After the initial diagnosis, the hospital will arrange a series of examinations to determine the treatment plan. These examinations include blood examination, endocrine examination, ultrasonic examination, etc. The purpose of these examinations is to assess the fertility potential of the couple and eliminate existing health problems. This phase usually takes 1-2 weeks, depending on the complexity of the inspection items.
Drug treatment and egg retrieval (2-4 weeks)
After the treatment plan is determined, women will receive drug treatment to promote the growth and development of follicles. These drugs are usually ovulation promoting drugs, which promote the development of multiple follicles by adjusting hormone levels.
Drug treatment usually lasts for 10-14 days, during which multiple ultrasonic examinations are required to monitor the development of follicles. Once the follicle has developed to the proper size, the doctor will recommend an egg retrieval operation. Egg retrieval is usually carried out at the last stage of drug treatment, and the whole process needs to be completed in the operating room. This phase usually takes 2-4 weeks.
Fertilization and embryo culture (3-5 days)
After taking eggs, the hospital will collect eggs and conduct in vitro fertilization with sperm. This stage is carried out in the laboratory. Professional medical personnel will monitor the combination process of eggs and sperm to ensure the success of fertilization.
The successfully fertilized eggs will continue to be cultured in the laboratory. Generally, embryos will be cultured in vitro for 3-5 days, during which doctors and laboratory personnel will closely monitor the development of embryos.
Embryo transfer and observation (2-3 weeks)
After the end of embryo culture, doctors will select the most promising embryos for transplantation. Embryo transfer is usually a simple surgical procedure without anesthesia. After transplantation, couples need to have a period of rest and observation to provide the best environment for embryo growth.
About two weeks later, the hospital will conduct a pregnancy test to determine whether the pregnancy is successful. At this stage, women can have a blood test or an ultrasound test to confirm the positive results of pregnancy.
To sum up, the IVF process usually takes about 4-8 weeks, and the specific time will vary depending on the couple's personal conditions and treatment plans. Through the professional team and advanced equipment of the First Hospital of Peking University, the success rate of IVF continues to increase, allowing more couples to realize their dreams of childbirth.
