The whole process of IVF
IVF is a kind of assisted reproductive technology, which is used to help couples who cannot conceive naturally realize their desire to have children. The whole process of IVF will be introduced in detail below.
Patient assessment and preparation
Before IVF treatment, doctors will carefully evaluate the couple. This includes physical examination, medical history inquiry, birth history investigation, etc. to determine the treatment plan. If the cause of infertility is found, such as fallopian tube blockage and poor quality of male sperm, doctors may recommend IVF treatment.
Before starting treatment, female patients need ovulation guidance drugs to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Doctors usually use ultrasound technology to monitor the development of follicles. Once the follicle has reached a sufficient size, the doctor will give the patient human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection to trigger the egg excretion.
Egg collection and sperm extraction
Egg collection is usually carried out within 36 hours after hCG injection. In the operating room, the doctor will puncture the needle through the vagina into the ovary to locate and extract eggs. This process is usually carried out under anesthesia to ensure the comfort and safety of the patient.
At the same time, male patients need to provide fresh or frozen semen samples. If male patients have poor semen quality or suffer from azoospermia and other problems, doctors may choose to use sperm extraction technology, such as testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) or sperm low concentration extraction (MESA).
In vitro fertilization and embryo culture
After eggs are collected, they are fertilized in vitro with sperm in the laboratory. This can be done through traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracellular sperm injection (ICSI). IVF is to place hundreds of eggs and sperm in a culture dish to let them naturally combine. ICSI selects a single high-quality sperm in the laboratory and injects it directly into the egg.
After fertilization, the egg will continue to develop in the culture dish. In the next few days, the embryo will go through multiple cell division stages, and finally form a blastocyst. During this period, doctors will select the best embryos for transplantation.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy testing
Embryo transfer is the last step in IVF treatment. The doctor will select the best embryo and use a catheter to place it in an appropriate position in the patient's uterus. This process is usually painless and does not require anesthesia.
Next, the patient needs to wait and observe. After about 10 to 14 days, the doctor will conduct a pregnancy test to determine whether the pregnancy is successful. If the result is positive, the patient will enter the early pregnancy monitoring stage and continue to check regularly to ensure the healthy development of the embryo.
Factors influencing the success rate of IVF
The success rate of IVF treatment is affected by many factors. Here are some key factors:
Age: Female age is a key factor in the success rate of IVF. Young women usually have better egg quality and higher pregnancy success rate.
Causes of infertility: The reason for infertility will also affect the success rate of IVF. Some reasons, such as fallopian tube problems or uterine problems, may reduce the success rate.
Embryo quality: Embryo quality is directly related to the probability of successful pregnancy. Healthy and high-quality embryos have better implantation and development ability.
Experience of doctors and hospitals: Choosing doctors with rich background and experience and hospitals with advanced equipment can improve the success rate of IVF.
Summary
IVF is an assisted reproductive technology that helps couples who cannot conceive naturally realize their reproductive dreams through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The whole process includes patient assessment and preparation, egg collection and sperm extraction, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture, as well as embryo transfer and pregnancy detection. The success rate of IVF is affected by factors such as age, infertility causes, embryo quality, and doctor and hospital experience.
