The process and steps of IVF
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method to make infertile couples pregnant and have children through in vitro fertilization. The process and steps of IVF will be introduced in detail from four aspects.
Step 1: ovarian stimulation
The first step of IVF is ovarian stimulation. Women receive medication to promote ovarian development and produce multiple follicles. Commonly used drugs include ovulatory stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which are administered by injection or orally. The doctor will determine the dosage and use time of the drug according to the patient's specific conditions and physical reactions.
During this process, through regular ultrasonic examination and blood testing, doctors will regularly check the growth of follicles and hormone levels to determine the best time for egg retrieval. Once the follicle reaches the proper size, the doctor will inject drugs to stop the follicle maturation process.
The whole ovarian stimulation process usually takes 10 to 14 days, and the specific time varies from individual to individual.
Step 2: Egg taking and sperm collection
Egg and sperm collection is the second step of IVF. This process needs to be carried out in the operating room, usually within 36 hours after the follicle reaches sufficient size. The patient received local or general anesthesia.
Doctors use ultrasound guided fine needle puncture technology to extract follicles. This process usually takes a few minutes. At the same time, men provided semen samples. The semen sample is processed, the sperm is extracted and the best sperm is selected for the subsequent IVF process.
Step 3: In vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilization is a key step in IVF. In this process, the doctor puts the obtained eggs and sperm in a culture dish to provide a condition simulating the internal environment, so that the sperm can naturally enter the egg and complete fertilization.
Once fertilization is successful, each fertilized egg is considered as a potential embryo and continues to be cultured in a petri dish. During the culture process, the doctor will monitor the development of the embryo, which usually lasts for 5 to 6 days.
Step 4: Embryo transfer and blastocyst freezing
The fourth step is embryo transfer and blastocyst freezing. This step is usually carried out 3 to 6 days after fertilization. Doctors will select the best embryo and transfer it to the uterus of a woman.
Embryo transfer is usually carried out by inserting a thin tube into a woman's vagina and passing through the cervix into the uterus. This process usually does not require anesthesia and is non-invasive. After successful transplantation, women need to continue taking hormone drugs to support endometrial growth and embryo implantation.
The surplus embryos can be frozen for future use. These frozen embryos can be thawed and transferred when needed.
Summary
The process and steps of IVF are mainly divided into ovarian stimulation, egg taking and sperm collection, in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer and blastocyst freezing. Through these steps, infertile couples have the opportunity to realize their desire to have children. Every step requires the professional skills of doctors and the cooperation of patients. Although this process has certain risks and challenges, it has brought hope and happiness to many couples.
