The whole process of IVF: from conception to birth
IVF is a kind of assisted reproductive technology, which helps couples who experience difficulties in childbirth realize their desire for pregnancy and childbirth. The whole process of IVF includes the following key steps: selecting appropriate hospitals and doctors, preparation before treatment, in vitro fertilization, embryo culture and selection, embryo transfer, pregnancy monitoring and pregnancy maintenance.
Select the right hospital and doctor
Choosing a professional IVF clinic or hospital is a very important step. You can obtain information about different hospitals by searching and consulting others' experience, and understand their professional background, medical facilities and success rate. Some famous IVF hospitals enjoy high reputation worldwide, such as Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States and Cambridge Hospital in the United Kingdom.
Once the hospital is determined, it is very important to choose an experienced and trustworthy doctor. You can learn about the background and professional qualifications of doctors through the hospital website, hotline or direct appointment with doctors. During the interview with the doctor, you can put forward your doubts and problems, and understand the doctor's treatment methods and success rate.
When selecting hospitals and doctors, fully understanding their reputation and professional level will help ensure safety and success rate.
Preparation before treatment
Before IVF treatment, you need to make some preparations. The first is a comprehensive physical examination, including gynecological examination, blood examination and reproductive system examination. These tests will help doctors understand your physical condition and determine the treatment plan.
In addition, you need to be mentally prepared. IVF treatment may bring some physical and psychological pain and pressure, so it is essential to fully communicate and support with your partner and family. You can seek the help of a psychological consultant to learn how to deal with stress and anxiety in order to maintain a positive attitude.
There are also some preparations in life, such as adjusting diet, avoiding smoking and drinking. These preparations can improve the success rate of IVF.
In vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilization is a key step in IVF. During in vitro fertilization, women first receive injection of ovulation promoting drugs to increase the production of eggs. Then, after proper time of culture, the eggs are collected. This process is usually accomplished by puncturing the uterus.
Men need to provide semen samples. In some special cases, semen samples may be obtained through semen extraction or testicular puncture.
Next, in the laboratory, doctors combine semen with eggs for in vitro fertilization. If in vitro fertilization is successful, a fertilized egg or embryo will be formed.
Embryo culture and selection, embryo transfer, pregnancy monitoring and pregnancy maintenance
In the stage of fertilized embryo culture and selection, doctors will cultivate the fertilized eggs into multiple embryos. These embryos will be cultured for a period of time, and then doctors will choose the healthiest and most suitable embryos for transplantation.
The transfer process is usually painless, and doctors will implant the embryo into the uterus in a non-surgical manner. Then, you need to wait for a period of time for pregnancy monitoring, including blood tests and ultrasound. If the embryo is successfully implanted and develops normally, you will become pregnant.
During pregnancy, you need to carry out regular examinations and pregnancy maintenance according to the doctor's advice. These examinations and maintenance work will help ensure the normal progress of pregnancy and improve the success rate of IVF.
Summary
IVF is a complex medical technology, involving multiple key steps in the whole process. The selection of appropriate hospitals and doctors, preparation before treatment, in vitro fertilization, embryo culture and selection, embryo transfer, pregnancy monitoring and pregnancy maintenance are all important links. By understanding the details and importance of each link, couples can better understand the IVF process and make wise decisions.
