Time required for IVF embryo placement
IVF technology is a kind of assisted reproduction technology. The fertilized eggs or embryos are artificially cultured in the laboratory, and then placed in the mother's body to make them develop into babies. So, how long does it take for IVF to place embryos? The following will be elaborated from different perspectives.
Time of embryo culture
The time of embryo culture depends on the development of the embryo and the doctor's recommendation. Generally, the fertilized egg divides in the process of in vitro culture, the first day is the single cell stage, the second day is the two cell stage, and so on. On the third day, some embryos will develop to the eight cell stage, while others may develop to a higher cell stage. Doctors usually select the most promising embryo for placement after the embryo has developed to the multicellular stage.
With the progress of science and technology, many hospitals now also recommend extending the culture time of embryos, that is, delayed embryo culture. This method allows the embryo to develop to a higher cellular stage, such as the blastocyst stage. Blastocyst means that the embryo is wrapped in a transparent embryo sac after 5-7 days of development in the incubator. Women receiving blastocyst transfer may have a higher success rate, because at this stage the embryo is closer to the natural environment in the uterus.
Therefore, embryo culture may take 3-7 days in general, depending on the development of embryos and the doctor's recommendation.
Time of embryo transfer
After the embryo develops to a specific stage in the incubator, the doctor will choose a suitable time to transplant it back to the mother. The time for embryo transfer is usually 3-6 days after fertilization, depending on the doctor's advice and the patient's specific situation.
There are two types of embryo transfer methods: routine embryo transfer (or three-day embryo transfer) and blastocyst transfer (or five-day embryo transfer). Routine embryo transfer refers to the transfer of embryos that have developed to the multicellular stage back to the mother, while blastocyst transfer refers to the transfer of embryos that have developed to the blastocyst stage back to the mother.
Embryo transfer is usually a simple painless operation, and the whole process only takes a few minutes. After that, patients need to continue taking progesterone and other drugs to help embryo implantation.
Time of multiple IVF cycles
Sometimes, a single IVF cycle may not be successful and multiple attempts are required, which is called multiple IVF cycles. The whole process of each new IVF cycle from menopause to the end of embryo transfer usually takes about 4-6 weeks.
In multiple IVF cycles, the specific time of each cycle is also different, depending on the patient's physical response and the doctor's arrangement. Generally speaking, doctors will make appropriate plans according to the patient's menstrual cycle and personal conditions.
summary
The time for IVF to place embryos depends on the culture and transfer of embryos. Embryo culture takes 3-7 days. Blastocyst culture can be selected to improve the success rate. Embryo transfer is usually carried out 3-6 days after fertilization, and routine embryo transfer or blastocyst transfer can be selected. Multiple IVF cycles usually take 4-6 weeks. The specific time of each IVF cycle depends on individual conditions, and doctors' suggestions and arrangements must be followed to improve the success rate.
