Overview
IVF stands for ‘In-Vitro-Fertilization’ is a series of complex and conscious steps so as to produce healthy babies for couples who are unable to give birth naturally. Does that scare you? No, you really don’t need to as we are practicing it for more than 40 years now.
Humans’ capabilities let him discover and solve many complicated medical issues so far, and the IVF process step by step is one of them.
So, what’s the procedure? Are babies born outside? Not certainly.
IVF process step by step initiates with a collection of mature eggs and healthy sperm from the female and male respectively. The actual fertilization takes place in ‘Glass’ only and once the best embryo is attained after 3-4 weeks, it is transferred back into the mother’s uterus. The rest of the pregnancy is carried out normally.
IVF process step by step from start to finish
Step 1: Initiating the treatment
As we are attempting to perform artificial fertilization, we require more eggs to get matured so that the probability of positive results can be enhanced. For this purpose, we induce FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) injection (with Trigger injection) so that developing eggs can attain maturity before the collection takes place.
Two types of IVF treatment are:
Pituitary suppression before stimulation (long downregulation)
Pituitary suppression after stimulation (antagonist cycle)
The specialist will decide which one to be adopted after examining the patient and accordingly medication, timeline and precautions will be suggested.
Step 2: Stimulation of Ovaries
As we need a higher number of eggs that are present in the follicles, FSH injections (which consist of higher doses than what is produced naturally to maximize the follicles ratio), are induced between the regular intervals of 9 to 14 days.
The regular response is monitored and inspected with help of blood tests and ultrasounds. The injection can be injected by themselves or by the partner if learned properly.
Step 3: Trigger shot/injection
After receiving the adequate amount and quality of the follicles, the FSH dose is halted; this trigger injection is given.
It consists of hCG, “human chorionic gonadotropin”, or “pregnancy hormone” in layman’s language. It acts the same as the hormone produced by the pituitary gland, that is “Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which is responsible for maturation and the breakdown of the follicle so that the egg can come outside.
This injection’s timing is essential because, after 34-36 hours of receiving the final shot of it, eggs are retrieved.
Step 4: Retrieval of eggs and semen collection
After sedating the patient, with the help of a fine needle, a probe guided by ultrasound is passed into the vaginal canal, and extraction of fluid in the follicle takes place. Afterward, 25-30 minutes of microscopical study takes place to determine the mature eggs. A patient is suggested to take rest for a couple of days.
In case of semen collection, the sample can either be collected at home or can also be given at the clinic after consulting with the staff.
Step 5: Final fertilization and development of the embryo
After concentrating on the sperms, both eggs and sperms are placed together for 3-4 hours in a glass dish. The next step is “incubation” which is generally done overnight so that signs of fertilization can be observed the next day.
After verification and consultation with the patient, the fertilized eggs are again incubated for 48 hours.
If the complication also involves male infertility, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) can also be suggested. This will be an additional step in the IVF process step by step.
Step 6: Transfer of Embryo:
This Ivf Process step takes place after 3-5 days of retrieval of eggs and is generally painless. The process can be done by transferring a selected embryo into a uterus through a thin catheter(soft tube) made up of plastic, which is passed through the cervix.
The rest of the healthy embryos are preserved for future use, in case of an emergency.
Step 7: Luteal Phase:
It is a 2-week phase between the transfer of an embryo and the final pregnancy test. The health of the patient becomes the main priority during this period of time. All heavy and tedious activities should be avoided for 2-3 days after the transfer. A person may experience nausea, bloating, cramping, tiredness, and fatigue which are all normal. One can seek help from the clinic’s staff in case of discomfort.
Also, in some cases, bleeding or vaginal spotting can also be observed at certain intervals which do not indicate the failure or success of the whole IVF process step by step. The medications and precautions should be taken till the whole cycle are not over.
Step 8: Final Pregnancy Test
The result of the final pregnancy test can only be known after 14 days of embryo transfer.
The process may sound complicated and even undesirable as one may go through emotional turbulence, anxiety, or expectations but it is all about getting the right guidance at the right time.
We are here to help you to make this journey more comfortable and personalized.
More information contact +91 98886-58889