how in vitro fertilization works Related: Sex Determination - Heredit...
IVF follows a womanβs menstrual cycle. If your doctor determines that youβre a good candidate for IVF, hereβs what you can expect:
1. Ovarian stimulation
Before or at the beginning of each IVF cycle, youβll start receiving injections of hormones to coax your ovaries into producing additional mature eggs and to keep your bodyβs ovulation schedule on track. At the beginning of your menstrual cycle, youβll get blood work done, along with a baseline ultrasound. Youβll continue getting blood work and ultrasounds done so your doctor can monitor your developing follicles (fluid sacs that hold the eggs in your ovary) as well as egg maturity. When your doctor verifies that you have several mature follicles, youβll be given a different hormone to help the eggs mature.
2. Egg retrieval
A day or so after the follicles are deemed mature, your doctor will remove eggs from your ovaries with the help of an ultrasound and needle inserted through your vagina. The procedure takes less than a half hour and is done under conscious sedation, which means youβll be awake but wonβt feel anything.
3. Fertilization
Your doctor will then determine if your eggs are mature. If they are, your harvested eggs and your partner or donorβs semen will be combined, allowing the sperm to fertilize the eggs. If your partnerβs sperm is low motility, your doctor will inject the sperm directly into the eggs for a better chance at fertilization.
4. Embryo transfer
The last stage of this cycle is the transfer. Once your doctor determines which eggs β now called embryos β were successfully fertilized and which look healthiest, youβll return to the office for implantation. Your doctor uses an ultrasound to guide a catheter (a small, thin tube) into your uterus to place the embryos. The process doesnβt usually require anesthesia.
5. Progesterone
After the transfer, youβll be given a hormone called progesterone daily for the best chances of maintaining pregnancy at this early stage. About two weeks after the embryo transfer, youβll get a pregnancy test. If itβs positive, youβll continue the progesterone. A week or two later youβll have an ultrasound. If the IVF procedure has been successful, your pregnancy will be monitored. If itβs unsuccessful, the process starts over.
IVF offers couples who want to have a baby naturally the opportunity to do so. The process and technology behind IVF is well tested and has resulted in many healthy babies. To find out if IVF is right for you and to learn more about the procedure, talk to your doctor or contact Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.