IVF Treatment For Pregnancy
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment is a widely used assisted reproductive technology aimed at helping individuals or couples who are struggling with infertility to conceive a child.
Here's a detailed overview of the IVF treatment process:
-
Initial Consultation and Evaluation : - The journey typically begins with an initial consultation with a fertility specialist. During this consultation, the specialist will review your medical history, perform necessary tests, and discuss your options for fertility treatment, including IVF.
-
Ovarian Reserve Testing : - This involves assessing the quantity and quality of a woman's eggs. Tests may include blood tests for hormone levels (FSH, LH, estradiol), an ultrasound to count the number of follicles in the ovaries, and possibly additional tests like AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) levels.
-
Ovarian Stimulation : - Once the decision is made to proceed with IVF, ovarian stimulation begins. This involves administering hormone medications (gonadotropins) to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The dosage and duration of stimulation may vary depending on individual factors.
-
Monitoring : - Throughout the ovarian stimulation phase, regular monitoring is essential. This typically involves transvaginal ultrasound scans and blood tests to assess the growth and development of follicles (fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries containing the eggs) and hormone levels.
-
Trigger Shot : - When the follicles reach an appropriate size, a trigger shot of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or other medications is administered to induce final maturation of the eggs, preparing them for retrieval.
-
Fertilization : - The retrieved eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish for fertilization. In conventional IVF, the eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish and allowed to fertilize naturally. Alternatively, in Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a single sperm is injected directly into each mature egg.
-
Pregnancy Test : - Approximately 10 to 14 days after embryo transfer, a blood test is performed to determine if pregnancy has occurred. If the test is positive, further monitoring will be scheduled to confirm the viability of the pregnancy.