Couples or individuals struggling with infertility can fulfill their dream of being parents through an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure. The IVF procedure is an effective treatment method that helps couples struggling with infertility issues. It involves fertilizing the woman’s eggs with sperm through the laboratory. After fertilization, the fertilized eggs are frozen, preserved, or transferred to a mother’s uterus. If you struggle with infertility, you can increase your chances of conceiving through a South Asian Fertility Mountain View IVF specialist. Here is what you need to know and expect after the IVF procedure.
Which Infertility Issues Require the IVF Procedure?
The IVF procedure involves a complex series of invasive procedures. Your doctor will likely recommend other fertility treatments, such as fertility medications, before trying the IVF procedure.
Generally, most women aged 40 and above usually have difficulty conceiving. Therefore, age is usually a significant determinant of whether you are suited for an IVF treatment. Here are some other factors or situations that might need an IVF procedure.
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Unexplained and longstanding infertility
- Uterine fibroids and endometriosis
- Male infertility due to sperm motility issues, low sperm count, or lack of sperm
How Do You Prepare for an IVF Procedure?
Before starting the IVF treatment, your doctor will conduct multiple tests, such as testing for the levels of the follicle-stimulating hormone. Your FSH levels will determine the size and quality of your eggs, which the doctor will use to understand what contributes to your infertility issues.
Your doctor will also take some imaging tests on your uterus to check for any abnormal growth of tissues, such as fibroids. Also, it helps in determining the best way to implant the embryo.
For men, your doctor might need to conduct a sperm testing procedure to determine the sperm’s shape and size and analyze their number. If the sperm is not healthy or weak, your doctor might conduct a procedure known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which is part of the IVF process.
What Are the Steps Involved During the IVF Procedure?
Before the IVF process begins, your doctor will guide you through the steps to help you ease your anxiety and be comfortable. A complete IVF cycle undergoes five main stages, as highlighted below.
- Ovarian stimulation: To increase the chances of producing a viable embryo, your doctor might provide hormonal injections to increase the production of multiple eggs. You will continue using these fertility injections for approximately 8 to 12 days. You will undergo various ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor your egg maturation within this period.
- Egg retrieval: Under local anesthesia, your doctor will gently insert a thin needle through your vaginal opening using ultrasound guidance to retrieve the mature eggs.
- Insemination: The donor’s retrieved eggs and sperm cells are taken to the lab by the doctor and mixed in a petri dish. This process allows fertilization to take place naturally.
- Embryo culture: The fertilized eggs will be carefully monitored by your doctor while taking several embryo tests to check for any genetic condition.
- Embryo transfer: Your doctor will transfer the embryo into your cervix three to five days after fertilization using an ultrasound guide. If the embryo successfully implants itself on the uterine wall, pregnancy occurs.
Are you struggling to conceive a child naturally? Contact or visit NOVA IVF to receive a solution to your problem and access the best IVF services. A team of fertility specialists, including embryologists, will comfortably guide you through the IVF process at your own convenient time. Call their office or schedule an online consultation appointment for more questions about IVF.
