What is IVF?

In Vitro Fertilization is a technological reproductive treatment that assists the patient to enable fertilization in their bodies. This process facilitates pregnancy and is popularly known as IVF treatment. The off-springs that are born through this technological procedure are known as “test-tube babies”.

In the IVF process from start to finish, there are many steps that a woman must undergo to become pregnant. It is an assisted procedure that includes the intake of fertilization medications and the extraction of the eggs produced in the body. The following few steps of IVF include the culturing of the eggs with the sperm taken from the male counterpart in a petri dish, after which the embryo is formed. The fertilized embryo is transferred into a woman’s uterus. The embryo transfer is one of the vital steps involved in IVF technique. Once the embryo is transferred, if they attach to the uterine wall, it results in pregnancy.

Who Should Undergo The IVF Process?

All the steps of the IVF process help a woman to conceive a baby when they face problems becoming pregnant naturally. Couples who eagerly want a child and suffer from various complications to conceive a baby can undergo the IVF procedure step by step. There are several reasons why a woman cannot become pregnant. Some of these complications are mentioned below:

• Unexplained Infertility: Where the cause and reason for infertility is not explicitly explained or is undetected. It affects both women and men.
• When A Fallopian Tube Is Not Present: You will not be able to become pregnant. Sometimes, fallopian tubes are removed or eliminated in surgery or due to a severe problem.
• Male Infertility Issues : Like low sperm count 
• Abnormal Ovulation: A disorder in women that makes it difficult to conceive.
• Blocked / Damaged Fallopian Tubes: If your fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, you may fail to get pregnant.
• Genetic Disorder: Some people face infertility issues because they have some genetic problem. Genetic disorders play a very dominant role when it comes to infertility problems in both men and women.

If you face infertility and have been trying to conceive for the longest time now, it’s time to seek other options. You can undergo the IVF process from start to finish which will help you become parents.

What Is The IVF Process Step By Step?

There are various steps involved in the IVF process from start to finish. The entire procedure is a long one and can be daunting to many couples. But, as a patient, you are expected to be relaxed and composed the whole time. 

Listed below is a detailed explanation of the IVF process step by step, which will give you an insight into this technological procedure.

Step 1:

At the initial step, you have to examine yourself and look for changes in your health and body. If you find any change, you must visit a doctor. The doctor will perform several tests on you, including a thorough check-up of hormone levels, the condition of fallopian tubes, the health of your uterus, and the health of the cervical area. Apart from these tests, the status of sperm is also examined. Blood samples are extracted from the couple, and then further testing takes place.

Step 2:

After the physical examination is done, your doctor will stop the natural ovulation process with some medications and other prescription drugs. The doctor may even use some injections or nasal sprays to do the job. This step will continue for a few days.

Step 3:

In the next step, the ovulation process is made more vital, and eggs’ production is strengthened. The more eggs produced, the higher the chances are of fertilization. Although more eggs cause the risk of multiple fertilizations simultaneously, this can be avoided by proper care and monitoring. You will be given medications for your health that you must not fail to take.

Step 4:

This step includes the extraction of eggs from your ovaries. 34 to 36 hours before the extraction of eggs, a hormone injection is administered, which helps the eggs to mature. In this step, a needle is inserted into your fallopian tube through the vagina, guided by ultrasound imaging. While performing this step, you will be given sedatives as they can cause discomfort. It is also considered a minor surgery that lasts for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 5:

In the fifth step, the sperm sample is collected and treated. The eggs and sperm are kept in a unique sterilized container. This process is called insemination.

Step 6:

A hormone stimulating medicine is prescribed to you to attach the embryo to the lining of your womb. Hormone stimulating medicine is given before transferring the fertilized eggs to the womb. The doctor uses a catheter to insert the embryo into your womb. You will not be given any sedative during this step. 

Step 7:

The last stage of the IVF step by step procedure is the attachment of the embryo, after which pregnancy occurs. You can only confirm your pregnancy after a few days of transferring the embryo into your womb. You are advised to take some rest and wait for the final results.

Understanding the IVF procedure step by step is vital for couples who would want to undergo the procedure as it helps them overcome apprehension. If you are one of those couples, you must consider assisted methods to become parents.

What Are The Risks And Side Effects Of IVF?

Several risks that are associated with IVF treatment are mentioned below.

• Cramping
• Severe headache
• Bloating
• Allergic reactions
• Mood swings
• Tenderness in your breasts
• Infections
• Risk of bleeding
• Miscarriage
• Premature birth of the baby
• Ovarian cancer
• Some congenital disabilities in the newborn
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

While there are risks associated with this procedure, for couples who want to become parents but have failed to conceive naturally, IVF is a blessing.