Being a parent is a dream come true for many. Most are able to accomplish this dream rather normally, without any hiccup. But there are a few for whom this dream may seem like a distant one. In Vitro Fertilization, IVF helps out such couples. In this process, mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized by sperms in the lab. The embryo thus formed is then transferred to the uterus to achieve conception.
The treatment starts from day 2 of the menstrual cycle and embryo transfer is done usually between day 15 to 19 of the cycle if its fresh embryo transfer. The hormonal injection for growing multiple follicles in ovaries start from the second day of the menses. These injections are usually given for 10-12 days. The patient may experience slight abdominal pain, discomfort, nausea and bloating after 6-7 days of injection.
Once the follicles are developed, the oocytes are extracted from the female and the semen sample is collected from a male on the same day. The eggs and sperms are kept together in a dish giving the sperms time to fertilize the eggs. The resultant embryos are then grown in the lab for 3-5 days after which the frozen embryos are then transferred to the uterus. Post embryo transfer, the patient receives hormonal support in the form of oral tablets and vaginal injections for the next 12-15 days. If the patient is pregnant after this procedure, the support medication continues up to 10-12 weeks of pregnancy.