7 Important Steps of In-Vitro Fertilization Treatment at Fertility Clinics

Fertility clinics follow this process for in-vitro fertilization: gynecological assessment, patient assessment, carrying out of medications to stimulate the woman’s ovulation, eggs retrieval, fertilizing and incubating the eggs, implanting the embryo, and embryo implantation monitoring.

For people who have trouble conceiving, a jacksonville fertility clinic offers services specializing in giving care and treatment of infertility issues. Generally, fertility clinics have a step-by-step process for the different medical treatments conducted on their patients. In-vitro fertilization is one of the most common treatments done in fertility clinics. This medical treatment also involves its own series of steps to follow.

Gynecological examination

The first procedure is the gynecological assessment in which the female patient has to undergo to validate her infertility. This procedure is important in determining whether IVF treatment is the best course of action to take.

Patient assessment

Once a patient has been diagnosed with an infertility issue, the next step is evaluation or assessment. This step can take as long as one to two months and may be divided into parts. Orientation and education of the couple about IVF treatment is the first part of this procedure. Part two of the procedure involves examinations and diagnostic testing of the patient to see if IVF treatment will work for her.

Providing medications to stimulate the woman’s ovulation

At the beginning of a woman’s menstrual cycle, the fertility doctor will prescribe two hormone medications. The first medication aids in controlling the timing of the period of ovulation while the other triggers the production of eggs. Each medication is given via injections on a daily basis. During the course of the medication, the patient will also undergo trans-vaginal ultrasounds. This helps in assessing the follicle development where the woman’s eggs are enclosed. Subsequent to the doctor’s finding that the woman’s eggs are fully matured and ready for ovulation, a third medication follows. The last medication releases the eggs by stimulating the ovaries. This procedure is often carried on the 12th day of the course of the treatment.

Retrieving the eggs

As soon as the eggs are mature, they will be retrieved. The first step in egg retrieval is the administration of anesthesia by the doctor. The eggs are taken from the follicles and placed into a test tube using a needle. They will conduct a trans-vaginal ultrasound to help guide the procedure.

Fertilizing and incubating the eggs

The retrieved eggs are combined with sperm collected from the husband. Approximately 60% of the total number of eggs retrieved is fertilized. After being fertilized, the eggs are incubated and monitored closely for up to 5 days.

Administering the embryo’s implantation

The resulting embryos from the previous step are evaluated for quality. An astraumatic catheter is used to transfer the desired number of embryos into the patient’s uterus. Usually, about 2 to 4 embryos are implanted. The embryos which are not used can be preserved using cryopreservation for future use in case the first pregnancy fails.

Monitoring the implantation of the embryo

In this step, the patient takes progesterone, which will help in the implantation of the embryos. A pregnancy test is given on the 10th day. The patient can have her prenatal care to her own physician once the pregnancy test turns positive. A new cycle of treatment is conducted if the embryos are not implanted successfully.

The success of each step in the process affects the overall success of the fertility treatment so it is important that each step is properly carried out and completed.