IVF Treatment Process and Considerations
Recently, a number of patients have inquired about the specific steps, potential risks, and precautions involved in IVF treatment. A full understanding of these is crucial for a woman to successfully prepare for IVF egg retrieval and improve her treatment success rate, as detailed below.
Steps of IVF treatment
Ovulation stimulation: The use of drugs such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) stimulates the development of follicles in the woman’s ovaries, encouraging them to release more eggs at one time in order to increase the number of eggs retrieved. The procedure usually lasts for 8 – 12 days, during which time the follicle development is closely monitored.
Egg retrieval: Under ultrasound guidance, the ovaries are punctured vaginally with a special fine needle to retrieve mature eggs. The procedure takes about 15 – 30 minutes and requires strict asepsis to minimise the risk of infection.
Cultivation of fertilised eggs: The retrieved eggs are placed in a specific environment in the laboratory and fertilised in vitro with sperm, either by conventional fertilisation or by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fertilisation process is usually completed within a few hours.
Embryonic development: The fertilised egg divides and develops in a suitable incubator with precisely regulated temperature, humidity and the necessary nutrients to mimic the in vivo environment. The zona pellucida usually hatches around the 3rd day after egg retrieval.
Embryo Transfer: The well-developed embryos are selected and gently transferred into the woman’s uterine cavity with the help of a transfer catheter on day 3 – 5 after egg retrieval. The procedure takes about 10 – 15 minutes and requires precision and gentleness.
Risks of IVF egg retrieval
Pain: Some patients may experience mild to moderate pain during egg retrieval. Depending on the level of pain, pain medication will be given after the procedure to relieve symptoms.
Infection: Although the egg retrieval procedure is strictly aseptic, there is still a possibility of infection at the site of egg retrieval. In case of infection, anti-infection treatment is required. Antibiotics are usually given prophylactically after surgery to reduce the chance of infection.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): OHSS may be caused by the use of ovulation stimulating drugs, and patients may suffer from abdominal distension, nausea, and dyspnoea, etc. There are individual differences in the severity of OHSS, with mild cases requiring no treatment and resolving on their own, and severe cases requiring hospitalisation for observation and treatment.
Bleeding: After egg retrieval, some patients may experience a small amount of vaginal bleeding, which is a common phenomenon. The amount of bleeding varies from person to person and usually lasts for a few days. If the bleeding is heavy or accompanied by other discomforts, it is necessary to consult a doctor in time.
Psychological pressure: IVF egg retrieval is an invasive operation, which is likely to bring psychological pressure to patients. Patients are advised to actively seek psychological support before and after egg retrieval, and if necessary, professional psychological counselling can be conducted.
Precautions
Preparation for painless egg retrieval: If painless egg retrieval is chosen, patients should abstain from food and water for 8-12 hours before the operation to avoid vomiting and aspiration during the operation.
Rest after egg retrieval: patients should rest in bed for 1 – 2 hours after egg retrieval, avoiding strenuous activities to prevent accidents.
Discomfort after egg retrieval: After egg retrieval, patients may experience slight abdominal distension and discomfort, which is a normal physiological reaction and usually lasts for a few days and can be relieved on its own.
Regular checkups: After egg retrieval, regular checkups are required to monitor ovarian recovery and pregnancy as prescribed by the doctor, so as to detect and deal with any problems that may arise in time.