What are the stages of IVF program? Let

Stage I - ovarian stimulation. 

Usually, on the 2nd or 3rd day of menstruation, the reproductive specialist at the appointment performs an ultrasound of the pelvic organs, evaluates the data of the clinical and laboratory examination, the expiration date of the tests and certificates. If all is alright, the doctor prescribes the medication.

Then, every 3-5 days, you will undergo several more ultrasounds, this is necessary to assess the growth of follicles and endometrium. As soon as the follicles have reached the required size (17-18 mm), stimulation is stopped and a trigger is prescribed - medication for follicle maturation. After 36 hours, follicular puncture is performed.

Stage II - follicle puncture. Manipulation, which is the extraction of oocytes (eggs) from the follicles. As a rule, follicular puncture is performed under general intravenous anesthesia. Through the fornix of the vagina, two punctures are made with a thin needle, through which the contents of each follicle, which contains the egg, is aspirated. All manipulation is performed strictly under ultrasound control and lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

After the puncture, the patient remains under observation for about 1-2 hours. The reproductive specialist prescribes further therapy to prepare the endometrium for embryo transfer.

Female reproductive cells (oocytes or eggs) obtained during puncture are transferred to the embryological laboratory. There the "magic" happens.

Stage III - obtaining embryos. Until 1978, it seemed impossible to imagine that sex cells can exist outside the human body, and not just exist, but develop, form a new organism. However, on July 25, 1978, thanks to talent and many years of laborious research, it was possible to obtain an embryo, pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child. Since then, a new direction in medicine has been formed - assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

The embryological stage is one of the most important and takes from 48 to 144 hours. Currently, most often in the laboratory, embryos are grown to the blastocyst stage (5th day of development), and then they are transferred into the uterine cavity, if necessary, material for PGD is taken, or embryos suitable for transfer are cryopreserved.

Embryologists carefully monitor all the processes of embryo formation, carry out their daily assessment using the most modern equipment. Nowadays, there are even special embryoscopes with a continuous imaging function that allow you to monitor changes in the embryo continuously, which allows you to select the most promising embryo for transfer, which has the greatest implantation potential.

Stage IV - transfer of embryos into the uterus using a special thin catheter, which is inserted into the uterine cavity through the cervix.

The choice of the transfer day is determined by the doctor. It depends on many factors (quantity, quality of embryos, their development, the patient's condition). The number of transferred embryos is also determined by a number of factors (the age of the patient, the presence of gynecological, somatic pathology, the number of IVF attempts, the quality and number of embryos obtained). It is allowed to transfer no more than 2 embryos into the uterine cavity!