IVF procedure
IVF procedure:
- Preliminary sonography:
The preliminary sonography is aimed at examining the condition of the uterus for fertilization. Sonography provides information about the condition of ovaries, follicles and the blood flow to ovaries.
- Secondary sonography
On the fifth day of menstruation cycle, another sonography is done. During this sonography the growth of follicles and the thickness of endometrium is examined. The growth of follicles eventually causes ovulation and estrogen production. At this time in order to examine the estrogen of serum, two blood tests will be done. At this stage your doctor might consider applying some technologically advanced techniques such as hysteroscopy which can increase the success rate of IVF significantly according to scientific studies.
- IVF procedure preparation:
Before commencing the IVF procedure, in case you have irregular menstruation cycles your doctor prescribes progesterone. After 6 days taking progesterone, some doctors might prescribe medications to induce ovulation.
- Proceeding with IVF:
IVF procedure starts with menstruation and on the second day of the period, blood tests and vaginal sonography is done. Sonography is aimed at examining the size of follicles and the blood test is to determine the level of estrogen and estradiol.
· Testing and stimulating the ovaries:
At this stage, ovaries are stimulated by fertility drugs. Usually these drugs are injectable and you need to have one to four injections a day for a period of seven to 10 days. These drugs help ovary stimulation and controls the growth of oocyte (immature egg).
- Oocyte maturation:
At this stage HCG is injected. The timely injection of HSG is very important. If HCG is injected prematurely egg would not become completely mature and in case of postponing the injection, the egg would become too mature. Normally HCG is injected when the size of follicle has reached to 18 to 20 millimeters and the level of estrogen has reached to over 2000 pg/ml.