For many couples struggling with infertility, IVF is a great option to start a family of their own. Over the years, IVF procedures have improved to give patients a better experience and outcomes. Going down the IVF route can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining for many, especially if you don’t know what to expect. If you are getting ready for your first IVF cycle experience, this one is for you.
When you and your partner have tried conceiving for close to a year or more with no positive outcomes, you may choose to consult a fertility specialist. In this consultation, the fertility doctor will assess both partners for fertility and other health complications that could be interfering with your attempts to conceive.
Your doctor can suggest IVF for multiple reasons. It could be your fertility issue, age, health issues, etc. IVF is not as common a topic as pregnancy itself for people to discuss freely. Remember, there is no shame or wrong with choosing IVF. It is a medical intervention that can help you conceive. After that initial step, it is like any other pregnancy.
In most cases, the IVF cycle steps will be very similar. It may be slightly different for some due to various factors that led them to choose IVF.
Once you and your partner decide to go the IVF route, you will most likely go through the following steps:
The very first step is consultation. Your fertility specialist will discuss the entire process with you both. During this consultation, you will discuss your fertility issues, health issues, concerns and fears about IVF, financial requirements, etc. This step helps you get an overall picture of the entire journey. You can go back home, discuss it with your partner, and come back with your decision.
Once you start the IVF cycle, the first step is medication. They will give extra hormones to the female partner to stimulate her ovaries. Stimulation will lead to an increase in egg release. This enables the doctors to extract the maximum number of eggs possible during that cycle.
Next, they will retrieve the eggs once they are mature. After sedating the patient, the doctors will use a needle, guided by ultrasound, to retrieve the eggs from the ovaries. Some women may experience cramping and discomfort soon after the procedure. It will ease out on its own within a few hours.
The male partner will have to ejaculate in the fertility clinic, and the semen will be collected for insemination. If the male partner cannot provide healthy sperm, a donor sperm can be used.
The eggs and sperm are brought together in the lab for fertilisation. Eggs that fertilise successfully become embryos. Also known as insemination, this can be done by either mixing the eggs and the sperm in a lab dish or by injecting the sperm into the egg. The doctor will decide after considering various factors.
The embryos will be left undisturbed in the petri dish for a few days to develop. This can take about 3 to 5 days depending on how quickly the embryos develop.
Next, the healthy embryos are carefully extracted and transferred into the Uterus. The older you are, the more embryos are transferred. This increases the chances of a successful implantation. Sometimes, this can lead to multiple pregnancies when more than one embryo attaches to the uterine wall.
After successful implantation, you are pregnant. You will require a blood test and an ultrasound about 2 weeks after the embryo transfer to check for implantation and pregnancy.
Now that you know what to expect from your first IVF cycle, let's break it down into a day-to-day timeline.
Day 1 of the cycle will be the first day of your menstruation. When your period starts, you will have to visit your fertility clinic. They will take a few blood tests and an ultrasound to check your hormone levels and the number of follicles in your ovaries.
Next, they will start stimulating your ovaries with fertility drugs. The frequency of your hormone/fertility drug shots will depend on your age, body condition, and how the body reacts to the medications. These injections can go on for about 2 weeks.
Once the stimulation starts, they will start closely monitoring your follicles and hormone levels. You may have regular blood tests and ultrasounds to keep track of the progress and impact of the fertility drugs on your follicles.
Anytime between days 8 and 10, once your follicles have reached the desired size, indicating the presence of mature eggs, you will be given the trigger shot. This injection will prepare the body for ovulation – the phase where the ovaries release mature eggs for fertilisation.
Approximately 36 hours after the trigger shot, ovulation can occur. At this time, fertility specialists will put you under anaesthesia and use a needle to retrieve the mature eggs. You may feel some cramping or tenderness after this egg retrieval procedure.
Next, it is time to fertilise the eggs with sperm. More than one egg can be fertilised successfully, leading to more embryos.
The embryos will be monitored for a few days to see how they develop. During this time, you can even do genetic testing if you have asked for it before starting the treatment.
The most awaited day of the IVF is finally here. The procedure is quick and painless as they will use a thin catheter. You may experience some cramping after the procedure.
Your menstrual cycle is almost over, and the next cycle will start soon. Now is the time to take a pregnancy test.
When you undergo IVF, you can expect the following side effects:
● Weight gain and mood swings due to hormonal injections and hormonal changes in the body. Some women may experience mild cramping after the embryo transfer.
● Spotting and mild bleeding after the transfer can be signs of implantation – this is common in natural conception, too.
● OHSS – a condition where the ovaries are overstimulated due to fertility drugs. This can lead to bloating, abdomen pain, and discomfort. It will slowly settle down once you are off the injections.
● You may conceive more than just one baby.
● You may be put on bed rest for part or most of the pregnancy to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
● Your IVF may not convert into a successful pregnancy. IVF cycles can fail for various reasons, and many couples undergo multiple IVF cycles before they have a successful pregnancy.
IVF is a good option for those struggling with fertility issues. While the IVF journey can be smooth for some, it can be challenging and take more time for others. It varies from person to person, and no one can predict the outcome of an IVF cycle. Consult a fertility specialist and take a second opinion, if needed, before you decide on IVF.
The success rate of the first IVF cycle averages between 20% – 40%. It can vary depending on various factors that affect the outcome of an IVF cycle.
Approximately 2 weeks after the embryo transfer, you will undergo a blood test to check for pregnancy. Your doctor might have a blood test, a urine test, or both to confirm pregnancy.
One of the biggest side effects of IVF is (OHSS) – overstimulation of the ovaries due to hormone/fertility injections. It can lead to abdominal pain, bloating, rapid weight gain, breathing difficulties, or nausea and vomiting. IVF can also lead to multiple births, ectopic pregnancy, or birth defects in the baby.
A typical IVF cycle can take about 4-8 weeks, depending on the case. This timeline includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, insemination, embryo transfer, and a pregnancy test 2 weeks after the embryo transfer. It can take longer in some cases.
