What to Expect Before Starting IVF: Medical Tests and Procedures

IVF

IVF treatment is no less than a boon for couples who are struggling with infertility. It helps to turn their dream of becoming parents into reality under the advanced medical tests & procedures. However, if you are taking this treatment for the first time, initial understanding of the entire procedure is significant to ease some of the anxiety. For further queries, consult the best IVF doctor in Chandigarh today!

Stay connected with AdvaMed & Adbaby IVF Centre to explore what will happen while you are going to take the treatment of IVF. 

How to Get Ready for IVF Treatment?

Initial Consultation

A fertility specialist consultation is recommended to have before IVF treatment. These experts will discuss any fertility concerns you may have as well as your medical history during this visit. Your menstrual cycle, previous pregnancies plus any treatments you have had, will all be questioned during this meeting. This aids in determining your individual needs for IVF treatment.

Fertility Tests To Examine Reproductive Health

To analyse whether you can conceive with IVF, fertility tests are conducted. IVF specialists assess your reproductive health & calculate the success rates of IVF in your situation during these examinations.

  • The test of Ultrasound: The fertility specialist will analyse the ovary & uterus’s health by performing an ultrasound. If the uterus or ovaries are found unhealthy, a doctor first resolves these issues and then switches to the procedure of IVF. Poor uterus health may affect the process of egg implantation.  

 

  • Hormone Testing: Your body’s levels of FSH, LH, plus estrogen are measured by hormonal tests. Both ovulation & egg production depend on these hormones. Infertility problems may be indicated by abnormal levels, which would direct the entire course of treatment.

 

  • Semen Analysis for the Male Partner: A semen analysis is necessary for the male partner. This helps to identify the motility, shape plus seminal fluid count. For the successful completion of IVF, healthy sperm is necessary. However, in the case of poor seminal fluid count, the doctor may recommend semen collection or sperm retrieval options. 

Ovarian Reserve Test to Check Egg Quality

It is used to determine how many eggs you have left. It helps predict how well your ovaries will respond to IVF stimulation. This can be blood tests along with ultrasound scans.

  • Blood examination for AMH: This aids in calculating the egg numbers in your ovaries. Low levels of Anti-Müllerian Hormone assessment can indicate an ovarian reserve reduction. This test confers insight into your potential response to IVF medication.

 

  • Antral Follicle Count: If required, a doctor may perform AFC during the ultrasound. These are tiny follicles with the capacity to grow into fully formed eggs. A higher AFC is a positive sign of a better IVF outcome.

Genetic Screening for Identifying Inherited Conditions

It is optional but can be helpful in many cases. It assesses the risk of passing gene disorders to your baby. The screening includes both the female & male partners. 

  • Screening for Gene Disorder Carriers: It examines if someone is a carrier of genetic problems like sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis. If one or both partners have an inherited condition, it might affect IVF.
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  • Identification of Genetic Imperfection Before Implantation: PGT is the process where genes in embryos are scrutinised for defects before they get implanted. It increases the likelihood that an IVF pregnancy will succeed by minimizing the risk of inheritable illnesses.

Maintaining Uterine Health to Provide a Safe Implant Environment

There is a need for a healthy uterus to boost the chances of successful IVF performance. The following are the popular tests that your IVF doctor can perform:

  • Hysterosalpingogram: HSG is an X-ray procedure done by doctors to evaluate the uterus, fallopian tubes that might be infected. This health checkup can discover any structural problems that could hamper pregnancy or the implantation process. 

 

  • Hysteroscopy: In this process, a specialist in IVF inserts a small camera inside the uterus to detect irregularities like fibroids or polyps. If any problem is identified, it must be fixed before undergoing IVF treatment.

Health & Lifestyle Assessments

A critical element in the success of IVF is your overall health and lifestyle. Some lifestyle decisions or health problems can influence the outcomes of IVF.

  • Blood Pressure & Weight Checking: If you have excess weight or high blood pressure, it might influence your ability to conceive. Your doctor will inspect your whole health condition to boost the success chances of IVF.

 

  • Counselling on Lifestyle and Nutrition: You can enhance fertility by keeping a fit lifestyle together with good dietary habits. Your physician could recommend changes in your diet or your style of living to boost the chances for successful IVF.

IVF Stimulation Protocol for Preparing Your Body for Egg Retrieval

For your ovaries to produce a lot of eggs during the IVF stimulation phase, your body needs to be prepared. Your fertility specialist will discuss the personalized stimulation plan with you.

  • Medicine for making ovaries work: A fertility specialist might give you medicines to help make your ovaries active. This medicine causes your ovaries to create more eggs than they usually do during a common cycle. During this phase, you will be watched over carefully with many tests.

 

  • Watching Follicle Growth: Consistent ultrasound & blood tests will track the growth of follicles. This ensures your ovaries are responding positively to stimulation. If needed, your medication may change.

Preparing for Egg Retrieval

Getting eggs is a very important process of IVF. This means taking the eggs from ovaries to fertilize in a laboratory.

  • Ovulation Trigger Shot: Once the follicles are developed, you will get a trigger shot to induce ovulation. The timing of this shot is precise to guarantee that eggs are collected at the ideal time.  

 

  • Egg Retrieval: Sedation is usually utilised via the egg retrieval process. A doctor will use a needle for egg accumulation through the vaginal wall into the ovaries. It requires 20 to 30 minutes to finish.

The Male Partner’s Role in IVF

The male spouse is likewise crucial, even if the woman is frequently the centre of attention. Male semen collection is required to fertilise the eggs.

  • Semen accumulation: Masturbation is the method used to gather semen on the day of egg retrieval. Seminal fluid aspiration is a technique utilised to extract semen straight from the testes in cases where semen quality is problematic.

 

  • Fertilisation Procedure: After the semen & eggs are gathered, they are mixed in a lab to fertilise them. In certain situations, if the number of seminal fluid is low, sperm may be injected directly into an egg using intracytoplasmic seminal fluid injection (ICSI).

Post-Retrieval Care to Ensure Your Body Is Ready

Once the egg retrieval process is finished, your body requires some time for recovery. There are chances that women may face mild discomfort, bloating, or cramping. To protect this, your IVF specialist will confer you the required post-procedure instructions.

  • Hormonal Support After Retrieval: After completing the process of egg retrieval, a doctor may ask to have progesterone supplements. It helps to prepare your uterus for embryo transfer. This hormone supports embryo implantation.

 

  • Rest & Monitoring: You will need to rest for a few days after the procedure. Regular check-ups will be scheduled to monitor your progress. It ensures that your body is ready for embryo transfer.

 

Lastly, undergoing IVF involves many steps, medical tests along with accurate procedures. Being well-prepared can not only help to reduce stress but also make the process more manageable. By understanding these tests & procedures involved, you can feel confident as you move forward with in vitro fertilisation. Always consult the best IVF doctor in Chandigarh today to ensure the best course of action for your unique needs.

If you are also facing obstacles in your pregnancy conception, meet the best IVF experts at AdvaMed & Adbaby IVF Centre, a renowned IVF Hospital in Chandigarh.