How Long Does IVF Take to Get Pregnant?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technique that is often the last hope for people trying to conceive.

IVF can take weeks or months depending on factors like age, fertility, and emotional well-being.

• IVF is a multistep process that requires time and patience.
• If you’re undergoing IVF, a pregnancy test will usually confirm your pregnancy in about seven to nine days (sometimes two weeks) after embryo transfer.

Some monitor their symptoms in the hopes of detecting pregnancy before it’s confirmed. However, IVF pregnancy symptoms can be complex and misleading (like other types of pregnancies).

A single IVF cycle can last four to six weeks, but sometimes it can be longer depending on the success rates of the treatment.

Some people get pregnant after one cycle, while others need more cycles. Typically, one to two weeks after egg retrieval, blood tests are done to confirm pregnancy.

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure where eggs are collected and fertilized in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are cultured for three to five days and then either implanted or frozen for future use.

IVF is more successful than natural fertility due to the large number of eggs produced and the low number of sperm required for fertilization.

IVF treatment involves the use of medications (gonadotropins or FSH, LH, progesterone) that are typically administered through injections. In some cases, progesterone supplementation may be necessary to maintain optimal levels.

8 steps in IVF

1. Ovarian stimulation:
2. In a natural cycle, only one egg grows and ovulates, but IVF medications stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs.
3. Medications containing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are used to stimulate follicle growth. Another medication is used to prevent premature ovulation.
4. Ultrasound and hormone level monitoring is done to track follicle growth.
5. The stimulation protocol is chosen based on egg reserves.
6. Egg retrieval:
7. After ovarian stimulation, the eggs are collected under ultrasound guidance.
8. Anesthesia is administered, and the eggs are retrieved through the vagina.
9. After retrieval, the eggs are prepared for fertilization.
10. Fertilization:
11. The eggs are isolated and fertilized on the same day.
12. Conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used depending on sperm concentration.
13. Fertilization is confirmed by the presence of two pronuclei.
14. Embryo culture:
15. The embryos are cultured for five days under controlled conditions.
16. Embryo status is checked throughout the culture period.
17. Progesterone is given to prepare the uterine lining for embryo transfer.
18. Embryo transfer:
19. Embryo transfer is typically done on day five.
20. The procedure is painless and does not require sedation.
21. The best embryos are transferred into the uterus.
22. Freezing of embryos:
23. High-quality embryos are frozen for future use.
24. Hormone pills are taken before the transfer.
25. Transfer of embryos:
26. Embryos are transferred back into the uterus.
27. The procedure is simple and does not require anesthesia.
28. Checking for success:
29. A pregnancy test is done two weeks after embryo transfer to confirm conception.

QUESTION

Who should undergo IVF?

IVF is recommended for people who have difficulty conceiving and have undergone a thorough fertility assessment.

Common reasons for IVF:

• Age-related infertility: IVF can increase the chances of conception for older individuals by producing more eggs or using donor eggs.
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or miscarriage: IVF can help in cases of recurrent pregnancy loss by increasing the number of potential embryos and improving implantation.
• Unexplained infertility: IVF is often successful for couples with unexplained infertility.
• Anovulation: Ovulation-inducing drugs or IVF can help with anovulation.
• IVF can stimulate egg development in people with low egg reserves.

IVF is also recommended for people with nonfunctional fallopian tubes and poor sperm quality.

What’s the success rate of IVF?

The global average success rate for IVF is between 30 to 50 percent.

Freezing embryos before implantation has increased success rates. Many IVF clinics now regularly use frozen embryos.

The success of IVF depends on various factors including overall health, reproductive health, age, sperm quality, embryo quality, and the expertise of the clinic and its staff.