When a couple struggles with conceiving, one of the most effective ways for them to have a healthy baby is certainly IVF. It sounds like a pretty simple process, you take an egg and fertilsie it with sperm and after several months you welcome your newborn. In reality, there is a little more to the process and we are often asked how long the IVF process takes.  

IVF has 3 stages (ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo fertilisation and implantation). An average IVF cycle lasts a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks, but can be more, depending on how things progress. 

A woman can experience side effects from the whole procedure. The emotional side of the process is sometimes the biggest challenge. This is the main reason why you should come prepared to your initial consultation if you are considering IVF procedure. Knowing what to expect and what questions to ask your fertility specialist prior to starting the whole process will help you prepare to go through the whole process as smooth as possible. More information is available here to support you in your initial consultation.  

After you have had a thorough consultation with your IVF specialist and finished all the paperwork and financial part of the IVF, you start the whole process with testing. Pre-IVF testing includes blood tests, ultrasound and male fertility testing.  

Following the initial tests, you will be asked to take hormone pills in order to regulate your menstrual cycle. Depending on your individual diagnosis, you may also be asked to take some additional medication at the stage. 

When your ovaries and hormones are synchronised, ovarian stimulation begins. You will have to take fertility injections in order to stimulate multiple follicles so that they are ready to release the eggs. You should be prepared for regular visits to the fertility clinic during this period for ultrasound and tests. This step lasts for 8 to 12 days. 

Once monitoring shows that your egg follicles are grown to an appropriate size, you will get an hCG injection that will trigger the final maturation of the eggs ready to be retrieved within 36 hours.  

In most cases, the semen is provided on the same day as the eggs are retrieved. After this step, the eggs and semen are combined, fertilisation occurs and embryos are created. It takes several days (usually 5) to test embryos for viability. Once they are assessed to be healthy, the embryo transfer can happen. 

This is the most exciting part of the IVF procedure. With a very small tube, the doctor will insert the embryo into your uterus. 

After 9 to 12 days, you can test for pregnancy. For this period and maybe for the first several months of your pregnancy, you will be taking progesterone suppositories to help improve the chances of a successful pregnancy.  

The whole process can sometimes be overwhelming and we offer support throughout the process to ensure you have everything you need. We also offer a 100% money back guarantee if you do not have a successful pregnancy on the Assured Plan. We will do everything to help you to bring home a healthy baby, and we are so confident of success that we will give you back your money if you do not have a successful birth. 

For more information, contact us 0333 234 0895; info@assuredfertility.co.uk. 

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