{"id":1622,"date":"2024-06-19T11:32:21","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T08:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/?post_type=ypiresies&#038;p=1622"},"modified":"2025-11-03T12:31:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T10:31:03","slug":"in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-process-step-by-step","status":"publish","type":"ypiresies","link":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/ypiresies\/in-vitro\/in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-process-step-by-step\/","title":{"rendered":"In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Process: Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Sometimes, getting pregnant naturally doesn\u2019t happen\u2014even after several months of trying. Other times, you may want to delay family planning. In either case, understanding your options and knowing when to seek medical advice is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re planning to postpone pregnancy, <strong>egg freezing<\/strong> is a proactive option that allows you to preserve your fertility and use your eggs later for <strong>IVF<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve already been trying to conceive without success, it\u2019s important to consult a specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Women under 35<\/strong> should seek help after <strong>12 months<\/strong> of trying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Women over 35<\/strong> should do so after <strong>6 months<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-df74a584 gb-headline-text\">How IVF Can Help<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In vitro fertilization (IVF)<\/strong> can help many couples with fertility challenges achieve pregnancy and fulfill their dream of having a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d7bb4ee3 gb-headline-text\">Step 1: Consultation with Your Gynecologist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The fertility journey starts with a detailed consultation. Your doctor will review your medical history and lifestyle. Initial tests, such as <strong>progesterone level checks<\/strong>, will be done. Based on the findings, a personalized treatment plan will be created to maximize your chances of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common fertility challenges may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Endometriosis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Male infertility (low sperm count or motility)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blocked fallopian tubes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erectile dysfunction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unexplained infertility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Previous unsuccessful treatments (ovulation induction, IUI)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, polyps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Irregular menstrual cycles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sexually transmitted infections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced maternal age<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, options like <strong>egg donation<\/strong> or <strong>surrogacy<\/strong> may be discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-98c4d977 gb-headline-text\">Step 2: Monitoring Your Cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If proceeding with your own eggs, your menstrual cycle will be closely monitored. Sometimes, medications are used to regulate the cycle. For example, treatment may be needed to induce menstruation and ensure the ovaries begin at a consistent baseline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b3b62496 gb-headline-text\">Step 3: Ovarian Stimulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next phase is <strong>ovarian stimulation<\/strong>, which encourages the development of multiple eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most women receive <strong>gonadotropin injections<\/strong> for 10\u201312 days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitoring includes regular ultrasounds and hormone tests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When a sufficient number of mature follicles develop and the endometrial lining reaches <strong>17\u201318 mm<\/strong>, an hCG injection is given to trigger ovulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Egg retrieval<\/strong> follows 35\u201336 hours later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For women at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation (e.g., those with PCOS), an <strong>antagonist protocol<\/strong> with an <strong>agonist trigger<\/strong> is used. In such cases, <strong>embryo transfer is done in a future cycle<\/strong> to reduce the risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If stimulation is not used (<strong>natural cycle IVF<\/strong>), the single egg produced naturally is tracked through ultrasounds and hormone tests, and retrieved at the appropriate time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In women with <strong>low ovarian reserve or a poor response<\/strong> <strong>to stimulation and treatment<\/strong>, <strong>mild stimulation (mini IVF)<\/strong> or <strong>natural IVF<\/strong> may be the best approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-fb808409 gb-headline-text\">Step 4: Egg Retrieval<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Egg collection is performed in the IVF unit and takes about <strong>15\u201330 minutes<\/strong> under light sedation. Patients arrive early in the morning after fasting for at least half an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eggs are collected using an ultrasound-guided needle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Retrieved eggs are placed in a culture medium.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A sperm sample is provided by the partner or donor on the same day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fertilization occurs in the lab, and patients can return home later that day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3ef9033c gb-headline-text\">Step 5: Fertilization and Embryo Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Eggs are either:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Combined with sperm for <strong>standard IVF<\/strong>, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fertilized via <strong>ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)<\/strong>, especially in cases of low sperm count or azoospermia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, sperm is retrieved directly from the:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Epididymis (<strong>PESA<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Testicle (<strong>TESA<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Testicular tissue (<strong>TESE<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Techniques like <strong>assisted hatching<\/strong> may also be used to help the embryo implant more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-26e0fed4 gb-headline-text\">Step 6: Embryo Transfer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Embryo transfer takes place <strong>3 or 5 days<\/strong> after egg retrieval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A thin catheter is used to place the embryo(s) into the uterus\u2014<strong>no anesthesia required<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Usually <strong>1 or 2 embryos<\/strong> are transferred, depending on your age and medical history.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remaining embryos can be <strong>frozen<\/strong> for future use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-19262f31 gb-headline-text\">Step 7: Pregnancy Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Two weeks after egg retrieval, an <strong>hCG blood test<\/strong> is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If positive, the test is repeated after 48 hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An <strong>ultrasound<\/strong> is performed two weeks later to confirm embryo development and detect the heartbeat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-7a58dcbd gb-headline-text\">If Pregnancy Is Not Achieved<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the IVF cycle is unsuccessful\u2014or before your first attempt\u2014additional testing may be needed, especially in cases of <strong>recurrent miscarriages<\/strong> or <strong>implantation failure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Karyotyping<\/strong> (chromosomal analysis of both partners)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thrombophilia and immune testing<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Endometrial microbiome testing<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hysteroscopy<\/strong>, to check for uterine issues such as adhesions, polyps, fibroids, or chronic inflammation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An <strong>endometrial biopsy<\/strong> can also be taken to check for lining abnormalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3f02d96c gb-headline-text\">Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In cases of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advanced maternal age<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recurrent miscarriages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Known genetic conditions (e.g., <strong>thalassemia<\/strong>, <strong>cystic fibrosis<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>PGT may be recommended. This involves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biopsy of the embryo at the <strong>blastocyst stage<\/strong> (day 5)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Embryo freezing<\/strong> while awaiting test results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transfer of only <strong>genetically healthy embryos <\/strong>in a future cycle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-57e9b55c\">\n\n<p><strong>Contact us<\/strong> for anything that concerns you at <strong><a>info@sfsivf.gr<\/a><\/strong> or by clicking the button below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/epikoinonia\/\">Contact Us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes, getting pregnant naturally doesn\u2019t happen\u2014even after several months of trying. Other times, you may want to delay family planning. In either case, understanding your &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Process: Step by Step\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/ypiresies\/in-vitro\/in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-process-step-by-step\/#more-1622\" aria-label=\"Read more about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Process: Step by Step\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1048,"parent":1740,"menu_order":0,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1622","ypiresies","type-ypiresies","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ypiresies\/1622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ypiresies"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ypiresies"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ypiresies\/1622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2437,"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ypiresies\/1622\/revisions\/2437"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ypiresies\/1740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfsivf.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}