Proper IVF monitoring ensures a successful egg retrieval
When you decide to pursue IVF, you may feel shocked at first by the number of appointments, medications and steps in the treatment process. Our entire team of Tulsa fertility specialists is here to explain the process and offer the support you need, every step of the way. Early in the IVF process, we will schedule regular IVF monitoring, a critical component leading up to egg retrieval.
A review of the IVF cycle
To begin an IVF cycle, your physician will prescribe injectable fertility medications, which stimulate egg production. During this time, we schedule IVF monitoring appointments to track your progress.
Once your follicles are mature, you will return for the outpatient retrieval procedure. Our embryologists then combine the egg and sperm together and analyze the embryo development to choose the highest-quality embryo for transfer. After the embryo transfer, patients return to the clinic to confirm pregnancy approximately two weeks later.
What is IVF monitoring?
Before one of our Tulsa fertility specialists can perform the egg retrieval, your ovaries must produce viable eggs, and they need to reach a certain maturation level.
In a normal monthly cycle, your body releases one egg. Injectable fertility drugs called gonadotropins enable multiple follicles to develop, a process that is designed to generate numerous eggs for the egg retrieval. We use IVF monitoring to track patient progress and egg maturation, as well as to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), an over-response to the strong fertility medications.
How do we monitor an IVF cycle?
During the ovarian stimulation phase of your IVF cycle, you will visit our clinic every few days for routine bloodwork and ultrasounds. With this information, we can analyze your progress and make any adjustments to your treatment. These appointments involve several steps.
- Blood work. Through blood tests, our Tulsa fertility specialists can review your hormone panel to assess estrogen levels. Higher estradiol numbers usually indicate the development of multiple eggs.
- Ultrasound. The size and number of developing follicles lets our doctors know if the fertility medication is working as expected. During a transvaginal ultrasound, our provider will count the follicles and measure their growth to determine how long it will take them to reach the appropriate size for egg retrieval.
- Follow-up communication. Once we receive your results, one of the nurses will call to discuss your progress and go over any medication changes, if needed. Patients can use this call to ask any questions they have about medication, their progress or next steps.
At Tulsa Fertility Center, we understand that infertility treatment can feel confusing and overwhelming. Our doctors offer advanced fertility treatment options, including IVF monitoring, and pro