When should IVF treatment be started?
The question of when to start IVF treatment varies according to the situation of the couples. After the first meeting and examination with your doctor, the treatment is started according to the treatment program that your doctor deems appropriate for you.
Short Protocol and Long Protocol in IVF Treatment
At your first examination, the menstrual cycle of women does not matter. However, at the stage of starting the treatment, it is decided after your doctor evaluates you whether it will be the 2nd and 3rd day of the menstruation (short protocol) or the 21st day of the previous menstruation, which we call the long protocol (long protocol).
When is IVF treatment started? Short and long protocols
Short Protocol
This method, in which treatment is started on the 2nd or 3rd day of menstrual bleeding, is called a short protocol. Your doctor should examine you while you are menstruating. The purpose of the examination at this stage is to evaluate whether your menstrual cycle is suitable for starting treatment. After the evaluation of your doctor, treatment is started. In treatment, you use drugs and needles that your doctor deems appropriate for you to enlarge your eggs. After your doctor determines the dose of your needles and medications, you will be given a detailed explanation. It is extremely important to make the correct preparation of these drugs that you will use. After you use the medicines given to you correctly, you come to the controls when your doctor deems it appropriate. In this process, the growth of your follicles (eggs) is followed. After this treatment, which lasts approximately 10-12 days, the egg collection process is decided.
Egg collection is performed by your doctor under anesthesia. You will not feel any pain or pain as you are anesthetized while your eggs are being collected. With the sperm sample taken from your spouse, egg fertilization is performed that day. Embryo follow-up is done in the laboratory and your transfer is planned. For the next process, your doctor will inform you and guide you according to the program decided at the beginning of the treatment.
Long Protocol
In long protocols, treatment is started on the 21st or 23rd day of the previous menstrual period. By starting the medicine your doctor deems appropriate for you, you go for a checkup on the 2nd or 3rd day of the next menstrual period. After this control, extra injections are started for you, taking into account the hormone values checked that day. During this process, the growth of your follicles (eggs) is monitored. Approximately as in the short protocol, it will take 10-12 days for your eggs to grow. These drugs, which are extremely important to use, should be applied carefully and correctly. In ultrasound-guided follow-ups, your doctor will check that your eggs reach the appropriate maturity. Afterwards, it is decided to collect your growing and mature eggs under anesthesia. After your doctor collects your eggs, your procedures will continue as in the short protocol. Your doctor will guide you according to the process.
The purpose of these protocols is to stimulate your eggs and get more eggs. Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the required protocol and apply the appropriate treatment to our patient.
Your doctor will decide on the most suitable protocol for you after evaluating you. In this process, you need to pay attention to the correct and regular use of your medicines. Remember that IVF treatment is teamwork.
We are a team.
You can visit our Youtube page to get fast and accurate information on personalized in vitro fertilization treatment, pregnancy follow-up, IVF, gynecology, drug use trainings, and many more .
Gynecology, In Vitro Fertilization, Pregnancy and Reproductive Immunology pages.