- Posted On: January 8, 2012
- Categories: Preconception
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Using a fertility and ovulation calendar can be a simple and effective way to measure and keep track of a woman’s ovulation cycle to determine the most effective time to become pregnant.
A fertility and ovulation calendar lays out the timetable for a typical in vitro fertilization process. A fertility and ovulation calendar typically spans about 8 weeks, beginning with hormone-suppression medication. If the couple has been able to become pregnant by the end of the calendar through the use of in vitro fertilization (“IVF”), the couple may begin another fertility and ovulation calendar cycle in another 4-6 weeks.
Because each IVF procedure is highly individualized, the fertility calendar will be different for each couple. Still, there is a “typical” IVF fertility calendar to follow to give an idea of how the process unfolds.
Walking Through the Fertility and Ovulation Calendar: Medications
The fertility and ovulation calendar begins on the first day of your regular menstrual cycle. On day 4 of the cycle, an oral contraceptive with be administered for 1-5 weeks. Next, medications to suppress hormone production and to control ovarian stimulation are administered.
After some baseline ultrasound and blood tests, medication is given to stimulate egg follicles and encourage the production of egg cells.
Completing the Fertility and Ovulation Calendar: Fertilization and Transfer
After 2 weeks of stimulation, viable eggs are retrieved, and IVF specialists then fertilize the egg in a lab setting.
3-5 days after retrieval, one or more fertilized embryos are transferred to the uterus.
A pregnancy test is taken 2 weeks after the egg retrieval process.
More IVF Information
Cutting-edge techniques have led to increasing IVF success rates for many couples.
You can find out more at a free informational seminar, where doctors from Oregon Reproductive Medicine will answer all your questions about what your fertility calendar could look like.
Our events take place across the country, and we may be visiting your city soon.