- Posted On: September 27, 2013
- Categories: Preconception
- Tags: IVF
When a couple is having trouble becoming pregnant on their own, a fertility and ovulation calendar provides an easy way to measure and keep track of a woman’s ovulation cycle to help increase your chance of getting pregnant.
What is a Fertility and Ovulation Calendar?
A fertility and ovulation calendar lays out the timetable for a typical in vitro fertilization process. The average fertility calendar is a span of about eight weeks; beginning with the start of hormone-suppression medication (ovary stimulation may be shorter or longer depending on your body’s response). Should the IVF cycle fail to bring about a viable pregnancy, you may begin another fertility calendar cycle after 4-6 weeks.
An IVF fertility cycle uses assisted reproductive technology to fertilize a woman’s eggs outside her body. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the woman’s uterus through the cervix. 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.
Beginning the Fertility and Ovulation Calendar: Medications
The first week of your fertility and ovulation calendar begins with the first day of your menstrual cycle (if you have regular menstruation).
On day 4 of the menstrual cycle, you’ll begin taking an oral contraceptive and continue for 1-5 weeks. Next, a series of medications is implemented to suppress hormone production and control ovarian stimulation.
3-5 weeks from the start of your IVF cycle, the patient takes a baseline ultrasound and blood tests. After the completion of 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, egg retrieval takes place. IVF specialists then fertilize the egg in a lab setting using assisted reproductive technology.
3-5 days after retrieval, one or more fertilized embryos are transferred to the uterus. Followed by a pregnancy test is taken 2 weeks (14 days) after the egg retrieval process. Should the IVF cycle fail to bring about a viable pregnancy, you may begin another cycle after 4-6 weeks (28 days).
Want to Learn More?
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.