How many retrieved eggs fertilized

Women and years old have low live birth rates with low egg numbers. Success rates are much better when relatively high egg numbers are obtained.

All age groups have very low success rates with less than 3 eggs retrieved This is another example of decreasing egg quality with increasing female age. Contact Us. Your fertility doctor will have a good estimate of how many eggs they will likely retrieve based on your ovarian reserve and medication protocol. Your ovarian reserve is determined through baseline hormone testing at the beginning of your menstrual cycle.

They will also look at antral follicle count, which is done via an invasive ultrasound that looks at the follicles in the ovary containing an egg pro tip: you can BYOL— bring your own lube —for the ultrasound probe.

An average of ten to 20 eggs are usually retrieved for IVF, but the number can be higher or lower. Researchers who analyzed thousands of IVF cycles found that the magic number of eggs that lead to a live birth is That is because women who produce too many eggs may have more immature or lower quality eggs. Keep in mind that quality matters as much as quantity, and there are a lot of steps between the egg retrieval and a live birth.

Okay, now that the eggs have been retrieved, the embryologist will fertilize them with the sperm unless they are being frozen as eggs to be fertilized at a later date. The fertilization process takes place overnight after the insemination of the eggs with sperm. Generally , 70 to 80 percent of the eggs retrieved will fertilize.

The average may be lower if sperm or if egg quality is a known problem. Some attrition at this stage is normal and expected. Now the fertilized eggs will develop or not in the lab for the next five to six days. The embryo usually reaches the uterine cavity about five to six days later as a blastocyst made up of about a hundred cells.

In IVF , the fertilized egg turns into an embryo, which divides and multiplies its cells in the lab over this time. A blastocyst is the final stage of embryo development before the embryo is frozen or transferred. Embryos that survive to this stage of development have a higher implantation potential once transferred into the uterine cavity. Related Stories. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. Already a print subscriber? Go here to link your subscription.

Need help? One cycle of IVF can take about two to three weeks. More than one cycle may be needed. The start of an IVF cycle begins by using synthetic hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs — rather than the single egg that typically develops each month. Multiple eggs are needed because some eggs won't fertilize or develop normally after fertilization.

Typically, you'll need one to two weeks of ovarian stimulation before your eggs are ready for retrieval. To determine when the eggs are ready for collection, you may have:. Sometimes IVF cycles need to be canceled before egg retrieval for one of these reasons:. If your cycle is canceled, your doctor might recommend changing medications or their doses to promote a better response during future IVF cycles.

Or you may be advised that you need an egg donor. Egg retrieval can be done in your doctor's office or a clinic 34 to 36 hours after the final injection and before ovulation. If you're using your partner's sperm, a semen sample needs to be provided at your doctor's office or clinic the morning of egg retrieval. Typically, the semen sample is collected through masturbation. Other methods, such as testicular aspiration — the use of a needle or surgical procedure to extract sperm directly from the testicle — are sometimes required.

Donor sperm also can be used. Sperm are separated from the semen fluid in the lab. Typically, transvaginal ultrasound aspiration is used to retrieve eggs. During this procedure, an ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina to identify follicles, and a needle is guided through the vagina and into the follicles.

The eggs are removed from the follicles through the needle, which is connected to a suction device. In intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI , a single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg.

ICSI is often used when semen quality or number is a problem or if fertilization attempts during prior in vitro fertilization cycles failed. Three days after fertilization, a normally developing embryo will contain about six to 10 cells. By the fifth or sixth day, the fertilized egg is known as a blastocyst — a rapidly dividing ball of cells. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group will become the cells that nourish and protect it.

Embryo transfer is done at your doctor's office or a clinic and usually takes place two to five days after egg retrieval. If successful, an embryo will implant in the lining of your uterus about six to 10 days after egg retrieval. After the embryo transfer, you can resume your usual daily activities. However, your ovaries may still be enlarged. Consider avoiding vigorous activity, which could cause discomfort. If you develop moderate or severe pain after the embryo transfer, contact your doctor.

He or she will evaluate you for complications such as infection, twisting of an ovary ovarian torsion and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. About 12 days to two weeks after egg retrieval, your doctor will test a sample of your blood to detect whether you're pregnant. The chances of giving birth to a healthy baby after using IVF depend on various factors, including:.

Talk with your doctor about any factors that apply to you and how they may affect your chances of a successful pregnancy.