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Is Test Tube Baby Procedure Painful?

Is Test Tube Baby Procedure Painful?

The journey towards parenthood is always exciting and filled with hope and questions, especially when you opt for assisted reproductive treatments, such as IVF. Perhaps the most often asked question of all is: Is the procedure to conceive a test-tube baby painful?

In vitro fertilization or IVF can hold the promise of pregnancy for those couples who cannot conceive otherwise. You must be wondering what it feels like. There are a few key steps involved in hormone injections, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer. Some can be temporarily uncomfortable.

However, knowing what to expect and how to manage discomfort can reduce anxiety greatly. In this post, we will look into the procedure of IVF, reveal common discomforts while undergoing the treatment, and find out how to cope with discomfort throughout the process.

Process Of Test Tube Baby

There are many roads to parenthood, and some may need to travel the road of In Vitro Fertilization, which is also known as the “test-tube baby” technique. This technique involves five stages in total. Over the years, millions of couples have been blessed by the birth of a baby through IVF over the years, the process itself is a little intimidating if you are not familiar with it. Well, let’s see the process involved in IVF:

Consultation: Consult your fertility specialist to identify the reason for the inability to conceive. You will go through some tests, including blood tests, pelvic ultrasound, and semen analysis.

Ovarian Stimulation: This method helps to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs through a series of injections and medications.

Egg Retrieval: Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs are mature, they are retrieved from the ovaries using a surgical procedure called follicular aspiration. Usually, 10 – 15 eggs are ideal for increasing the chance of successful fertilization .embryo transfer occurs 3 to 5 days after egg retrieval, depending on the development stage of the embryos.

Embryo Transfer: After fertilization, the eggs are allowed to grow into embryos for five days in the laboratory. Then, the healthy embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus.

Pregnancy Test: After two weeks of embryo transfer, a pregnancy test will be conducted to determine if the procedure was successful.

Let us see these processes in detail below.

Ovarian Stimulation:

After consultation, the first step in IVF is to stimulate the ovaries. The main goal is to stimulate the ovaries to release more than one egg. Usually, ovaries release one egg during a routine menstrual cycle, but here, the ovaries are stimulated to release more eggs. You might be wondering why. This will improve the chances of successful fertilization and embryo transfer, with more eggs available.

You will receive a hormone injections at the start of the treatment, typically for 10-14 days. In IVF treatment, These trigger injections are administered to stimulate your ovaries to develop a number of eggs at once. As a result, you will undergo serial ultrasounds and blood draws to see the reaction in your body.

For many people, some menstrual-type symptoms occur, such as bloating, mood swings, or tenderness in the breasts. These effects are usually mild and have disappeared over time as the stimulation phase ends.

Egg Retrieval:

Now, after preparing your eggs, comes a process commonly known as egg retrieval, which is also referred to as aspiration. This is a relatively simple procedure that involves minor invasion and usually takes place under light sedation. 

At this point, the physician will inject an ultrasound-guided needle very gently into your ovaries to aspirate your eggs. The whole process lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, and you don’t feel it because of the sedative.
You may feel a little spaced out afterward.

 Women report some slight cramping or spotting for a few days. Note that this is all normal. Most people can return to their work within a day or two. The retrieved eggs will be fertilized in the laboratory.

Embryo Transfer:

After obtaining the eggs, they will be fertilized in the lab with sperm. You can obtain the sperm from your partner, or these can be donated. After fertilizing the eggs, the embryo is cultured in an artificial medium until they are ready to be transferred to the uterus. The embryologist will choose the best viable embryo and place it into the uterus.

This is a fairly simple procedure. Your doctor just takes a thin, flexible tube and inserts the embryo into your uterus. It is a quick, painless, anesthesia-free procedure. A fine catheter is passed through the vagina and cervix, through which the blastocyst (a ball of cells that has formed in the earlier stage of embryo culture) is transported to the uterus.

Most of the women do not feel anything at all during this procedure. But you may have a little cramping afterward. After having the embryo transferred into you, they will instruct you to take rest for a short while in hospital before heading home.

Common Discomforts During IVF

Everything has its own value, so does the IVF. You may need to go through some pain and discomfort during the process but in the end it’s all worth it. If you wish to conceive, you need to endure some discomforts during IVF. Here are some common discomforts during the process.

  • Hormonal Surge: Mood Swings & Bloating 

In case you’d ever be doing IVF, you’d receive hormone injections, and these injections stimulate your ovaries to produce several eggs in one cycle. They may help your body produce multiple eggs, but some unwanted side effects will ensue. 

You might feel bloated and moody. You may look a little “puffy” and snap at your partner over something they usually do not do. To overcome this, hydrate yourself well and dress comfortably. Involve in relaxed activities to reduce mood swings.

  • Egg Retrieval: Mild Cramping & Soreness

You will be sedated when you go in to have your eggs retrieved, but you’ll not feel a thing while it is being done. Still, you may experience some cramping, bloating, or even light spotting afterward. 

It kind of feels like you have done a really intense workout, which means your body is just doing its best to recover. Rest for at least one or two days after the procedure has been done. If cramps are severe, you can take some painkillers on your doctor’s advice.

  • Embryo Transfer: Light Cramping

Egg transfer might seem painful, but you might feel a little bit of slight cramping or feel just a little uncomfortable a few minutes after the embryo transfer. However, the process is pretty short, and since no anesthesia is used, there’s not much to be scared of regarding the procedure.

Go easy on chores the rest of the day, but don’t think you are on bed rest! Just be gentle with your body!

  • Anxiety & Uncertainty

The worst part of IVF may not be the physical discomfort that it entails, but the roller coaster of emotions. You’re done with the embryo transfer, after which you have to wait for a couple of weeks for the pregnancy test, and that is really nerve-wracking.

Temporary discomfort is way more than worth it with IVF. Endure this mild discomfort and stay positive for the possibility of a successful pregnancy!

Coping With Discomfort Throughout The Process

IVF can be a rollercoaster both emotionally, physically, and mentally. Although you cannot control the process, you can manage this discomfort. Here’s how you can do that:

Know Your Emotions

You may feel frustrated, sad, or overwhelmed while thinking about the difficulties of IVF. Your emotions are subject to change. So accept your emotions and try to overcome them.

Create Your Support Network

You’re not the only one. Take comfort in your partner, family, or friends. Having conversations with people who understand you can relieve your burden emotionally.

Take Care of Yourself

Find some time for yourself. It could be a bubble bath, reading a good book, or just a short walk. Something will revive your mind and body. And don’t forget to get rest, as IVF is draining, too.

Be Positive

Focus on the small wins and celebrate each one of them. Never be too hard on yourself when things do not go as planned, though. All that matters is progress, not perfection.

Distract Your Mind

IVF takes most of the space in your brain, but it does not mean you have to be obsessed with it 24 hours a day. You can make your mind wander by doing your hobbies, watching your favorite TV show, or even doing a new project.

Ask Questions

If you do not understand or if you feel scared about anything, you should consult your physician. Being well-prepared will reduce anxiety and give you the feeling of having more control over the situation.

Conclusion:

In this blog, you can clearly understand the process of the test tube baby, common discomfort during the process, and how to cope with it. Now you can answer this question: Is it painful to produce a test-tube baby? Of course, there is no way to sugarcoat it, and there will be a few uncomfortable moments on the way. 

Most of it happens to be temporary. From hormone injections to egg retrieval, there are several uncomfortable moments, but these can all be managed by having the right support and mindset. Be positive, stay strong, and all those steps bring you closer to your dream of holding your child in your arms.

FAQs

Is Sedation Used During The Egg Retrieval Process?

Yes, sedation is used during the egg retrieval process to relax you and prevent pain during the retrieval procedure.

How Long Does Pain Typically Last After Each Stage?

After the egg retrieval, you may feel discomfort for 7-10 days. After all the IVF procedures have been done, you may recover after 2-3 days of complete rest.

Are There Any Long-Term Side Effects?

IVF does not have any long-term impact on your health. You may experience some discomfort, such as bloating, breast tenderness, nausea, and soreness for a short period.

Picture of Dr Niveditha
Dr Niveditha

Dr. Niveditha is the co-founder of The Hive Fertility and Research Centre. She is a young and passionate fertility expert who aims to provide high-quality fertility treatments to her patients. During her 10+ years of service as a fertility expert, she has helped several hundreds of patients overcome their infertility and become parents. She also specializes in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive endocrinology

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