The 5 Most Difficult Stages of IVF Treatment

1. Ovarian Stimulation (Frequent Injections)

1. Daily scheduled injections causing bruising on the abdomen.

2. Frequent hospital visits for blood tests and ultrasounds, difficult for working individuals to take leave.

3. Elevated estrogen levels leading to mood swings and irritability.

Solutions:

• a. Learn to self-administer injections (follow video tutorials, choose areas with more abdominal fat).
• b. Request flexible working hours from your employer.
• Supplement with Vitamin B6, meditate for 10 minutes daily.

2. Before and After Egg Retrieval (Ascites Warning)

1. After waking from general anesthesia, abdominal bloating feels like 4 months pregnant.

2. Drinking large amounts of sports drinks and winter melon soup, needing to use the restroom 10-20 times a day.

3. Worrying about low egg count or poor quality.

Solutions:

• a. Drink Lingli (1-2 bottles daily) and protein powder (60g daily) preoperatively; postoperatively drink electrolyte water and Lingli.
• b. For ascites, drink Lingli or soak tangerine peel and roasted malt in water—more effective than winter melon soup.
• c. If fewer than 5 eggs are retrieved, prioritize freezing embryos; don't insist on fresh embryo transfer.

3. Embryo Report Day (Surprise Reveal)

1. Out of 16 eggs retrieved, only 2 embryos develop.

2. Hearing "poor embryo grade" leads to immediate distress.

3. Struggling with decision to continue blastocyst culture or freeze immediately.

Solutions:

• a. Learn about embryo grading in advance (day-3 embryos assessed by cell count; blastocysts graded as 4AA/4BB).
• b. Before blastocyst culture, check male partner's sperm DNA fragmentation index (if >30%, consider freezing directly).
• c. Remind yourself: "As long as there is one good embryo, there is hope!"

4. Before and After Embryo Transfer (Emotional Rollercoaster)

1. Embarrassment from Crinone gel leaking onto pants.

2. Afraid to cough or even laugh.

3. Obsessively searching for early pregnancy symptoms and self-diagnosing.

Solutions:

• a. Switch to progesterone injections.
• b. Live normally, walk 30 minutes daily (improves endometrial blood flow).
• c. Immediately after transfer, watch comedy shows.

5. Waiting Period for Results (Intense Anxiety)

1. Testing for HCG as early as day 5, losing sleep upon seeing a negative.

2. Adjusting test strip brightness to maximum looking for faint lines.

3. Anxious insomnia the night before blood test.

Solutions:

• a. Test on day 14 (fresh embryos implant later).
• b. Ask your partner to hide all test strips; an anxious body may reject the embryo. The more relaxed you are, the higher the chance of implantation.