Waiting for treatment for IVF couples with infertility is a long process. These couples could not simply make love and conceive a baby. With these couples nature needed a little help and IVF (in vitro fertilization) offers them a means and a chance at pregnancy through an otherwise hopeless situation.

According to Resolve  women over the age of 30 and that have a history of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), painful periods and irregular cycles or a partner with male factor infertility (normally a low sperm count) may have infertility problems. Initially IVF was reserved only for women with blocked fallopian tubes. But if you've been diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) or endometriosis you *might* need IVF to conceive. You may try low-tech conception aids to no positive result and IVF is the next positive answer.

Your physician will be the one to determine if you are a good candidate for IVF. If you are the long process for a successful IVF lays ahead. You will then understand what waiting for treatment for IVF couples with infertility is all about.

Here are the steps for waiting for treatment for IVF couples with infertility.

1. Sign consent forms and start the initial diagnostic testing and uterine sounding to determine the position and depth of your uterus. After this has been done the "in vitro" cycle begins. Barrier methods of birth control should be practiced.
    
2. Approximately one week after ovulation you will have a vaginal ultrasound to evaluate your ovaries.
    
3. Next will be the injections of Lupron into your thigh to preven premature LH surge and ovulation. You should start your next menstrual cycle (bleeding) within a week of starting the Lupron injections. Once in a while the cycle will be delayed because of the Lupron.
    
4. On day 2 of the new menstrual cycle you will have another ultrasound to check the ovaries. If they appear normal you will be given a date to start Gonal-F or Follistim "stims" therapy. This helps to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This is given as injections for 5 to 6 days.
    
5. After the stims injections you will have a blood estrogen check and another vaginal ultrasound. Based on the findings of the tests, the dosage of the stims will be adjusted.
    
6. You will continue to inject the adjusted stims for a couple more days and come back for yet another blood estrogen test and vaginal ultrasound to check for mature eggs in the ovaries.
    
7. When the eggs are mature you will be given an injection of hCG to give them a good growth spurt. After this the egg retrieval is scheduled.
    
8. The morning of the egg retrieval, a pre-operative examination will be given and the sedative administered. Most retrievals are done with the help of ultrasound through the vagina. Some are done through laparoscopy. This procedure takes from 20 to 30 minutes. At the same time your partner will have to give the sperm specimen after 3 days of abstinence. After the procedures the sperm and eggs will be united for fertilization. The next day you should have a count of how many fertilized eggs you will have.
    
9. Once the eggs are retrieved you will start on progesterone therapy. This will help the uterus to build up the best lining for the attachment of the fertilized eggs.
    
10. About 3 days after starting the progesterone therapy you will return for the transfer of the fertilized eggs - approximately 3 to 5 eggs will be transferred. Some women will have to wait until 5 days later to have a "blastocyst" transfer. Once the transfer takes place you will remain in bed for about an hour and will be on strict bed rest the remainder of the day.
     
11. You will be given Doxycycline, an antibiotic, to take for several days to prevent infection.
     
12. 11 days after the embryo(s) transfer you will take a pregnancy test after IVF or have a beta hCG level done. If it's positive your physician will give you will be instructed what to do. If negative, you will make an appointment to discuss the next cycle.