In vitro fertilization consists of several phases. The first of these is ovulation induction which goes from menstruation to ovarian puncture (when eggs are removed from the ovary). This phase usually lasts between 10-14 days.
After egg retrieval, the second phase begins which is the "laboratory phase" when the eggs are fertilized and the embryos allowed to evolve. Embryos can be transferred between the second and fifth development days.
When the embryo transfer is performed on the 5th day of the embryonic development (blastocyst stage), the pregnancy test (b-hCG in blood) is scheduled 10-12 after the transfer. This would be the luteal phase which goes from the transfer to the pregnancy test.
Read the full article on: What is the two-week wait? – Symptoms and tips after treatment ( 84).
Read the full article on: Can pregnancy tests fail? False positives and negatives ( 51).
Rut Gómez de Segura
M.D.
Gynecologist
Graduation in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Alcalá de Henares. Specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella. Dr Rut Gómez de Segura currently works as medical director in the fertility center ProcreaTec in Madrid.
Licence number: 28/2908776
