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An embryo is also called an embryo or embryo of a fetus, which, properly nested for 9 months, will develop in the mother’s belly. What are the stages of embryo development during IVF? What are the stages of development before and after the transfer of the embryo into the uterine cavity?
What is an embryo?
An embryo, also known as an embryo, is a combination of an egg and a sperm cell. The stages of embryo development can be divided into weeks:
- 4-5 weeks of embryo development: during this time, the embryo is about 4 mm long and connects to the placenta through the umbilical cord. The skeleton, muscular and nervous systems begin to form. The limbs, kidneys, trachea, lungs, liver, pancreas, ears and eyes are formed.
- 6-7 weeks of embryo development: this is the period of intense embryo growth. In the 6th week, the embryo measures approx. 6 mm, and a week later – 12 mm, including the tail. The picture clearly shows where the head will develop, and the beginnings of the heart also appear. Inside the embryo, the gonadal cells differentiate.
- 8-9 weeks of embryo development: during this time, the embryo reaches 3 cm in length and weighs approximately 1,2-1,5 grams. Mainly the nervous system develops, 12 pairs of cranial nerves come out of the brain, which innervate some internal organs and the head. The tail stops growing, and later becomes covered with the buttocks. The ossification processes begin.
Creating an embryo in in-vitro fertilization
With in-vitro fertilization, the embryo is obtained in laboratory conditions. There are several basic steps in creating an embryo:
- the first stage is the collection of eggs from the ovaries;
- the second step is to collect sperm from a partner or donor
- the third step is sterile placement and self-conception. If the sperm quality is low, the sperm is introduced into the cytoplasm of the ovum using a needle;
- the fourth step is to place the zygote in the incubator where the embryo develops;
- the fifth stage is the placement of the embryo into the uterine cavity, where the embryo is implanted.
The embryo – the first stage of development in in-vitro fertilization
When in vitro fertilization occurs as a result of laboratory activities, the obtained embryo is not immediately transferred to the uterine cavity of the future mother. For the next 3-5 days, the embryo stays in a special incubator in which the embryo strengthens. During this time, cell division occurs, meaning the zygote divides to become the nucleus of the human fetus. About 5 days after fertilization, the embryo is placed in the uterine cavity of the woman, a process called in vitro transfer of the embryos into the uterine cavity.
Embryo – development after transfer to the uterus
After inserting the embryo into the uterine cavity, one should wait for the implantation of the embryo. During this period, a woman usually takes hormonal drugs to promote this implantation. Approximately 12-15 days after this procedure, it is checked whether the embryo has successfully established itself in the uterine cavity. If so, the rest of the pregnancy is exactly the same as with natural conception.
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