Treatment itself is now finished.
To
correct a possible defect of the corpus luteum and to facilitate
implantation of the embryos, hormonal supplementation will
be given
at least until day 17 after oocyte pick-up.
Moreover, blood controls of hormonal levels are required until
day 6 after oocyte retrieval, in order to evaluate the quality
of luteal
function.
At day 17, a blood test is performed in order to detect the
presence of
hCG (pregnancy hormone secreted by the implanted embryo from
day 12 after fertilization).
This hormone stimulates the corpus luteum which, therefore,
maintains
its secretion of increasing levels of progesterone which can
also
be detected in the blood.
If the hCG test is positive, an ultrasound examination will
be carried out around day 28 after egg pick-up in order
to localize and measure
the gestational sac(s) containing the embryo(s) in the uterus.
