| Stage of Cycle | Length of Stage | Procedures Involved in Stage | Medications Involved in Stage |
| Screening | 2-3 Weeks | - Nursing consultation
- Personality test (MMPI-2)
- Baseline ultrasound and blood work
- Meeting with staff psychologist
- Complete physical
| No medications during this stage |
| Synchronization | | - Begin taking oral contraceptive to match ovulation cycle
| - Oral contraceptive
|
| Suppression | 7-10 days | - Class on how to inject medication
- Continue oral contraception
- Begin Lupron injections
- Ultrasound and blood draw
- Gonadotropin injections
| - Oral contraceptive
- Lupron injections
- Gonadotropins (Fertinex, Follistim, Gonal-F)
|
| Stimulation | | - Begin exogenous gonadotropin injections (twice daily)
- Ultrasound and blood draws (1-4 day intervals)
- Take hCG injection “trigger shot”
- Final blood work
| - Exogenous gonadotropin injections
- hCG injection “trigger shot”
|
| Retrieval | 1 day | - Obtain egg using special needle and ultrasound
| - IV sedation
- Doxycycline (antibiotic)
|
| Follow Up | | - Final ultrasound and check-+up
| No medications during this stage |