IVF as an International Patient: Planning Your Stay Around Monitoring, Retrieval and Transfer

The spreadsheet has three tabs. One for flights, one for the apartment, one for a column of question marks labeled “scan days.” She has been building it for a week, and the problem is not the flights or the apartment. The problem is that nobody can tell her, with certainty, which morning her ovaries will be ready.

That uncertainty is the honest center of the question ivf abroad how long to stay. An IVF cycle has a shape everyone can describe, but the timing inside that shape bends to how one particular body responds to one particular round of hormone injections. Planning around it is less like booking a surgery date and more like planning around a due date: you know the window, not the day.

This explainer walks through the window. It covers what happens at each stage, which stages tie you to the clinic and which do not, how flying fits around retrieval and transfer, and what the evidence does and does not say about age, cost and “best” destinations. It does not suggest traveling for care. It aims to make an already difficult decision better informed.

IVF abroad: how long to stay depends on which part of the cycle you are in

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a treatment in which eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and one resulting embryo is later placed in the uterus. The NHS and Mayo Clinic both describe a full cycle as taking roughly 2–3 weeks from the first stimulation injection to embryo transfer, with a pregnancy test about two weeks after that.

Those weeks are not evenly demanding. Think of the cycle as three zones. The first is stimulation, usually 10–12 days of daily hormone injections that encourage several follicles (the fluid-filled sacs that each hold an egg) to grow at once. During this zone you need regular ultrasound scans and blood tests, so you must be within reach of a monitoring facility, though not necessarily the clinic that will perform the retrieval.

The second zone is short and fixed: the trigger injection, egg retrieval about 34–36 hours later, and embryo transfer 2–5 days after that. This is the part that genuinely anchors you to one place.

The third zone is the wait. After transfer there is no procedure left to attend, only progesterone support and a blood test roughly 9–14 days later, which can be done through a laboratory near home if your team agrees.

So the real answer to how long to stay is: for the whole cycle in one place, plan on about 2–3 weeks and add a buffer for a body that responds slower or faster than average. For a cycle split between home monitoring and a frozen transfer later, the stay near the clinic can shrink to several days per trip. Which version applies to you is a clinical decision, not a travel preference.

Why monitoring visits dictate your calendar more than the retrieval date

Most people picture the retrieval as the big scheduling event. In practice, the scans that lead up to it are what make firm booking so hard.

During stimulation, your team watches two things. Ultrasound measures how many follicles are growing and how large they are, since eggs are usually collected once the leading follicles reach a mature size. Blood tests track estradiol, a hormone produced by growing follicles, which helps the team judge whether the response is too slow, on track, or brisk enough to raise the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation. The NHS describes this pattern as vaginal ultrasound scans and possibly blood tests through the stimulation phase.

The first scan is typically several days into injections, then visits come closer together, often every one to three days as retrieval approaches. Each scan can move the retrieval date forward or back by a day or two. A cycle that was “due” for retrieval on a Tuesday can become a Thursday cycle after Monday’s scan.

This has practical consequences for an international patient:

• Book accommodation that can be extended by two or three nights without penalty.
• Treat the retrieval date as a range, not a point, until the trigger is prescribed.
• Ask whether early monitoring can be done at an approved facility near home, with results sent electronically, so you travel only once follicles are close to mature.

The trigger injection, given once follicles are ready, uses hCG or a GnRH agonist to complete egg maturation. The clinic schedules retrieval around 34–36 hours after it, according to Mayo Clinic, and that window is precise because eggs release spontaneously not long after. Everything before the trigger is estimation. Everything after it is a fixed clock.

How long after egg retrieval can you fly? What the evidence supports

Egg retrieval is a short procedure, usually about 20 minutes under sedation, in which a thin needle guided by ultrasound passes through the vaginal wall to draw fluid and eggs from each follicle. Most people go home the same day. Cramping, bloating and light spotting for a few days are common and expected.

There is no guideline that names a mandatory number of days before flying after retrieval. What clinical sources do agree on shapes a sensible approach:

• Sedation means no driving or important decisions for the rest of that day, and a companion is usually required to take you back to your accommodation.
• The ovaries stay enlarged for days to weeks after stimulation. Mayo Clinic advises avoiding vigorous activity during this period because of discomfort and, rarely, ovarian torsion (twisting of the ovary on its blood supply).
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, or OHSS, an excessive response in which fluid shifts out of blood vessels, usually appears within the first week after trigger or retrieval. Mild forms are common; severe forms are uncommon but need prompt care. Being a long flight away when symptoms start is the main reason clinicians prefer patients stay nearby for several days.

If your cycle includes a fresh transfer, the question answers itself: you will still be near the clinic 2–5 days later. If eggs or embryos are being frozen and you are flying home before any transfer, many teams ask patients to remain in the area until they have been reviewed after retrieval and feel physically well, then clear them individually. A common-sense pattern is a few days of rest before a long journey, with fluids and gentle walking rather than bed rest, but the specific timing must come from the team who did your retrieval.

Fresh versus frozen transfer: one trip or two? A planning comparison

The single biggest decision shaping an international stay is whether the embryo goes back fresh, in the same cycle, or is frozen and transferred later. Both are standard practice. The NHS notes that embryos can be frozen for future cycles, and freezing is increasingly used to allow the body to recover from stimulation before transfer or when the risk of OHSS is high.

Planning factor	Fresh transfer, single stay	Frozen transfer, two stays
Typical time near clinic	About 2–3 weeks continuous, longer if monitoring runs slow	Trip one: monitoring days plus retrieval; trip two: a few days around transfer
Fixed appointments	Scans, trigger, retrieval, transfer	Same, but transfer moved to a later, separately planned cycle
Flexibility	Low; dates shift with follicle growth	Higher for transfer, which is scheduled to the uterine lining, not the ovaries
Recovery before transfer	Ovaries still enlarged at transfer	Body has weeks or months to settle
Extra steps	None	Freezing and thawing of embryos; lining preparation, sometimes with hormone tablets or patches
Who usually decides	The treating clinician, based on response, OHSS risk, embryo development and the patient’s circumstances

A frozen embryo transfer cycle is generally easier to schedule because the uterine lining is prepared either along a natural cycle or with estrogen and progesterone, and the transfer date can be set days in advance. That predictability is attractive to travelers. It is not a reason to choose freezing; the clinical case for fresh or frozen transfer depends on factors your team will weigh, and neither approach is a promise of a better result.

Who is usually a candidate for IVF away from home, and who is asked to wait

IVF itself is offered for a range of reasons: blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, endometriosis, low sperm count or motility, unexplained infertility, the use of donor eggs or sperm, or genetic testing of embryos. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic both list these indications. Whether any given person should undertake treatment far from home adds a second layer of questions.

People who tend to manage an international cycle well share a few features. Their fertility evaluation is already complete and documented, so nothing is duplicated under time pressure. They have a physician at home willing to coordinate early monitoring and to see them urgently if a complication develops after they return. They can be flexible about dates. They have a companion for the retrieval day.

Clinicians commonly ask people to pause or reconsider when:

• Uncontrolled medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid disease need stabilizing first, since these affect both stimulation and pregnancy.
• A previous cycle produced severe OHSS, which raises the stakes of being far from the treating team in the first week after retrieval.
• There is a personal or family history of blood clots, because stimulation hormones and long flights both add to clot risk and need a considered plan.
• Screening tests, consent documentation or legal requirements for donor treatment are incomplete.
• The emotional load of a cycle plus unfamiliar surroundings, language and time zone would leave no support network within reach.

None of these is a permanent barrier. They are reasons to sequence things: control the condition, complete the paperwork, arrange the home-side follow-up, then commit to travel dates. A team that says “not this cycle” is usually protecting the cycle rather than closing the door.

Can you fly during IVF? Injections, time zones and clot prevention in transit

Flying while on stimulation injections is common among international patients and is not, in itself, forbidden. Three practical issues come up.

The first is the medicines. Gonadotropins, the injectable hormones that stimulate follicles, are usually supplied as pens or vials that need refrigeration before use and cool storage afterward. They belong in carry-on luggage with a letter from the prescribing clinician listing the medicine names, since checked baggage can freeze or be lost. Needles and sharps are permitted in cabin baggage in most jurisdictions when accompanied by documentation, but rules vary and should be checked with the airline in advance.

The second is timing. Many stimulation protocols ask for the injection at a consistent time each day, and the trigger injection must be given at an exact hour because retrieval is set 34–36 hours later. Crossing several time zones on the day of a dose creates real confusion. Ask your team to write the dose times in both the departure and destination time zones before you travel. Do not adjust anything yourself.

The third is circulation. Estrogen levels rise steeply during stimulation and are higher still if OHSS develops, and estrogen increases the tendency of blood to clot. The CDC’s travel guidance notes that immobility on flights of more than about four hours raises the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a clot in a deep leg vein. Sensible steps include walking the aisle every hour or two, calf exercises while seated, drinking water, avoiding alcohol and wearing loose clothing. Compression stockings may be suggested for some people. Anyone with a history of clots should have this discussed specifically before booking.

What you should not do is fly on a day you feel unwell after retrieval, or fly without knowing where you will be seen if bleeding, pain or swelling begins.

An IVF travel timeline: what a typical cycle week looks like for an international patient

Every protocol differs, and some begin with a suppression phase of medicine to quiet the natural cycle before stimulation starts. The rhythm below follows a common antagonist protocol, in which a GnRH antagonist is added partway through stimulation to prevent premature ovulation. The NHS describes both approaches. Treat this as a shape, not a schedule.

• Before travel: baseline scan and blood tests, often done near home on the first days of a period. Stimulation injections begin. If your team allows, the first one or two monitoring scans also happen locally.
• Days 5–7 of stimulation: arrival near the clinic. Scan and blood test; antagonist medicine usually begins around now. The team gives a first estimate of retrieval day.
• Days 8–12: scans every one to three days. Follicles approach maturity. The trigger is prescribed for a specific hour once the leading follicles are large enough.
• Retrieval day: roughly 34–36 hours after trigger. Procedure of about 20 minutes under sedation; rest for the remainder of the day with a companion.
• Retrieval plus 1–5 days: the laboratory reports fertilization, then embryo development. Progesterone support begins. A fresh transfer, if planned, happens 2–5 days after retrieval; the transfer itself takes minutes, needs no sedation and usually allows normal walking afterward.
• Transfer plus 1–3 days: many teams are comfortable with travel home after a fresh transfer once you feel well, though they may prefer a short pause. Confirm this individually.
• Transfer plus 9–14 days: blood pregnancy test, which can often be arranged through a laboratory near home.

Add up the days that require your physical presence and the fresh-transfer version lands at about two weeks, sometimes three. The frozen version shortens the first trip to the last stretch of monitoring plus retrieval and recovery, and the second trip to a few days around the transfer.

When to travel after embryo transfer, and what the two-week wait usually involves

Embryo transfer is gentle by comparison with everything before it. A soft catheter passes through the cervix and the embryo is released into the uterus under ultrasound guidance. There is no anesthetic. Mayo Clinic notes that people can typically resume normal daily activities afterward, while avoiding strenuous exercise because the ovaries remain enlarged and tender.

The old advice to lie flat for hours or days has not been supported by evidence; the embryo does not fall out with movement, and clinics increasingly discourage prolonged bed rest, partly because immobility adds to clot risk in someone already exposed to high estrogen. Walking through an airport is not the danger. The reasons some teams ask for a short pause before flying are practical: you may still be uncomfortable from retrieval, progesterone can cause tiredness and bloating, and it is easier to be assessed for late OHSS or pain if you are close by.

Once you travel home, the wait itself is quiet and often the hardest part emotionally. Progesterone support continues in whatever form was prescribed; the hormone helps the uterine lining remain receptive, and stopping it early on your own is not advised. Mild cramping, breast tenderness and light spotting are common and do not reliably indicate either outcome. Home urine tests can mislead in either direction, especially after an hCG trigger, which stays in the body for several days and can produce a false positive. The scheduled blood test is the measure that counts.

Plan the home-side laboratory before you leave the clinic: which test, on which day, and who receives the result. The team that transferred the embryo remains responsible for interpreting it and advising the next step, whether that is continuing support and arranging an early scan, or planning a further cycle.

Continuity of care: arranging follow-up before you leave home, not after

The weakest link in any long-distance treatment is the handoff. Two teams in two countries, two record systems, and a patient in the middle carrying the information. This is where the most avoidable problems occur, and where a little structure before departure pays back most.

Before the first injection, ask for a written treatment summary that can travel with you and be sent ahead: diagnosis, results of prior testing, the protocol and medicine names by generic name, monitoring plan, and the name and contact route of the responsible clinician on each side. Ask both teams to confirm, in writing, who does what. Which facility performs early scans? How are results transmitted, and within what timeframe? Who prescribes progesterone once you are home, and who handles a refill question at a weekend?

Specific items worth settling in advance:

• An identified physician or clinic near home who agrees to see you urgently for pain, bleeding or breathing symptoms in the two weeks after retrieval or transfer, and who has the summary already.
• The blood test for pregnancy: where, which day, and how the result reaches the treating team.
• What happens to embryos that remain frozen, including consent forms, storage duration and how future transfers would be arranged.
• How the laboratory will report fertilization and embryo development while you are in transit, and in what language.
• A plan for the medicines you carry home: storage, remaining quantity, and what to do if a package is delayed.

The NHS and MedlinePlus both describe IVF as a multi-step process spanning weeks; nothing about that changes when borders are involved except that coordination stops being automatic. A patient who leaves with a folder of documents and two named clinicians is in a very different position from one who leaves with a phone number.

What the evidence says about age, cost claims and the "best country" for IVF

Three questions dominate online searches about treatment away from home, and honest answers to all three are shorter than the marketing suggests.

At what age is IVF most successful? The CDC’s national assisted reproductive technology reports and Mayo Clinic agree on the direction: the chance of a live birth per cycle using a person’s own eggs is highest in the early to mid-thirties and declines progressively afterward, with a steeper fall after about 40. This reflects egg number and quality, which the ovaries cannot regenerate. Precise figures vary by year, country and how cycles are counted, so a single percentage quoted without its source and denominator should be read skeptically. Age is a strong predictor, not a verdict; individual factors such as ovarian reserve tests, cause of infertility and whether donor eggs are used change the picture substantially.

Is IVF cheaper out of country? This magazine does not publish prices, and the more useful point is that a lower quoted figure rarely includes the same things. Medicines, monitoring, anesthesia, embryo freezing and storage, genetic testing, repeat visits, travel and lost work time are all variables. Compare inclusions, not headline numbers, and factor in the possibility that a cycle is delayed or converted to a frozen transfer.

What is the best country for IVF? There is no evidence-based answer, and this article will not name one. Outcomes depend on the individual, the laboratory and the protocol far more than on geography. What a patient can reasonably assess is whether a service is regulated by a national authority, reports outcomes in a standardized way, practices single embryo transfer where appropriate, has clear complication pathways, and communicates in a language the patient fully understands. Those are quality markers. A country’s name is not.

Medicines during IVF: what each class does and why timing matters, without the numbers

Understanding the purpose of each medicine makes the calendar less mysterious. None of what follows is a dosing guide; every quantity and time comes from the prescribing clinician.

Suppression medicines. Some protocols begin with a GnRH agonist, a medicine that first stimulates and then quiets the pituitary gland, so the body does not release an egg early. The NHS describes this phase as lasting about two weeks before stimulation in a long protocol. Antagonist protocols skip this and add a GnRH antagonist, which blocks the same signal immediately, partway through stimulation. The choice affects how many days you are on medicine before travel becomes necessary.

Gonadotropins. These are the daily stimulation injections, forms of follicle-stimulating hormone sometimes combined with luteinizing hormone, which recruit several follicles to grow together instead of the usual one. Response to them is what monitoring measures, and it is the main source of date uncertainty.

Trigger. A single injection of hCG or a GnRH agonist mimics the body’s natural surge and completes egg maturation. Retrieval follows about 34–36 hours later, according to Mayo Clinic. Missing or mistiming this injection can mean eggs are lost, which is why time zones on trigger day deserve careful attention.

Progesterone. After retrieval, the ovaries may not produce enough of this hormone to support the lining, so it is supplemented by injection, vaginal preparation or, sometimes, oral tablets from transfer until the pregnancy test and often beyond. Side effects such as bloating, breast tenderness and fatigue overlap with early pregnancy symptoms.

Estrogen. Used in many frozen transfer cycles to build the lining before progesterone is added. It contributes to clot risk, which matters for flying.

Store as instructed, carry the prescription letter, and raise any missed or mistimed dose with the team the same day rather than guessing.

What people often get wrong about staying abroad for IVF

“The clinic gives you a fixed retrieval date, so book around it.” The clinic gives an estimate that moves with your scans. Only the trigger fixes the date, and that is prescribed a day or two before retrieval. Booking rigidly is the most common source of stress.

“You must lie still after transfer or the embryo won’t implant.” Studies have not shown that bed rest improves outcomes, and Mayo Clinic describes a return to normal activities. Prolonged immobility raises clot risk in someone on high estrogen.

“A positive home test a few days after transfer means it worked.” The hCG trigger remains detectable for days and can produce a false positive. The blood test roughly 9–14 days after transfer is the reliable measure.

“Flying causes miscarriage or stops implantation.” There is no evidence that commercial flight harms an early pregnancy. The real travel concerns are clots from immobility and being far from care if OHSS or pain develops.

“Transferring two embryos doubles your chance.” It substantially raises the chance of twins, which the NHS lists as the single biggest health risk of IVF for both parent and babies, including prematurity and low birth weight. Single embryo transfer is standard practice in many settings for that reason.

“Frozen embryos are second best.” Freezing is routine, and frozen transfer is chosen for clinical reasons, including allowing the body to recover from stimulation. It is not a downgrade.

“Once you are home, the treating clinic is done with you.” The team that stimulated and transferred remains responsible for interpreting your results and advising next steps. If a service treats departure as discharge, that is a signal worth weighing.

“Mild bloating after retrieval is nothing.” Usually true. But rapid weight gain, tight swelling or breathlessness in the first week is the pattern of OHSS and needs same-day assessment wherever you are.

Questions to ask your care team before you book anything

These questions are not a test of the clinic. They are a way of finding out how the cycle will actually run for someone who is not living around the corner. Write the answers down; they form the backbone of your travel plan.

• Which monitoring visits can be done near home, and which require me to be here in person? How will results be shared, and how quickly?
• Roughly how many days before retrieval do you want me to arrive, and how much buffer should I leave after it?
• Are you planning a fresh transfer or a frozen transfer, and what would change that plan during the cycle?
• How many embryos would you transfer, and why?
• Who is my named contact here, outside office hours, and in what language?
• If I develop symptoms of OHSS, pain or bleeding after I fly home, who have you agreed will see me, and have they received my records?
• Can you write my injection times in both time zones for the days I travel, including the trigger?
• What is the plan for medicine storage in transit, and will you provide a letter for airline security?
• How will the laboratory update me on fertilization and embryo development if I am traveling on those days?
• Where and when should the blood pregnancy test be done, and who interprets it?
• If embryos are frozen, what are the storage terms, consent requirements and steps for a future transfer?
• What is your policy if the cycle is canceled before retrieval because of a poor or excessive response?
• Are you regulated by a national authority, and do you report outcomes in a standardized format I can read?

A team accustomed to international patients will have crisp answers. Hesitation on the continuity-of-care questions, in particular, tells you something about how the weeks after you leave will feel.

When to call your doctor during or after an IVF cycle abroad

Most discomfort during IVF is expected: bloating during stimulation, cramping and light spotting for a few days after retrieval, tiredness on progesterone. The signs below are different. They need same-day contact with your treating team or, if you are in transit or already home, the nearest urgent or emergency service, with your treatment summary in hand.

• Rapid abdominal swelling, sudden weight gain over a day or two, or clothing that becomes tight around the waist, especially in the week after trigger or retrieval; these suggest ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which the NHS lists as a recognized risk of stimulation.
• Shortness of breath, chest pain or a persistent cough, which can indicate fluid around the lungs from OHSS or a clot that has traveled to the lung.
• Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf or thigh, the classic picture of a deep vein thrombosis described by the CDC in its travel guidance.
• Severe or worsening pelvic pain, particularly on one side, or pain with fainting or dizziness, which can signal bleeding or ovarian torsion after retrieval.
• Passing very little urine despite drinking, or persistent vomiting and inability to keep fluids down.
• Heavy vaginal bleeding, soaking through pads, at any point.
• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) after retrieval or transfer, which may indicate infection.
• Severe one-sided pain with a positive pregnancy test, since ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants outside the uterus, remains possible after IVF.
• Thoughts of harming yourself, or a low mood that makes daily function difficult; the emotional weight of treatment far from home is real and deserves care as promptly as any physical symptom.

Do not wait for a scheduled appointment, and do not board a long flight with any of these symptoms unresolved. If in doubt, the safest step is to be assessed. The treating team makes every decision about continuing, pausing or adjusting your cycle; your role is to report early and clearly.

Frequently asked questions

How long after egg retrieval can you fly home?

There is no fixed guideline number; most teams review you after retrieval and clear travel individually once you feel well, often after a few days. The ovaries remain enlarged and OHSS tends to appear in the first week, so clinicians prefer patients stay within reach during that window. Walk regularly and hydrate on the flight, and confirm who will see you at home if symptoms develop.

Can you fly during IVF stimulation injections?

Yes, flying while on stimulation medicines is common and not itself prohibited. Carry medicines in hand luggage with a prescription letter, keep them cool as instructed, and ask your team to write injection times in both time zones, especially for the trigger. Move around the cabin regularly, since rising estrogen and immobility both add to clot risk.

What is a realistic IVF travel timeline for a fresh transfer?

Plan for roughly two to three weeks near the clinic: arrival partway through stimulation once local monitoring is complete, scans every one to three days, retrieval about 34–36 hours after trigger, and transfer 2–5 days later. Many teams are comfortable with travel home shortly after transfer if you feel well. Leave several days of buffer for date changes.

When can you travel after embryo transfer?

Mayo Clinic describes a return to normal activities after transfer, and there is no evidence that walking or flying harms implantation. Some teams prefer a short pause of a day or two so you can be assessed for discomfort or late OHSS before a long journey. Avoid prolonged immobility, continue progesterone as prescribed, and get the exact timing from your treating clinician.

What is the best country to go to for IVF?

No evidence supports naming a best country, and this article does not recommend traveling for care. Outcomes depend on the individual, the laboratory and the protocol far more than on location. What you can assess is whether a service is nationally regulated, reports standardized outcomes, favors single embryo transfer when appropriate, has clear complication pathways and communicates in a language you fully understand.

Is IVF cheaper out of country?

Quoted figures often exclude medicines, monitoring, anesthesia, embryo freezing and storage, genetic testing, repeat trips and time away from work, so headline comparisons mislead. Compare exactly what is included, ask what happens if a cycle is canceled or converted to a frozen transfer, and weigh the cost of being far from care if a complication develops. Price should never be the deciding factor.

At what age is IVF most successful?

CDC national reports and Mayo Clinic agree that live birth chances per cycle with a person’s own eggs are highest in the early to mid-thirties and decline progressively afterward, more steeply after about 40, reflecting egg number and quality. Exact percentages vary by year and how cycles are counted. Individual factors such as ovarian reserve and use of donor eggs change the picture considerably.

Can early IVF monitoring scans be done near home before I travel?

Often yes, if your treating team approves the facility and results can be sent quickly. Baseline tests and the first one or two stimulation scans are the most commonly shared, with later, more frequent scans done at the treating clinic as follicles approach maturity. Agree the arrangement in writing beforehand, including how quickly results must arrive.

Does a frozen embryo transfer mean two separate trips abroad?

Usually, yes. The first trip covers the final stretch of monitoring, retrieval and a few days of recovery; the second covers lining preparation checks and the transfer itself, which can be scheduled days in advance because it follows the uterine lining rather than follicle growth. Whether fresh or frozen transfer is appropriate is a clinical decision based on your response and risk profile.

What are the warning signs of OHSS to watch for while traveling?

Rapid abdominal swelling, sudden weight gain over a day or two, breathlessness, persistent vomiting, or passing very little urine despite drinking are the key signs, most often appearing within the first week after trigger or retrieval. The NHS lists OHSS as a recognized risk of stimulation. Seek same-day assessment wherever you are and contact your treating team; do not board a long flight with these symptoms.

References

• NHS: IVF, What happens
• NHS: IVF, Risks
• Cleveland Clinic: IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.