What To Expect During IVF Treatment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you been waiting a long time to see those two pink magic lines on your pregnancy test stick? You're not alone. Many couples go through this emotionally draining journey of trying to conceive, often without success. But when hope begins to fade, science offers a new path. And that’s exactly what IVF, or In Vitro Fertilisation, is! It’s a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology that helps couples achieve parenthood when conception through conventional means becomes difficult.

But how exactly does IVF treatment work? And what can you expect from the process? In this blog, we answer all the key questions about IVF that might be running through your mind.

Keep reading!

What Is IVF Treatment?

In the IVF treatment process, the male sperm is combined with the female egg outside the body. Both the sperm and egg are retrieved from the father and mother, then brought together in a carefully controlled lab environment.

A few days after fertilisation, an embryo is formed. And this embryo is gently placed inside the mother’s uterus. Pregnancy is said to begin when the embryo successfully implants itself in the lining of her uterus.¹

Who Needs IVF Treatment?

There could be many possible reasons for needing IVF treatment. It’s a popular choice for couples dealing with fertility issues. IVF can also benefit single mothers who want to get pregnant without a partner. Additionally, men and women with the following health problems or reproductive issues seek IVF treatment:¹

Is IVF Common?

About 5% of couples struggling with infertility explore IVF as a treatment choice. And more than 8 million babies have been born out of IVF ever since its inception.¹

Difference Between IVF & IUI

In IVF, fertilisation occurs outside the mother’s body. The embryo is then transferred to the mother’s uterus. Whereas in Intrauterine Insemination or IUI, fertilisation occurs inside the body. And that’s where the embryo forms.¹

For IUI, the semen sample is collected and washed to retain only the best swimmers, and they are inserted manually inside the female’s uterus using a catheter (a medical device or tube). This is done during her ovulatory phase to increase the probability of fertilisation.¹

IUI is cheaper and less invasive than IVF. But then, its success rates are also quite low in comparison to IVF.¹ While the IUI has a success rate of about 20%, success rates of IVF for women under 35 are as high as 46%.²

Steps Involved In IVF Treatment

IVF treatment involves the following steps:¹

1. Birth Control Pills Or Estrogen

This is the 1st step of the IVF treatment cycle. Some women are given estrogen pills while others are given a combination of estrogen and progesterone. These pills help regulate your menstrual cycle and curb the development of ovarian cysts. It also helps maximise the number of mature eggs available for retrieval. 

2. Ovarian Stimulation

In every cycle, one egg becomes mature enough to ovulate while the others disintegrate. But the ovarian stimulation, done via injectable hormone medications, triggers all the eggs to mature together. This enables the doctor to retrieve multiple eggs for the treatment process.

Your ovaries are also monitored via ultrasounds and blood tests to check their response to the medications given.  When the test results indicate that the eggs are ready for final maturation, a ‘trigger shot’ is given to complete this final maturation process, so that the eggs can be retrieved. This is done exactly 36 hours before your egg retrieval time.

3. Egg Retrieval

A needle connected to a suction device is inserted into the vagina to pull out your eggs from the follicle. The entire process is guided through ultrasound. The eggs are then collected in a petri dish, which has a special solution and kept in the incubator for further processing. Your doctor may give you mild anaesthesia to deal with the discomfort during the process.

4. Fertilisation

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, is performed on mature eggs, the same day it is collected. This is done by an embryologist who injects healthy sperm into each mature egg. The fertilised egg becomes an embryo.

5. Embryo Development

Next, the developing embryo will be monitored for 5-6 days to see if it reaches the blastocyst stage, one that’s most suitable for transfer to the uterus. These suitable embryos are either transferred fresh or frozen and thawed before transfer.

6. Embryo Transfer

This is one of the most crucial stages for the IVF treatment cycle. Embryo transfer can be done using either fresh or frozen embryos. In a fresh transfer, the embryo is inserted into the uterus 3–7 days after egg retrieval. In a frozen transfer, previously frozen embryos are thawed and placed into the uterus. 

Both methods follow a similar procedure. Before the embryo transfer, your doctor will use hormone therapy for 2–3 weeks to prepare the uterus. 

The timing of embryo transfer plays a pivotal role in deciding the success of your IVF treatment. And this timing can be predicted by assessing the endometrial receptivity—a key marker that tells us when the endometrium is receptive towards an embryo, which results in successful implantation.

To assess your endometrial receptivity and the ideal time for embryo transfer, you can go for LifeCell’s Non-Invasive ER Scope, a non-invasive genetic test that accurately predicts the perfect timing for embryo transfer, resulting in a >80% success rate.

7. Pregnancy

Pregnancy begins when the embryo successfully implants in the uterine lining. A blood test is done 9–14 days after embryo transfer, to confirm pregnancy.

How To Prepare For IVF Treatment?

Before the treatment, you and your partner will have to go through several fertility tests and medical checkups. These include:¹

• Consultation with your fertility doctor about the entire process
• Instructions on how to administer fertility medications
• Genetic carrier screening
• Signing consent forms
• Test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other infections
• Ovarian reserve test
• Blood and urine tests
• A semen analysis
• A uterine exam, up-to-date Pap test and mammogram (if over 40)
• Uterine cavity evaluation 

What To Expect After IVF Treatment?

Most of you can resume your daily activities immediately after the egg retrieval procedure. However, you must refrain from driving or other similar activities due to the anaesthesia administered. You may have to return to the clinic for a pregnancy test in about 9-15 days after the embryo transfer process.¹

After the embryo transfer, you’ll likely experience the following signs & symptoms:¹

• Mild bloating and cramping
• Breast tenderness
• Spotting
• Constipation

How Do IVF Injections Work?

IVF injections are the hormonal medications injected before the procedure. These injections encourage your entire set of monthly eggs to mature simultaneously and completely.¹

Depending on your age, medical history, hormone levels and previous IVF response (in case), your doctor will decide the type of medication, its frequency and dosages that you might need for your treatment.¹

The injections continue for about 8 to 14 days.¹

Medications Used For IVF Treatment

Several medications are given before and during the IVF treatment. These include:¹

1. Birth Control Pills Or Injections

These allow all your eggs of a particular cycle to mature fully and simultaneously.

2. Estrogen Supplements

These are given before and after embryo transfer and help to thicken the lining of your uterus.

3. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Injections

These injections stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs.

4. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Injections

These also help start the egg maturation process.

5. Leuprolide Acetate

This works as a support system for your hCG injections and helps regulate the ovary stimulation process.

Cost Of IVF Treatment

The cost of IVF treatment will vary depending on your location, insurance plans and health history. In India, it ranges somewhere between ₹1.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh.³

Risks Associated With IVF Treatment?

IVF pregnancies may be associated with a few risks:¹

1. Multiple Births

Carrying multiples puts you at an increased risk of premature labour.

2. Premature Delivery

Babies conceived via IVF have an increased risk of being low birth weight and born early.

3. Miscarriage

While advanced maternal age is a contributor to this risk, the rates of miscarriage (fetal death) in natural and IVF pregnancies are almost similar.⁴

4. Ectopic Pregnancy

When the fertilised egg implants outside the uterus, the pregnancy is called ectopic pregnancy. The risk of ectopic pregnancy is approximately four times higher in IVF pregnancies than in natural ones.⁵

Common Side Effects Of IVF Treatment?

IVF treatments may also carry the risk of certain side effects for the mother, such as:¹

1. Complications During Egg Retrieval

The egg retrieval process may cause bleeding, infection and damage to your bladder, bowel or reproductive organs.

2. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

This is a rare condition which happens as a result of overstimulation of the ovaries by the injected hormones. It can leave your ovaries swollen and tender, and you may experience the following symptoms:⁶

• Abdominal Pain
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rapid Weight Gain
• Bloating
• Shortness Of Breath 
• Inability To Urinate
• Blood Clots

Conclusion

The IVF treatment journey can be both physically and emotionally challenging, especially for the mother. But the joy a baby brings often makes every struggle feel worthwhile. That said, choosing the right clinic, one that’s well equipped with trained staff and the right technology, is crucial. And what’s equally important is the timing of the embryo transfer, as it can significantly impact the success of your treatment.

If you’re looking for IVF-related guidance or have questions, feel free to reach out at 1800 266 5533. We’re here to help!

FAQs

1. Are IVF Pregnancies High Risk?

IVF pregnancy per se isn’t high risk. But if you have a medical condition or health issue, it might become high risk.¹

2. How Effective Is IVF For Getting Pregnant?

IVF success largely depends on your age. Younger individuals under 35 generally have higher chances of success (46%), while the effectiveness tends to decrease with age.¹

3. How Long Does It Take To Know You Are Pregnant After IVF?

It takes about 9-14 days to test for pregnancy after embryo transfer.¹