What are the 5 stages of IVF treatment?

by | May 10, 2025 | Blog | 0 comments

What are the 5 stages of IVF treatment?

 

Infertility is a growing concern not confined to a particular demographic group. It’s a  global health concern. Today, every 1 in people is affected by infertility. Shocking, right?

 

Thankfully, this is where assisted reproductive technique (ART) IVF, ICSI, etc. come to help. As per sources, almost 8 million babies have been born since the first IVF baby came into the world in 1978. What a miracle of advancements of reproductive technology.

 

IVF is certainly the most widely used assisted reproductive technology. It is a medically safe procedure which only certified specialists can perform. IVF involves a mild procedure to enable the sperm to mingle and get implanted into the uterus. 

 

To clear away, any persisting myths or apprehensions around the stages of IVF treatment, following are the clear stages of IVF treatment:

 

Stage 1- Stimulation of ovaries

Whether you move forward for the procedure with your own eggs or donor eggs, your IVF specialist will begin the treatment with hormone injections. These stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than usual, so that you have better chances of developing a healthy embryo. Doctors prescribe a few different medications to fasttrack follicle growth (which hold the eggs), others that aid in egg maturation, and to equip the uterus for pregnancy. This phase usually goes for like 8-10 days. Meanwhile, you’ll have regular ultrasounds and blood tests to assess follicle growth and how your hormone levels look. Once everything progresses in the right direction , your IVF specialist will schedule your egg retrieval.

 

Stage 2- Egg retrieval

Egg retrieval happens within 36 hours after your final trigger shot. That timing matters, waiting for too long can result in ovulation and missed chances. The procedure is performed Under anaesthesia and completes within 20-25 minutes , so that they don’t feel any discomfort or pain. 

Then, with the help of an ultrasound, the doctor gently inserts a thin needle through the vaginal wall to collect eggs from your ovaries. The eggs go straight into a special lab dish. Sperm is injected  later the same day. It’s normal to feel mild cramps after the procedure. You’ll get medicine if you are in need. Most females go back home within a few hours and get proper rest.

 

Stage 3- Sperm retrieval

 

If you’re using your partner’s sperm, he’ll give his semen sample on the day of egg retrieval. If your fertility treatment involves donor sperm or frozen sperm collected earlier, that’s fine as well. In some cases, sperm is not collected the usual way due to some obstruction. In such a scene, doctors retrieve sperm through a minimally invasive procedure from the testis  The method depends on sperm health and the fertility issue involved. Your doctor will recommend the safest and most effective option.

Stage 4- Fertilization of egg & sperm

IVF uses two main fertilization methods: conventional insemination and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In conventional insemination, sperm and eggs are placed in a lab dish to fertilize naturally overnight. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) involves injecting a single sperm directly into each egg, this is used for male factor infertility cases and failed fertilisation cases .

Around 18- 20 hours later, the embryologist checks for fertilization. Before embryo transfer, your ivf doctor may advise you to get PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) done. Your doctor may recommend preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). It lets doctors check if the embryos have any chromosomal or any inherited disorder. This testing is usually done on day 5 or 6 of embryo development. The embryos are frozen while the results are processed. It’s a crucial step that boosts the chances of a healthy pregnancy and reduces the risk of genetic issues.

 

Stage 5- Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer usually takes place a few days following the egg retrieval. Hormone support maintains uterine receptivity. The doctor gently inserts the embryo into the uterus using a thin, soft tube. It’s a short and simple procedure. Any extra good-quality embryos can be frozen for future purposes.

Most people can resume their regular routine soon after. Light activities are fine, however, it’s best to avoid intercourse until the pregnancy test. Some might feel light cramps, spotting, or breast tenderness. These are normal symptoms

A blood test checks for pregnancy about 14 days later, and followed by ultrasound 1 week later . Not every transfer leads to a confirmed pregnancy, 

Ultimately, IVF is a medical process and not a magical switch word. The entire procedure involves stages and timelines, careful decisions, and a whole lot of emotions to process. The more you understand what’s happening and its reason, the easier it gets for you.

 

Thus, taking things forward with clarity is the half battle won already. If you’ve been considering IVF treatment, it’s about time to take action & get some real answers. Book your consultation today: https://ilaguptaivf.com/ 

 

Popular Searches

Service: Best IVF Centre in Delhi | Best IVF Doctor in Delhi | Best Ivf Clinic In Delhi | Best Ivf Doctor In Delhi NCR | Best Fertility Doctor In Delhi | Best Infertility Specialist In Delhi | Best Fertility Clinic Delhi | Infertility Treatment in Delhi | Blastocyst Transfer | Oocyte and Embryo Freezing | Fertility Enhancing Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy | Artificial Insemination (IUI) | Donor Egg IVF | Testicular Aspiration | Infertility Counselling | IMSI | Donor Sperm IVF | Microtesa | ICSI | Assisted Hatching | Surrogacy | Pre Genetic Screening And Diagnosis |

 

Blogs : Difference Between Sterility and Infertility | IVF Age Limit | Factors Affecting Fertility | Causes of Increased Estrogen in Females | Ivf is Painful or Not | Sperm Washing Process | Donor Egg Ivf Success Rates In India | Young Couples Choosing IVF | Sterile and Infertile Difference

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *