Step-by-Step Guide: What Really Happens During IVF

In vitro fertilization is one of the most life-changing medical treatments a person could experience. After all, it has the power to turn the dream of parenthood into reality. While the benefits of this fertility treatment are well known, starting IVF can often feel confusing and overwhelming. In this step-by-step guide to IVF treatment, we explain the various stages of the IVF process in Mumbai.

About In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology that is used to treat patients that struggle with infertility issues. It involves combining eggs and sperm outside the body in a lab and then transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus.

It has helped millions of people all over the world have children of their own. If having a biological child on your own feels impossible, IVF is the solution. It can also be used for patients who want to use donor eggs or sperm to conceive. IVF not only helps couples struggling with infertility but can also prevent passing on certain genetic conditions to children.

Step-By-Step IVF Journey

IVF treatment involves a mix of medication and surgical procedures. At Corion Fertility Clinic, our expert team is here to support you with personalized care, advanced technology, and compassion at every stage of your IVF journey.

Fertility Consultation

The first step of your IVF journey is a consultation with a fertility specialist. The specialist will take the time to answer your questions and conduct a series of tests to determine the right fertility treatment for you.

Hormone tests, ultrasounds, and semen testing are commonly carried out during this stage. Based on your medical and fertility history, the IVF specialist may conduct additional testing, if required. It may include genetic carrier testing, STI tests, a pelvic exam, ovarian reserve testing, and so on. Based on results, your doctor will create a personalized treatment plan.

Ovarian Stimulation

The next step of the IVF process Mumbai is ovarian stimulation. During this stage, the fertility specialist will instruct you to inject certain fertility drugs every day for approximately 8 to 14 days. These drugs stimulate your ovaries into producing multiple mature eggs instead of just one. Retrieving multiple eggs increases the number of healthy embryos you can create.

The clinic will schedule regular blood tests and ultrasounds to check the growth of your eggs. These tests also help us monitor the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a condition caused by the ovaries overreacting to the ovarian stimulation medication.

Egg Retrieval

This procedure involves surgically removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries. First, you will be sedated so you don’t feel pain. Then, the doctor inserts a thin, ultrasound-guided needle into your follicles (fluid-filled egg sacs) and extracts the eggs from them. The procedure usually lasts just 20 to 30 minutes, and after a short rest, patients go home the same day.

Sperm Retrieval

Sperm retrieval is a much simpler process. Sperm collection usually involves masturbation and ejaculation. Most fertility clinics require that the sperm be collected in the lab itself. It takes place on the same day as egg retrieval.

In cases where no sperm is present in the semen or sperm quality is very low, advanced techniques such as testicular aspiration (TESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) may be recommended.

Fertilization

The eggs are then fertilized with sperm outside the body in a lab setting. In the conventional IVF process, the eggs and sperm are placed in a culture medium and placed in an incubator that stimulates a womb-like environment.

In IVF with ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection), embryologists select the best sperm cell and inject it directly into a mature egg. They repeat this process for each healthy egg and sperm. Your IVF specialist will decide whether you require conventional IVF or a more advanced technique like ICSI.

Embryo Development

After fertilization, embryos form in the incubator. These embryos can develop for several days before being transferred back into the uterus. This method allows doctors to monitor embryo development closely. Embryos can be monitored until day 3 (cleavage stage) or day 5 (blastocyst stage).

Embryo Transfer

Embryologists view the developed embryos under a microscope and select the most viable one. They load this embryo into a transparent tube called a catheter. They use the catheter to transport embryos to the uterus by guiding it through the cervix.

Pregnancy Testing

Post embryo transfer, the patient is instructed to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and rigorous exercise. Ideally, the embryo should attach itself to the uterine lining and grow into a fetus. Approximately 2 weeks after embryo transfer, the fertility clinic does a beta hCG pregnancy test to check if the patient is pregnant.

Fertility Preservation

Some people may choose to preserve their fertility through egg freezing or embryo freezing. When these eggs or embryos need to be used, they have to be fertilized through IVF.

Surrogacy

IVF treatment is used in surrogacy to create an embryo with the intended parents’ gametes (or parent and donor gametes) and the embryo is transferred to the womb of a surrogate instead of the female partner.

Genetic Disorders

If you or your partner are at risk of passing down genetic conditions or disorders to your child, IVF treatment can help prevent this by screening developed embryos for chromosomal errors and genetic issues and only transferring healthy embryos to the uterus.

When is IVF an Option?

In vitro fertilization is considered a highly successful and versatile fertility treatment. It can be used to treat many male and female fertility problems and is even recommended to patients with certain health issues.

Your fertility specialist may recommend IVF based on your medical history and the underlying cause of your infertility. Here are some of the reasons why a couple may need in vitro fertilization:

Low Sperm Count

Men who have low sperm counts may take longer to impregnate their partner, especially if their sperm are low quality as well.

Poor Sperm Parameters

Poor sperm motility (movement) and morphology (shape) can also cause male infertility, as the sperm are unable to fertilize eggs easily.

Fallopian Tube Blockages

Some women may have fallopian tube blockages or be missing one or both of their fallopian tubes.

Endometriosis

Scar tissue growth can make it harder for women with endometriosis to ovulate and get pregnant. The IVF process Mumbai bypasses the fallopian tubes entirely.

Unexplained Infertility

Since IVF handles many steps of conception in artificial settings, it can help patients whose fertility issues have not yet been identified.

Recurrent Miscarriages

Couples who experience multiple miscarriages may require medical assistance to conceive safely and successfully.

Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids are tumor-like growths in the uterus. They are mostly noncancerous and do not cause any symptoms. Sometimes fibroids can prevent an embryo from attaching to the uterine lining.

Ovulation Disorders

Some women may experience irregular or no ovulation. IVF can be done after inducing ovulation to increase the chances of conception.

Concluding Thoughts

IVF treatment helps many couples battle infertility and experience the beauty and joy of parenthood. While the journey can feel emotional and demanding, the right guidance and medical expertise can make it much smoother. With luck, the right treatment protocols, and the experience of skilled doctors, you too could become a parent.

At Corion Fertility Clinic, we do our best to make your IVF experience as comfortable as possible. Our team of specialists and advanced medical infrastructure make us a top choice for IVF treatment in Mumbai. Take the next step in your IVF journey and book a free consultation today!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Which medications are used for IVF treatment?

A. Some medications that are prescribed during IVF treatment include birth control pills, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) injections, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) injections, and estrogen supplements.

Q. What are the different stages of IVF treatment?

A. The stages of the IVF procedure are ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and sperm collection, fertilization, embryo culture, and embryo transfer.

Q. How many embryos should I transfer during IVF?

A. In India, most fertility clinics will only transfer one embryo at a time to prevent the risk of multiple pregnancy. Older women may sometimes be allowed to transfer two embryos at a time to increase their chances of conception.

Q. How do doctors choose the best embryos?

A. Embryos are graded based on their growth and appearance under a microscope. Only the most viable ones are selected for transfer.