IVF – All You Want To Know In A Nutshell

IVF is a process where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, in a laboratory. The fertilized egg, or embryo, is then implanted into the woman’s uterus. This procedure is often used when other fertility treatments have not been successful.

IVF Cycle Timeline

1. Initial Consultation and Testing: Before starting the actual IVF cycle, you’ll have an initial consultation and undergo various fertility tests. This phase can take a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on your specific situation and the clinic’s schedule.
2. Pre-treatment Preparation: Some clinics may recommend taking oral contraceptives for 10-14 days before starting the IVF cycle to regulate your menstrual cycle and prepare your ovaries
3. Ovarian Stimulation: This phase involves daily hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This typically lasts about 10-12 days
4. Monitoring: During ovarian stimulation, you’ll have frequent visits to the clinic for blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor your response to the medications. These visits usually occur every other day.
5. Egg Retrieval: About 36 hours before the egg retrieval, you’ll receive a “trigger shot” to mature the eggs. The egg retrieval procedure itself is a minor surgical procedure that takes place under sedation and usually occurs around day 12-14 of the cycle
6. Fertilization and Embryo Culture: After the eggs are retrieved, they are fertilized with sperm in the lab. The embryos are then cultured for 3-5 days
7. Embryo Transfer: If you are doing a fresh embryo transfer, this will typically occur 3-5 days after egg retrieval. The procedure is quick and usually painless
8. Luteal Phase Support: After the embryo transfer, you’ll take medications to support the uterine lining and help the embryo implant. This phase lasts about 10-14 days
9. Pregnancy Test: About 10-14 days after the embryo transfer, you’ll have a blood test to determine if the cycle was successful

Total Duration

From the start of ovarian stimulation to the pregnancy test, an IVF cycle typically takes about 4-6 weeks

However, when you include the initial consultation and pre-treatment preparation, the entire process can take several months

Factors That Can Affect the Timeline

• Individual Response: Some people may need longer, or shorter stimulation periods based on their response to the medications.
• Additional Procedures: If additional procedures like genetic testing or frozen embryo transfer are involved, the timeline can be extended.
• Clinic Protocols: Different clinics may have slightly different protocols that can affect the overall timeline.

Understanding the IVF timeline can help you plan and manage your expectations. If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!

Also Read - Ovarian Cysts : 5 Reasons Women Should Not Be Careless

Breakdown of IVF Costs

Here’s a more detailed look at the various components that make up the total cost of an IVF cycle in India:

• Initial Consultation: ₹5,000 to ₹10,000
• Fertility Testing: ₹5,000 to ₹10,000
• Medications: ₹20,000 to ₹40,000
• Egg Retrieval: Included in base fee
• Embryo Culture: Included in base fee
• Embryo Transfer: Included in base fee
• ICSI: ₹20,000 to ₹50,000
• Genetic Testing: ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000
• Embryo Freezing and Storage: ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per year