In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive treatment in which eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred into the uterus.
Knowing what happens at each stage can make the journey easier to understand and help you prepare for appointments, medicines and procedures.
Tap a step to jump to it. Your timeline may be shorter or longer depending on your protocol.
At Sehgal IVF Centre, your plan may vary with your age, fertility diagnosis, ovarian reserve, sperm quality, previous treatment and response to medicines. Not every patient follows exactly the same sequence; your specialist will decide which protocol and procedures suit you.
The IVF process begins with a detailed consultation. Your fertility specialist will discuss your:
Both partners may be evaluated, as infertility can involve female, male or combined factors. Depending on your situation, tests may include:
Why: to understand the possible cause of infertility and choose an appropriate treatment plan.
After reviewing your reports, your specialist explains the recommended IVF approach. Your plan may depend on:
Your doctor may also discuss whether ICSI, embryo freezing or genetic testing are appropriate. Not every patient needs every IVF procedure; the aim is a plan based on your individual needs, not the same protocol for everyone.
In a natural cycle, usually one dominant follicle develops. During IVF, fertility medicines stimulate the ovaries so multiple follicles can develop. They're usually given as injections for a period set by your protocol, and response varies between patients.
Your fertility team will explain:
Important: do not change the dose or timing of fertility medicines without speaking to your fertility team.
During stimulation, your ovaries are monitored with ultrasound scans and, when appropriate, blood tests to assess:
Your doctor may adjust medication based on your response. Close monitoring matters because treatment needs to be tailored to you.
When the follicles reach the right stage, your doctor will advise a trigger injection, which helps the eggs complete their final maturation before retrieval. Timing is very important. Your team will tell you exactly:
Tip: set an alarm and follow the clinic's instructions carefully.
Egg retrieval (oocyte retrieval) collects mature eggs from the ovaries, generally with ultrasound guidance and appropriate pain relief or sedation. A fine needle is guided through the vagina to the follicles and the fluid is collected; the embryology team then identifies the eggs.
The procedure itself is relatively short, though your total time at the clinic may be longer for preparation and recovery. Afterwards, some patients experience:
Your clinic will provide specific post-procedure instructions.
On the day of egg retrieval, a sperm sample is generally collected from the male partner. The lab prepares it and selects sperm suitable for fertilisation. If frozen or donor sperm is used, the appropriate lab protocol is followed.
With significant male-factor infertility, your doctor may recommend ICSI, where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, instead of conventional IVF fertilisation.
After retrieval, eggs go to the embryology laboratory. Depending on your plan, fertilisation may be through:
ICSI may be considered with certain sperm-related concerns or previous fertilisation problems; it isn't automatically required. The team then checks eggs for signs of fertilisation.
After fertilisation, embryos are cultured in the laboratory and monitored over the following days. They may be assessed for:
Depending on the plan, transfer may take place after a few days, and some suitable embryos may be frozen for possible future use.
A selected embryo is placed into the uterus using a thin, flexible catheter passed through the cervix. In most cases no general anaesthesia is needed, and the procedure is usually brief. Your doctor will discuss:
Good to know: transferring more than one embryo can increase the risk of multiple pregnancy, so the number is carefully considered.
Your doctor may prescribe medicines to support the uterine lining and early pregnancy, such as progesterone or others depending on your protocol. Take them exactly as prescribed.
Do not stop fertility or pregnancy-support medicines without consulting your fertility team, even if you have mild symptoms or bleeding.
You'll be given a date for your pregnancy test. Take it on the date recommended: testing too early can give an unclear or misleading result, because pregnancy hormone levels may still be developing.
If the test is positive, your team may arrange an early ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and assess its development.
An important milestone, but further medical follow-up is still needed. Your doctor may recommend an early pregnancy scan to:
Once your pregnancy is progressing appropriately, your team will advise on the next steps in antenatal care.
A negative result can be emotionally difficult, and it does not necessarily mean future treatment cannot work. Your specialist may review:
Based on this, your doctor may discuss another treatment approach or another IVF cycle.
A simplified timeline. The exact duration varies with the protocol and your circumstances.
Your actual timeline may be different. Some IVF protocols don't use the same initial hormone-suppression stage, and some patients have a frozen embryo transfer in a later cycle.
An embryo is transferred during the same treatment cycle in which the eggs were collected.
An embryo that was previously frozen is transferred during a later cycle.
Your specialist will decide which approach suits your medical circumstances and treatment response.
People experience IVF differently. Injections and egg retrieval can cause temporary discomfort. You may experience:
Egg retrieval is performed with appropriate pain relief or sedation. Speak with your team if you have significant pain or concerning symptoms.
IVF is commonly used, but like any treatment it has potential risks. An important complication of stimulation is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), when the ovaries respond excessively to fertility medicines.
Severe symptoms after IVF require urgent medical assessment.
No. IVF does not guarantee pregnancy or live birth. The outcome can depend on several factors, including:
Your journey begins with an individual fertility assessment and a discussion of your options. The exact process may differ with your diagnosis, protocol and response.
Still have questions? Call us on +91 7827219633.
A complete IVF cycle commonly takes around 3 to 6 weeks, although the exact duration varies according to the treatment protocol and individual circumstances.
Egg retrieval is performed using appropriate pain relief or sedation. Some women may experience mild cramping, bloating or pelvic discomfort afterward.
The number of eggs collected varies from patient to patient. It depends on factors such as age, ovarian reserve and response to stimulation. There is no single target number that applies to everyone.
No. ICSI is a specialised fertilisation technique that may be recommended in selected cases, particularly where there are certain male-factor infertility concerns or previous fertilisation problems.
Depending on the treatment plan, an embryo may be transferred a few days after fertilisation or during a later frozen embryo transfer cycle.
Yes. Suitable embryos that are not transferred immediately may be cryopreserved for possible future use, depending on the clinical situation and laboratory assessment.
Your fertility clinic will give you a specific testing date. Follow that date rather than testing too early, because early testing can be misleading.
Your fertility team will provide individual instructions. In general, follow the clinic's advice regarding medicines, activity and follow-up rather than making major changes based on information from the internet.
Your doctor may review the cycle results and discuss whether another IVF cycle or a different treatment approach is appropriate. The decision depends on your individual circumstances.
If you are considering IVF, speak with a qualified fertility specialist about your medical history, treatment options, expected timeline and potential risks. Sehgal IVF Centre: personalised fertility care based on your individual needs.
Medical disclaimer: This page is intended for general educational information about the IVF process. IVF treatment protocols can differ between patients and may be modified according to medical history, fertility diagnosis and treatment response. The information on this page does not replace consultation with a qualified fertility specialist. Do not start, stop or change fertility medicines without medical advice.
