What are the Five Stages of IVF Treatment You Must Know?

About the author

Dr Dorothy Ghosh

Gynaecology and Fertility

MBBS,DNB- OBC & GYNE

Medically reviewed & verified

15+

Years practice

Becoming a parent is one of the biggest joys in life. Sadly, not all couples can give birth to children normally. However, advances in medical science have been helping such couples to enjoy parenthood after all, with modern fertility treatment measures such as IVF. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) has become a revolutionary, effective technology that helps couples conceive successfully. Here is the IVF process step by step, from the first injection right through to the embryo transfer

Five Stages of IVF Treatment

Want to know what are the stages of IVF treatment? The IVF Treatment process is made up of 5 important stages, and the whole cycle usually takes around four to six weeks from start to finish. Read on to find out what happens at each one.

Stage 1: Medication

This injection phase usually lasts around 8 to 14 days, with regular scans to track how the eggs are developing. In this stage, the woman who wants to have a baby is administered hormone injections. It aims to stimulate a healthy environment in the body for egg development. With IVF, she can produce more eggs than would have been possible in a normal month.

In a standard ovulatory month, one egg is ovulated. When IVF is used, infertility doctors aim to get 10 to 15 mature eggs for retrieval.

Stage 2: Harvesting The Eggs

This is a minor procedure that usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes, carried out roughly 36 hours after the final trigger injection. When this happens, the woman is given sedatives, and under the effects, a minor surgery is conducted on her. Eggs are gathered from her ovaries and retrieved trans-vaginally.

Over a transvaginal ultrasound, a needle is passed with the help of a small needle guide. This is done for the removal of fluid from the follicles. Sperm collection is done by her male partner on the same day. IVF doctors in Kolkata can guide both partners during the entire stage.

Stage 3: Fertilisation

Once the sperm and the egg are collected, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) or other fertilisation technologies are used in a lab setting to combine them.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) in Kolkata is a widely used advanced fertility treatment that helps overcome male infertility factors by directly injecting a single sperm into a mature egg to achieve fertilization.

Stage 4: Embryo Culture

The embryos are usually watched over a period of 5 to 6 days to see which ones are developing best. The embryos are then put in a state of observation by embryologists. They keep a watch as the embryos divide from 2 to 4 and 8 cells. Embryologists keep observing them as they continue to grow in number. At times, the growth occurs for up to 5 days at the blastocyst stage. During that stage, there are as many as 100 – 125 cells.

Stage 5: Embryo Transfer

At the time of embryo transfer, the uterus is observed with ultrasound. A small catheter is passed through the cervix into the uterine cavity. Then, embryos are inserted into the uterus. This is the most crucial stage of IVF. Embryo health and successful implantation in the uterus depend on how accurately the transfer happens. Any biological factor or improper timing can affect the success of the process.

Five Stages of IVF Treatment

Then there’s the wait after the transfer, which can be the hardest part emotionally. The woman then comes back to the clinic for a blood test, some 10-14 days later, to confirm if the cycle has worked. A positive result brings a happy ending to this part of the journey and the start of a new one.

At the best fertility clinic in Kolkata, IVF treatment is conducted with proper care in a completely hygienic environment. Strict hygiene at every stage keeps the risk of infection and other complications to a minimum. They can have maximum chances of a successful outcome, and even in any adverse case, knowledgeable infertility doctors can guide them on what to do next.

How Renew Healthcare Can Help In Your Fertility Journey?

As a leading IVF Centre in Kolkata, Renew Healthcare is known for providing expert backed fertility solutions like IVF, IUI, ICSI, Genetic Counselling and more. Combining 20+ years of expertise and having delivered 6000+ babies, our multidisciplinary team led by Dr Rajeev Agarwal, the best IVF doctor in Kolkata empowers your parenthood journey with expertise, compassion, and ethical care. We provide comprehensive care needed under one roof.

In the end, we believe in transparent guidance, ethical practices, and compassionate support at every stage of your journey, helping individuals and couples make informed decisions with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the entire IVF process take?

One cycle of IVF typically takes about four to six weeks, from when the medication is first given until the pregnancy test. The injection phase lasts around two weeks, egg retrieval and fertilisation take a few days and the embryo is transferred five to six days later. There is then a short wait before testing.

Which stage of IVF is the most important?

Each stage is important but the embryo transfer is often the most important. Even if the embryos are healthy, success is about putting them in the right place at the right time, when the lining of the uterus is ready. That said, good egg quality and fertilisation at the earlier stages is the foundation for everything that follows.

How many eggs are needed for a successful IVF cycle?

There is no magic number but in general doctors try to retrieve about 10 to 15 mature eggs at a time. Not every egg is fertilised and not every fertilised egg develops into a healthy embryo, so having several gives the best chance of ending up with one or more embryos to transfer.

Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?

The egg retrieval itself is not painful as it is done under sedation and you will not feel it during the procedure. Usually takes 20-30 minutes. Some women then develop mild cramping or bloating for a day or two. This is normal and settles quickly with rest.

Popular Searches