What is IVF?
IVF is a process where fertilization takes place outside a woman’s body. In this process, sperm meets an egg. IVF is a rather elaborate procedure that involves extracting eggs from the ovaries and then fertilizing them artificially outside the body in a lab.
Pregnancy on the other hand is defined as a process in which this embryo implants itself in the walls of the uterus.
The Working Mechanism of the IVF
IVF involves the use of drugs and surgery to assist the process of fertilization of an egg with sperm. When fertilization takes place the embryo is implanted on the uterus wall.
IVF is a rather complex process and it may take several months. Though it may work in the first attempt, getting pregnant may require several cycles.
What Are The 5 Stages Of IVF?
Now it is time to discuss the 5 stages of IVF in detail:
Ovarian Stimulation
The first step to IVF is called the ovarian stimulation. This procedure makes the ovaries release several eggs instead of one, thus enhancing the production of eggs for fertilization.
- Hormonal Injections: The woman is given hormonal injections for 8-14 days. These hormones, for instance, FSH help to mature more than one egg at a time.
- Monitoring: IVF specialist in mumbai use ultrasound and blood tests to check whether the eggs are maturing at the desired rate. This phase is important as the number of eggs improves the success rate probability of having a normal embryo. Also Read: Which IVF Clinic Has The Highest Success Rate?
Egg Retrieval
When these eggs are ready, doctors have to surgically remove them through a simple surgery.
- Procedure: In the process, a thin needle is used to suction the eggs from the ovary. It is done under the supervision of ultrasound and patients get sedation or anesthesia.
- Timing: The retrieval takes 34-36 hours after the last injection of hormones called a trigger shot to make sure that the eggs are matured.
This process is very important in IVF since the eggs retrieved here will be fertilized with sperm to form embryos.
Sperm Collection and Fertilization
After the egg retrieval process, the next is fertilization.
- Collection of Sperm: In this process, on the same day of egg collection, a male partner or donor gives a semen sample. If required sperm can also be collected from the test tube by minor operations or collected from the frozen sample.
- Fertilization: Sperm unites the egg in the lab. This can happen in two ways:
- Standard IVF: Fertilization occurs when the eggs and sperm are placed in a petri dish for natural fertilization.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): Where the man has a low sperm count, this method is useful. This method involves the injection of a single sperm into the egg.
The eggs then reach a fertilized state and become embryos, which will then take the next few days to develop in a petri dish.
Embryo Culture and Development
The embryos are then cultured and observed after fertilization has taken place.
- Development Monitoring: The embryos are then monitored for a further three to five days after fertilization. This will help to determine if they are developing properly and may also help to boost the probability of pregnancy.
- Embryo Selection: At the end of the culture period, only the best embryos are selected for transfer into the uterus. Sometimes doctors conduct genetic tests to check for chromosomal disorders in embryos before implantation.
The remaining healthy embryos can be frozen for future cycles of embryo transfer providing better opportunities for success without going through the process of another ovarian stimulation.
Embryo Transfer
The last step of the IVF process is embryo transfer where healthy embryos are transferred to the uterus.
- Procedure: This is a very basic process that requires inserting a catheter through the cervix to place the embryos into the uterus. It is not painful and no anesthesia is needed.
- Post-Transfer: After transfer, the women lie down and relaxes for some time then she can go home. For pregnancy to occur the embryo has to attach itself to the uterine wall.
Another test is a pregnancy test which is carried out about 10-14 days after the transfer to check whether the procedure was fruitful.
IVF Cost in India
The IVF cost in India is relative to available facilities, treatments, and the patient’s requirements. The ivf cost in mumbai of a single IVF is between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh. This entails; consultations, medications, retrieving eggs, implanting embryos, and other services. One may use sophisticated procedures such as ICSI, preimplantation genetic testing, or freezing of embryos which may lead to high charges. Also Read: Donor Egg IVF Cost, IVF Injection Cost in India.
FAQs
What are the success rates of IVF?
The chances of conceiving via IVF vary with the situation such as the age of the couple, his or her medical history, and the ability of the clinic to provide the procedure. With overall IVF success rate in india is between 30 and 50 percent, IVF appears to work best for younger ladies.
What is the most critical step in IVF?
Probably the most important procedure in the IVF process is embryo transfer. At first glance, it appears to be a rather straightforward course of action. It involves fixing the embryos in a catheter where the physician places them in the uterine cavity through the cervical canal.
How much time do the 5 stages of IVF take?
IVF process generally takes 10-12 weeks starting from consultation to the final follow up including the retrieval and transfer process.
Can IVF guarantee a successful pregnancy?
IVF raises one’s chances of pregnancy but does not assure success. It has been established that the age of the woman, the quality of the eggs and sperm, and any other disease that the couple may be having will determine the outcomes of IVF.
Conclusion
IVF changes dreams into reality through the well-coordinated steps to parenthood. It is very important to understand what are the 5 stages of IVF to get closer to your dream. If you get professional services at Bloom IVF, the best IVF centre in Mumbai, you can be certain of regaining control of your journey to motherhood with renewed hope.