IVF, which stands for In Vitro Fertilization, is an advanced reproductive technique. IVF is a blessing that allows infertile couples to realize their dream of having a child. It is an infertility treatment that enables a woman to conceive and become a mother.

1. The Ultimate Guide to In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF)

2. What is IVF?
• IVF, which stands for In Vitro Fertilization, is an advanced reproductive technique.
• IVF is a blessing that allows infertile couples to realize their dream of having a child.
• It is an infertility treatment that enables a woman to conceive and become a mother.
• Fertilization occurs in a woman's body during the normal reproductive process.
• Both men and women are unable to conceive naturally due to infertility.
• Here IVF procedure is required.
• During the IVF process, a mixture of eggs and sperm are placed in a petri dish to allow
fertilization to occur.
• Once created, the embryo is transferred.

3. The IVF Procedure
• IVF is not a one-step treatment or procedure.
• It consists of several steps and stages that lead to the result.
• An IVF procedure consists of five major steps:

4. 1. Ovulation Induction:
• This is the first step in an IVF procedure in which your doctor will administer
medications to stimulate egg production in your body.
• Ovaries produce only one or two eggs during a normal menstrual cycle.
• However, to increase your chances of getting pregnant through IVF, you will need
a large number of eggs.
• During this time, the doctor will perform regular ultrasounds and blood tests to
monitor your hormone levels as well as the ovaries' egg production.

5. 2. Egg retrieval:
• Once enough eggs have been produced, the next step is to retrieve those eggs after they
have matured.
• This egg retrieval during IVF is accomplished through a minor surgery performed by your
doctor at the clinic.
• Multiple eggs can be removed in 25 minutes using a suction tube.
• This procedure may cause minor cramping, which is normal.
• If you are experiencing severe pain, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

6. 3. Sperm retrieval:
• The next step in an IVF procedure is sperm retrieval, which requires the male partner to
collect his sperm sample through masturbation.
• If the collected sample does not contain enough sperms, another method of sperm
retrieval, such as testicular aspiration, is used.
• Sperms are extracted directly from the testicle using a surgical needle in this method.

7. 4. Fertilization in the lab:
• After retrieving the eggs and sperms, the next critical step in an IVF procedure is
fertilization.
• If the sperms are healthy, Conventional fertilization is performed.
• When sperms are not motile, ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, is used as part of
IVF.
• In ICSI, one of the best sperms is chosen and directly injected into a mature egg.

8. 5. Embryo Transfer:
• The transfer of the embryo is the final step in the IVF procedure.
• After fertilization, the fertilized egg is referred to as an embryo.
• This embryo's growth is monitored for at least 2-3 days, and when it grows properly, it is
transferred into the lady's uterus.
• If the implantation is done correctly, it will result in a pregnancy.

9. IVF vs ICSI vs IUI
• As previously stated, IVF is an advanced fertilization procedure performed manually in a lab by
doctors.
• In this procedure, eggs and sperms are collected and then fused in a laboratory to form an embryo.
• The embryo is transferred into the uterus after it has grown for 2-3 days and has been monitored
for growth.
• If the sperms are healthy during IVF, they will naturally fuse the egg.
• However, perform ICSI IVF in cases where the sperms are not sufficiently motile.
• Healthy sperm is chosen from the semen sample and is directly injected into the mature eggs in
ICSI.
• In cases of male infertility, ICSI-IVF is used.

10. Cost of IVF
• IVF is a cutting-edge method of treating infertility, and it involves one cycle per
treatment. In India, the price of one IVF cycle can range from 80,000 to 3.50000.
• IVF also includes several additional tests, medications, and procedures that are chargeable
separately.
• The cost of IVF also depends on the fertility clinic you select, the doctors' experience,
how the procedure, and the technologies and techniques used.