What is IVF?

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a process in which an egg is retrieved from the ovaries and fertilised with processed sperm outside the body in a controlled laboratory environment (in vitro).

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) in which mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and combined with sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilized eggs, now embryos, are transferred into the uterus to allow implantation. A complete IVF cycle typically takes about two weeks. IVF can be performed using the woman’s eggs and her partner’s sperm, or in some cases, with donor eggs or sperm, depending on the underlying cause of infertility and the treatment plan. After embryo transfer, a pregnancy test is conducted two weeks later to determine if the procedure was successful.

In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a series of procedures complex in nature and used to treat fertility and genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child.

When is IVF Treatment Recommended?

IVF can treat numerous causes of infertility. These include,

  • Moderate to severe endometriosis: Women who do not respond to repeated IUI treatments may benefit from IVF.
  • Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes: This can result from previous reproductive surgeries or pelvic inflammatory disease, making natural conception difficult.
  • Severe male infertility: Conditions like low sperm count or poor sperm motility may require IVF-ICSI, where an additional step, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection), is used to assist fertilisation.
  • Advanced maternal age: As women age, fertility declines and IVF offers a higher success rate compared to other treatments.
  • Unexplained infertility: In cases where the cause of infertility remains unknown, and other treatments have not been successful, IVF can be a viable option.

Thanks to significant advancements in the field of fertility, the cost of IVF treatment in India has decreased substantially. The expenses related to medication, doctor’s fees, and the procedure have been reduced considerably since the birth of the first test tube baby in India. The success rates of IVF in India have also improved over the years. Globally, the highest IVF success rates are typically seen in women in their late 30s to early 40s. IVF in India offers success rates comparable to those in other leading countries.

Indications of IVF procedure

IVF is recommended to treat infertility in the following situations:

Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes

Ovulation disorder

Premature ovarian failure

Endometriosis

Uterine fibroids

Previous tubal sterilisation or removal of tubes

Impaired sperm production or function

Genetic disorder

Unexplained infertility

Fertility preservation in cancer patients

How IVF is done - Step-by-step procedure of IVF

The IVF procedure generally involves five basic steps:

01

Controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation ( also called super-ovulation)

02

Egg retrieval

03

Insemination and fertilisation

04

Embryo culture

05

Embryo transfer