Once your workup is complete, your personalized ivf process begins. A single cycle typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from start to finish. Here is what you can expect at each stage.

Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation (Growing Your Eggs)

What it is: In a natural menstrual cycle, your body typically matures only one egg. The goal of this first stage of the ivf process is to use medication to safely stimulate your ovaries to mature multiple eggs. Why? More mature eggs give us more opportunities to create a healthy embryo.

The Process:

1. Medication: You will take fertility medications, usually in the form of small, simple self-administered injections (containing FSH and/or LH). This phase lasts for about 8 to 14 days. Our nursing team will teach you exactly how to do this, and we are here to support you.
2. Monitoring: This is the most hands-on part of the ivf process. You will visit the clinic every few days for monitoring. We use blood tests (to check your hormone levels) and transvaginal ultrasounds (to measure the growth of your follicles). This close monitoring allows us to adjust your medication dosage for a perfect response.
3. The “Trigger Shot”: Once your follicles have reached the ideal size, you will take a final injection called a “trigger shot” (hCG). This all-important shot helps the eggs complete their final maturation phase, preparing them for egg retrieval.

Patient Experience: Common side effects during ovarian stimulation are temporary and manageable. They can include bloating, mild headaches, breast tenderness, or mood swings. This is a normal response to the hormones, and our team will be in constant contact to help you manage any symptoms.

Step 2: Egg Retrieval (The Collection)

What it is: This is the minor surgical procedure where we collect the mature eggs from your ovaries.

The Process:

• Timing: The egg retrieval is carefully timed to happen about 34 to 36 hours after your trigger shot.
• The Procedure: This is a short, outpatient procedure that takes only 20-30 minutes. You will be given light sedation or anesthesia, so you will be comfortable and feel no pain.
• How it Works: The doctor uses a transvaginal ultrasound to guide a very thin needle into each follicle, gently aspirating the fluid and the egg inside.
• Recovery: You will rest in our recovery area for a short while before going home. It is normal to feel some mild cramping or bloating, which usually resolves in a day or two.
  
  
  

Step 3: Sperm Collection & Fertilization (In the Lab)

On the same day as your egg retrieval, your partner will provide a sperm sample. Our lab team then prepares the sample, and our expert embryologists get to work on the most magical part of the IVF process: fertilization.

There are two primary methods for fertilization. The method we choose depends entirely on the results of your semen analysis.

Conventional IVF vs. ICSI: What’s the Difference?

This is a very common question, and understanding the difference can help you feel more prepared.

• Conventional IVF: In this method, we place the retrieved eggs and many thousands of healthy, motile sperm together in a special culture dish. We then allow fertilization to happen “naturally” in the lab, as the strongest sperm penetrates the egg on its own.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): ICSI is an advanced technique used primarily in cases of male factor infertility (such as low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal shape). Our embryologist uses a powerful microscope and a tiny needle to select a single, healthy sperm and inject it directly into the cytoplasm of the egg. This bypasses any potential barriers to fertilization.

Here is a simple breakdown:

Step 4: Embryo Culture (Nurturing Your Embryos)

Once the eggs are fertilized, they are now called embryos. They are placed into a special, protected incubator in our lab, where they are monitored and nurtured for 3 to 6 days.

This is a critical waiting period where our embryologists watch them grow and divide. The goal is for the embryos to reach the blastocyst stage, which typically occurs on Day 5 or 6. A blastocyst is a highly developed embryo with a much greater chance of implanting in the uterus, which is a key factor in improving your IVF success rate.

Step 5: Embryo Transfer (The Final Step)

What it is: This is the simple, hopeful, and final procedure in the active ivf process. It involves placing one or more healthy embryos into your uterus.

The Process:

• Selection: Our team selects the highest-quality embryo (or embryos) for the embryo transfer.
• The Procedure: This is a quick and painless procedure that does not require any anesthesia. It often feels very similar to a standard Pap smear. The doctor uses a very thin, soft, and flexible tube (a catheter) to gently place the embryo into your uterus through the cervix.
• After the Transfer: You will rest for a short while and can then go home. We usually advise taking it easy and avoiding strenuous exercise for a few days. Any additional high-quality embryos from your cycle can be safely frozen (cryopreserved) for future use.

Step 6: The Luteal Phase & Pregnancy Test

What it is: The time after your embryo transfer is called the luteal phase.

The Process:

• Luteal Phase Support: You will be prescribed progesterone medication (either as injections, vaginal suppositories, or oral pills). This hormone is essential for making your uterine lining “sticky” and receptive, which supports the implantation of the embryo and the health of an early pregnancy.
• The “Two-Week Wait”: This is the 9 to 14-day period between your embryo transfer and your official pregnancy test. We know this is often the most emotionally challenging part of the entire IVF process.

The Pregnancy Test: You will return to the clinic for a simple blood test to measure the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). This is the most accurate way to confirm a pregnancy.