How Long Does the IVF Process Take From Start to Finish?

IVF or In-Vitro Fertilization process is unique for everyone, in terms of physical health, emotional aspects, and financial constraints. IVF treatment is life-changing. Hence, you must be mentally and emotionally prepared before signing up for this. You also need to plan your doctor visits and at-home precautions and care. Now, your question would be how long does it take for the IVF process to complete? Well, usually from testing to transfer of the embryo, the process is about 4-6 weeks. If you include the follow-up with the doctors, the IVF process will be a bracket of 10-12 weeks

In this blog, you will get a comprehensive understanding of the timeline of an IVF process.

A Complete Timeline for IVF Treatment

Before starting your IVF journey, consult the specialist and lay down your medical history. In the pre-consultation phase, specialists will explain the IVF treatment and the medications you will receive. Whenever you are ready, the process will begin. Let’s break down certain stages of the IVF process.

1. Plan & Test

The clinic specialists will help you create an ideal IVF plan that would suit your needs. Before that, the clinic will run some tests, and create a plan based on the results. There are various tests involved in the process of IVF. The usual ones that take place universally everywhere are:

• Ultrasound
• Male fertility test
• Full body panel
• Examination of the uterine lining
• Evaluation of infectious disease

2. Synchronization & Priming

There are different ways to prepare ovarian follicles to gather eggs. If you have a DOR or diminished ovarian reserve, the doctor may recommend the protocol for estrogen priming, which is also known as priming. In this approach, patients have to either wear an estrogen patch or consume pills in a 21-day cycle, which is right before the IVF timeline. This approach lowers the level of FSH in the body and boosts follicular growth. This thus increases the amount of mature eggs available for use.

There’s also a long protocol approach where medicated injections are used to aggravate follicular growth. In the long protocol phase, birth control pill also suppresses ovarian function. However, because of medical advancements, doctors avoid suppression and administer hormonal medications for about 10–11 days. Compared to the long approach, this one is shorter and involves fewer injections. Hence, less pain. Also, the risk of OHSS or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is lesser with this protocol.

3. Stimulation

The ovarian stimulation injection starts in this stage and continues for about 10-11 days. These hormonal injections copy the natural hormones and elevate follicular growth to help egg formation. This phase employs injectable gonadotropins (LH and FSH) in all its protocols. The ovarian stimulation stage is about 10-11 days. Specialists will guide you and/or your partner on how to administer these injectables. The objective of ovarian stimulation is to collect 4 eggs minimum. During this phase, you need to visit the doctor for a few days for hormone monitoring and ultrasound.

While most women don’t experience much discomfort during ovarian stimulation, some women may experience side effects like bloating, mood swings, fatigue, weight gain, and headaches. A balanced diet and positive mindset can help you get through this stage gradually.

4. Triggering & Retrieving Eggs

As the follicles mature, they create room for eggs. The specialist would administer at this stage, which is the trigger shot. It will stimulate the release of eggs from the follicles. The shot is given 36 hours before the egg retrieval. After the injection, eggs are released from the follicles for 36-40 hours. The eggs should be collected right away before they go out from the ovaries and reach the fallopian tube.

Next comes the egg retrieval part. It is a surgical process in which doctors take probably an hour to perform the procedure. It is performed under sedation or general anesthesia, according to your preference. After the eggs are retrieved, they are delivered to the lab for testing. The specialists also count the eggs to determine how many are viable. It is also the same day when sperm is collected from the partner. If you have a donor, then the sperm will be frozen for the next process.

5. Fertilization & Embryo Development

If enough viable eggs are produced, the IVF center combines the eggs and the sperm (of your partner or the donor’s). The lab will either follow the traditional method for fertilization where thousands of sperm are placed beside the egg in a petri dish or ICSI, where the specialist would insert the sperm inside the egg. ICSI takes place with male infertility. Moreover, it takes 3-6 days to monitor the eggs and evaluate which ones would develop embryos. After the eggs are fertilized, it is time for the embryos to develop. This process usually takes about 3 days.

6. Embryo Transfer (Fresh/Frozen)

Through a tiny catheter, the IVF specialist would insert the embryo inside your uterus. For proper placement, the specialist would monitor the process through ultrasound, which you can watch (even along with your partner). If you’re transferring a frozen embryo, then it will be thawed on the transfer day only.

Be it fresh or frozen embryo transfer, after the embryo develops, the transfer process happens in about a day.

7. Pregnancy Test

After about 12-15 days after the embryo transfer, you will have to schedule an appointment with the doctor to take your first pregnancy test. If it comes back positive, you will be doing a second test. If human chorionic gonadotropin is detected in the first pregnancy test, the second test will happen in about 2 days. Again, in about 7 days, there will be another pregnancy test. If all the results are positive, you have to see the OB-GYN. If the pregnancy test result is negative, you have to wait 4-6 weeks to start the IVF cycle again.

Though home pregnancy kits are also used these days, the best way to confirm a pregnancy is by doing a blood test.

Even if you conceive, don’t discontinue your hormone medications. They will be administered throughout the IVF cycle.

Embark Your Journey Toward Parenthood with ReproArt Fertility Clinic

If you want to experience the joy of parenthood and you’re considering a rather unconventional way, then ReproArt Fertility Clinic is your best spot. Being the best IVF Center in Noida, ReproArt Fertility has supported many Indian and international childless couples in their journeys. You can rely on ReproArt Fertility for our:

• Modern Equipment: As medical science has progressed, our fertility centre is also setting trends by incorporating the latest equipment for the fertility process. These include centrifuge machines, incubators, etc.
• 15+ years of experience: More and more people are becoming aware of IVF treatments in India. Since there is still a long way to go for many individuals, they want to rely on a fertility centre that has significant experience. This is why ReproArt Fertility can be your guiding light.
• Comprehensive Care: As people can face different fertility issues, our experienced and highly qualified specialists ensure an array of services, from IVF to donor services.

Conclusion

The IVF process may seem prolonged, but there are so many things going on. From testing to preparing the uterine wall for releasing eggs to collecting them and combining them with fresh/frozen sperm, it is a long yet rewarding journey. The process roughly takes about 10-12 weeks from testing to scheduling your OB-GYN visit.

FAQs

Q1. What are the tests required for the IVF treatment?

Patients need to take certain tests before the IVF plan is created. These tests include uterine wall examination, ultrasound, full body panel, and more.

Q2. Will the clinic/doctor use injections at any stage of the IVF treatment?

Yes. During the ovarian stimulation process, injections will be used to inject the natural hormones that would increase follicular growth.

Q3. How long does it take for the eggs to fertilize in the IVF process?

After combining eggs and sperm, specialists will spend 3–6 days evaluating embryo formation.

Q4. What is the timeline for the ovarian stimulation phase?

It takes 10-11 days for the ovarian stimulation phase.