IVF takes about four to six weeks from the first consultation to the pregnancy test, and involves a specific sequence of steps, each with its own purpose. This guide walks through what IVF actually is, how the process works stage by stage, and what really decides whether a cycle succeeds.
What is IVF?
IVF, or In Vitro Fertilisation, is a fertility treatment where an egg and sperm are combined outside the body, in a lab, to form an embryo. That embryo is then placed into the uterus, where it can implant and grow into a pregnancy, just as it would after natural conception. IVF isn’t usually the first option a doctor suggests. It’s recommended when natural conception or simpler treatments, like medication or IUI (intrauterine insemination) haven’t worked, or when there’s a clear medical reason that makes them unlikely to, such as blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, or ovulation disorders that don’t respond to treatment.
How an IVF cycle works, step by step
Initial consultation and diagnosis (before anything else starts). Both partners’ reports are reviewed by the fertility specialist – typically blood tests, an ultrasound for the woman, and a semen analysis for the man. Based on this, the doctor decides whether IVF is actually the right path, or whether a simpler treatment should be tried first. This step matters because not every fertility case needs IVF, and skipping straight to it without a proper diagnosis can mean paying for a treatment that wasn’t necessary.
Ovarian stimulation (8-12 days). Daily hormone injections encourage the ovaries to develop multiple eggs in one cycle instead of the usual one. At Sree Fertility Centre, this stage uses NFIS (Needle Free Injection System) – the first clinic in Hyderabad to offer it – which removes the daily needle stick for patients who find injections difficult.
Egg retrieval (approx. 15-20 minutes). A short procedure under sedation, done once monitoring shows the eggs are mature. Most patients go home the same day.
Fertilisation in the lab (same day). Eggs and sperm are combined either through conventional IVF or ICSI (where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg), depending on sperm quality. We use an advanced AI-assisted semen analysis system, to assess sperm parameters precisely before deciding which method gives the embryo the best start.
Embryo development (3-5 days). Embryos are monitored in incubators as they divide and grow, usually to the blastocyst stage – a more developed embryo, typically reached by day 5, before a transfer decision is made.
Embryo transfer (approx. 10 minutes, no anaesthesia). One embryo, or occasionally two, depending on the case – is placed into the uterus using a thin catheter. No recovery time is required; most patients resume normal activity the same day.
Pregnancy test (12-14 days later). A blood test measuring beta-hCG, not a urine test, since it detects pregnancy earlier and more reliably.
What actually decides whether a cycle works
Age is the single biggest factor, because it determines both egg quantity and egg quality. But four other things matter just as much, and patients rarely get a straight answer on them:
Ovarian reserve, measured through an AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) blood test, tells a doctor how many eggs are realistically available to work with – independent of age alone.
Sperm quality, assessed in detail rather than just a basic count, decides whether conventional IVF or ICSI is the right approach. This is where AI-assisted analysis tools add precision that manual assessment can miss.
Embryology lab standards like incubator quality, air filtration, and most importantly, the embryologist’s hands-on experience – affect embryo survival rates more than most patients realise. This is a less visible factor than age, but in practice it’s one of the biggest swing factors between clinics.
Uterine receptivity, checked through ultrasound and sometimes a hysteroscopy, determines whether a healthy embryo can actually implant.
Success rates reported by fertility clinics in India vary widely by age group and by clinic, which is part of why every IVF clinic in the country, including ours, is required to be registered under India’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. When comparing clinics, the more useful question to ask isn’t “what’s your success rate” in the abstract, but “what’s your success rate for someone my age, using my own eggs, in the last 12 months.”
When is IVF actually recommended?
A doctor typically suggests IVF when one or more of these apply:
● Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
● Significant male infertility (low sperm count, low motility, or abnormal sperm shape)
● Unexplained infertility after other treatments haven’t worked
● Ovulation disorders that don’t respond to medication
● Two or more failed IUI or fertility treatment cycles
Every case is different, and the right starting point is a consultation that looks at both partners’ reports together, not just one round of advice based on age alone.
Next step
If you’re trying to understand whether IVF is the right path for you, the most useful first step is a consultation with a fertility specialist who can review your specific reports – not a generic checklist. Sree Fertility Centre has locations in Kondapur (Hyderabad), Varanasi, and Bidar.
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