Embarking on the journey of IVF in Zirakpur can be both exciting and overwhelming. This guide will walk you through each phase so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
1. Start Phase
- When: As soon as you can make an appointment
- Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Before beginning the procedure of IVF in Zirakpur, you’ll undergo extensive fertility tests, including evaluations of your fallopian tubes, uterus, and hormonal levels. These assessments help your doctor understand your physical condition and recommend the best treatment plan for you.
You will be taught how to inject hormones daily at home and receive instructions on any other medications (patches or tablets) needed during the ovarian stimulation phase.
2. Ovarian Stimulation Phase
- When: Day 2 or 3 of your menstrual cycle
- Duration: 10 to 12 days
The IVF process begins with self-administering hormonal drugs to stimulate your ovaries, starting on the second or third day of your period and continuing for 9-12 days. The goal is to produce as many follicles as possible, as more follicles increase the chances of retrieving high-quality, mature eggs.
You’ll visit the clinic every 10-12 days for blood tests and ultrasound scans to monitor your ovaries’ response. Your doctor will give you a “trigger” shot, typically containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or leuprolide acetate (Lupron), to complete the maturation of your eggs.
3. Egg Retrieval & Semen Collection
- When: 36 hours after the “trigger shot”
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia, taking about 15-20 minutes. A thin needle is guided through the pelvic cavity using ultrasound imaging to aspirate the follicles and collect the eggs.
Your partner’s sperm will be collected on the same day. The preferred method is collection at the clinic through masturbation, avoiding contact with body fluids that could contaminate the fertilization process. The sample is then thoroughly examined through semen analysis to determine the best fertilization method: standard IVF or advanced Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
During the process of IVF in Zirakpur, eggs and sperm are mixed in a lab dish to allow natural fertilization. For ICSI, a single healthy sperm is directly injected into a mature egg. ICSI is more complex and requires an experienced fertility specialist.
4. Embryo Culture
- When: After fertilization via standard IVF or ICSI
- Duration: 5 to 6 days
After fertilization, the embryos are cultured in the lab for 5-6 days until they reach the blastocyst phase, ready for implantation. Embryos that do not reach this phase are considered weak and are not transferred.
5. Embryo Transfer
- When: After the culture process
- Duration: 2 to 4 hours
The final step is transferring a blastocyst into your uterus through a painless procedure. The blastocyst is placed in a catheter, guided through your cervix, and into your uterus with ultrasound assistance. The blastocyst will then develop in the uterine endometrium.
A blood test can confirm pregnancy 7-10 days after the transfer, with an ultrasound confirmation two weeks later.
6. Embryo Freezing
- When: After embryo transfer
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours
If you have extra embryos that are not needed for transfer, they can be frozen through a process called vitrification. This technique quickly freezes the embryos, preventing the formation of ice crystals. The embryos are stored in deep freezers and can be preserved indefinitely, provided the laboratory maintains high-quality control and equipment monitoring.
These frozen embryos can be used in the future if you wish to become pregnant again.