FAQ's

IVF process is a series of procedures. The IVF process steps include

• 1. Initial Consultation

  In your step by step IVF process, your first step should be meeting up with an IVF specialist. Once all the information has been discussed, the specialist will recommend the best way to proceed.

• 2. Testing and Ovary Stimulation

  The stimulation process will start on the first day of your cycle. Unlike normal, you will be given medications for 8-14 days to encourage the follicles in your ovaries to produce more eggs.

• 3. Egg retrieval

  This procedure takes about 20-30 minutes while you are asleep. Your specialist will use the latest ultrasound technology to guide a needle into each ovary. The average number of eggs collected is 8-15.

• 4. Sperm Retrieval

  Sperm retrieval is done on the same day as that of egg retrieval if you are a couple planning to use fresh sperm in an IVF treatment procedure. In case of frozen or donor eggs, the specialists will keep them ready in the lab.

• 5. Fertilization

  The scientists will now use powerful microscopes to find the eggs from the fluid so they can be taken out of it. Then both eggs and sperm are fertilized in a dish in vitro.

• 6. Embryo Development

  Fertilization of the egg and the sperm results into a zygote which further develops into an embryo. Then the embryo is placed in a special incubator.

• 7. Embryo Cryopreservation

  Usually 3-4 embryos are replaced per ET cycle. In centres which do not avail cryo-preservation, up to 7 embryos are transferred and the remaining would remain non-utilised and hence wasted. With cryopreservtion, excess embryos can be preserved so as to transfer them for future ET cycles. In this way the female patient can avoid undergoing frequent ovarian stimulation, avoid the risk of multiple gestation and it would also prove cost beneficial. Frozen specimen is also easy to transfer to other locations if the patients prefer to get ET done at their new location.

• 8. Embryo Transfer

  Here, the scientist prepares the embryo by placing it in a catheter (small tube). Then, he will place the catheter through the cervix into your uterus.

• 9. Final Pregnancy Test

  Pregnancy test can be done after 14 days of IVF. In IVF, a blood test called Serum Beta HCG is done to confirm the pregnancy.When hCG is detected in your bloodstream, it is a positive sign of pregnancy.

This is the complete step by step IVF process.

No, IVF is not at all painful because the injections used for IVF are purified and injected in subcutaneous form. The egg collection process is done under light sedation which is totally painless. At the time of embryo transfer, anaesthesia is not given but it is a 2 to 5 minutes of process which hardly cause any pain.

The IVF procedure can be prescribed in cases where the other fertility treatments have failed, or if the chances of a successful pregnancy are higher with this method than with any other treatment. If there are no contraindications, the procedure can be carried out simply at the request of the couple by considering that precise time as the right time for IVF. IVF is the option, which has highest success rate and is also the most expensive. But, it is not “end of the road”. Many women have conceived naturally or with intrauterine insemination, even after IVF. However, for those with blocked tubes & very poor sperm counts, it is only option.

• IVF may be encouraged for those with:

  Fallopian tube damage
  BROvulation disorders
  BREndometriosis
  BRUterine fibroids
  BRImpaired sperm production or function
  BRUnexplained infertility
  BRA genetic disorder
  BRDonor sperm or embryos

As compare to international IVF hospitals the cost of IVF is lower in India. It is purely depends on patient’s medical condition which may vary the cost. IVF is not as expensive as perceived in general. Generally, the cost of IVF cycle depends upon the dose of drugs that would be needed for ovarian stimulation. It is only as expensive as perhaps gall stone removal or removal of uterus surgery.

For the first visit, you are asked to carry yours and your spouse's ID proofs. You will also be asked to carry any relevant medical reports and records if any.

We offer fertility treatments only for married couples in order to avoid potential legal troubles.

One in every five couples are affected by some degree of infertility and need some kind of medical intervention for conception.

A complete medical history and a physical exam are the first step in diagnosing fertility problems. Both partners need to be evaluated. The couple may also need infection screening, blood tests, semen analysis and ultrasound exams, ovaries and uterus scanning, exploratory surgery for the woman.

A patient undergoing IVF does not require admission. However, one should visit the center 3-5 times during monitoring cycle. On the day of egg collection, the patient would need to fast for 6 hours & come to clinic (the procedure takes about half an hour). Patients can go home after the effect of anaesthesia weans off which takes about 2-3 hours. The next scheduled visit is after 2-3 days for the embryo transfer, which again takes about half an hour and patients are free to go home after resting for one hour.

1/3rd of the infertility issues are contributed by the male partner. Sperm quality and quantity can be affected by overall health and lifestyle. Male factors also influence increased rate of miscarriages.

• Most common causes of male infertility are as follows.

  Abnormal sperm count or low sperm motility
  BRChronic ailments such as cancer
  BREnvironmental factors: Exposure to radioactive chemicals
  BRLifestyle factors: Being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol
  BRAge

Low sperm count can also be known as oligospermia. One may undergo to ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) where a single sperm is injected to matured egg. Adapting this treatment will leads to elevate the chances of conceiving. Besides this, the treatment is useful especially in case of male infertility, low sperm motility and poor sperm morphology.

Infertility is gender neutral. It affects the male and the female population. 1/3rd of the infertility issues are contributed by the female partner. In the world, 50-80 million suffer from infertility.

• Most common causes of female infertility are as follows.

  Age
  BREndometriosis
  BRHormonal issues leading to ovulation problems
  BRTubal blockage
  BRFibroids
  BRLifestyle factors: Being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol, unhealthy diet
  BRUnexplained infertility

When there is no identifiable cause of infertility in the couple, it is termed as unexplained infertility.

Improvements in medication, surgery and ART make pregnancy possible for a majority of the couples pursuing treatments. Success rates have drastically improved for couples taking treatment under ART. There are various factors which influence success in ART. On an average, the success rates with IUI are around 15-20% & 40-50% with IVF.

Globally the success rate of assisted reproductive technology is between 15-20% for intra uterine insemination and 40-50% for in-vitro fertilization. The success rate at our centre is higher than the global average. However, the success rate for every individual is different from the other.

The success of conception and pregnancy depends on the patient's cause of infertility and age. Conception and pregnancy have also to be supported by physical and immunological factors of the female. However, it is useful to note that 40% infertility is caused due to male factor, 40% due to female factors, 10% due to both male and female factors and 10% is due to unexplained causes. In our Centre, the rate of fertilization with ART is 100% with 40% pregnancy having attained with ICSI.

30% is the current rate of pregnancy in our Centre with conventional IVF-ET procedures. There is of course no specific age limit for couples who may be considered for IVF in our institute. Technology and doctors are the most important factors which one should see before choosing the right IVF centre.

Number of cycles required (ovulation induction) depend on the age of the patient, general health of the patient, quality of the oocyte, quality of the semen, immunological factors of the couple, etc.

There is no increased risk of abnormality in Swarupa Fertility Centre conceived babies compared to those conceived naturally.

There are various opinions about it. Many doctors/centers advise to wait for 2-3 months. However at our centre we do advocate back to back cycles.

IVF is planned for the second time only after a thorough diagnosis and analysis of possible causes of failure. On an average, a woman is given 3 months for rehabilitation as IVF cycles gap. During this time, the reproductive system is restored and prepares to receive a new fertilized egg. If after the first IVF, there was a frozen pregnancy, then in this case the rest period lasts about 6 months. In such a situation, there is always chronic endometritis, which needs careful treatment before planning a new pregnancy.

For the second attempt to be successful, sometimes it is enough to make some adjustments to the previous IVF protocol by adding a proper IVF cycles gap. In some cases, a long stimulation cycle is replaced with a short one, or one hormonal preparation is changed for another, while in some others, the dosage is changed.

If no specific complications were identified, and the first IVF attempt was carried out in a natural cycle, that is, hormonal stimulation was not used, then the artificial insemination procedure can be carried out after 2 weeks. This means that in the next menstrual cycle, doctors begin to monitor the dominant follicle and, when favourable conditions are reached, they perform a puncture and egg collection.

If an IVF cycle is negative and the patient gets her period because of failure to implantation, the patient can be fertile right from the next cycle. Many couple undergo IVF do try for natural conception as well in subsequent cycles. However the tubes must be patent and the egg and the sperm must be of the reasonable quality.

Typical success rates with sperm donation are very encouraging. However, success rates depend largely upon the quality of sperm/ oocyte/ embryo (depending on the particular donor program).