How IVF Successfully Creates a Baby Outside the Body

A complete medical history is performed for both partners before starting the process of IVF.

• For men: A semen analysis is taken to check sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape). According to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021, a sperm count of 16 million per ml or above is considered normal. If it is less than this, it affects fertility.
• For women: Different tests are conducted, like hormone analysis, ultrasound scans, and ovarian reserve testing, which help doctors to understand egg quality and overall reproductive health.

This evaluation ensures that the treatment plan is customized for each couple.

Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation

Normally, a woman’s body releases just one egg in each cycle. But in IVF, doctors try to collect several eggs, which improves the chance of getting pregnant.

• Fertility injections (hormones) are given to women for around 10–12 days.
• These injections help the ovaries to produce several mature eggs.
• Doctors keep an eye on egg growth, ultrasound scans and blood tests.

The aim is to get enough healthy eggs for fertilization while keeping risks, like ovarian hyperstimulation, low.

Step 3: Egg Retrieval

Once the eggs have matured, a minor surgical procedure called egg retrieval is performed by doctors.

• The 20–30 minute procedure is done under mild anesthesia.
• A thin needle, guided by ultrasound, is inserted into the ovaries to collect the eggs.
• The process is painless, and patients can usually return home the same day.

Step 4: Sperm Collection and Preparation

On the same day as egg retrieval, the male partner provides a semen sample.

• If sperm count is normal, then the sample is collected naturally.
• In cases of very low sperm count or no sperm in the semen, advanced methods like surgical sperm retrieval (TESA or PESA) can be used.
• The sperm sample is then washed and prepared in the lab to select the healthiest sperm.

 Step 5: Fertilization in the Lab

One of the most important step is the actual creation of life outside the body.

• Conventional IVF: Eggs and sperm are placed together in a culture dish, allowing natural fertilization.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): A single healthy sperm is directly injected into an egg. This method is often recommended for severe male infertility.

After 16-18 hours, embryologists check to see if the egg and sperm have successfully joined, mainly to check that the fertilization has occurred.

 Step 6: Development of Embryo

Once fertilization is done, the fertilized egg is called an embryo.

• Embryos are cultured in a special incubator for 3–5 days.
• Embryologists watch them closely, checking cell division and growth.
• By day 5, embryos may reach the blastocyst stage, which has higher implantation potential.

Advanced techniques like embryo grading and genetic testing (PGT) can help to identify the healthiest embryos for transfer.

 Step 7: Embryo Transfer

After selecting the best quality embryo, doctors transfer it into the woman’s uterus.

• The procedure is painless, and anesthesia is not required.
• A thin catheter is used to gently place the embryo inside the uterus.
• The number of embryos transferred depends on factors like age, medical history, and embryo quality.

After the transfer, woman rests for a short period and then returns back to normal activities.

Step 8: Final Stage: Pregnancy Test

After embryo transfer comes the most emotional phase: the two-week wait.

• During this time, doctors may prescribe progesterone supplements to support implantation.
• About 12–14 days later, a blood test (beta-hCG) is performed to check pregnancy.

If the result is positive, the woman continues with prenatal care, just like any natural pregnancy.