IVF Treatment (In Vitro Fertilisation)

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shweta Agarwal, MBBS, DGO, Reproductive Medicine (IVF). Last updated: June 2026.

Information on this page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Outcomes depend on individual clinical factors.

Aansh Hospital & IVF Center is a growing chain of fertility centers serving Vidarbha and northern Telangana, with its headquarters and in-house embryology lab led by Senior Clinical Embryologist Aayush Agarwal, Ph.D. Treatment is led by Dr. Shweta Agarwal (MBBS, DGO, Reproductive Medicine). Because IVF, ICSI and embryo transfer are all done on-site, your eggs and embryos never leave our care — you can verify our government ART registration on the National ART & Surrogacy Registry.

Why consider IVF? (Indications)

IVF is indicated when conception has not occurred after an appropriate period of trying, and when one or more of the following apply:

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes — IVF bypasses the tubes entirely.
• Severe male-factor infertility — combined with ICSI when sperm count, motility, or morphology is significantly abnormal. (See male infertility treatment.)
• Failed IUI cycles — typically after 3–6 unsuccessful IUI attempts.
• Endometriosis — particularly when tubes or ovaries are affected by endometriosis.
• Low ovarian reserve / diminished AMH — IVF maximises the use of available eggs.
• Unexplained infertility — when standard tests show no clear cause but conception has not occurred.
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or implantation failure — combined with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to screen embryos.

Our fertility diagnostics confirm which factors apply before IVF is recommended — IVF is not the automatic first step for everyone.

Have you had a failed IVF cycle elsewhere?

A previous unsuccessful cycle does not mean IVF cannot work for you. It usually means the next cycle should be planned differently. We review your earlier stimulation protocol, egg and embryo numbers, fertilisation method, and embryo-transfer details to understand what happened — then adjust the approach (protocol, ICSI, blastocyst culture, PGT, or endometrial assessment) accordingly. You can request a free second opinion and bring your earlier reports; nothing is repeated unnecessarily.

How does the IVF process work, step by step?

1. Ovarian stimulation (Days 1–12): Daily hormone injections (FSH ± LH) encourage the ovaries to mature multiple follicles rather than the single egg of a natural cycle. Dosing is individualised on AMH, antral follicle count, age, and prior response. Monitoring (ultrasound + hormone bloods) occurs every 2–3 days.
2. Trigger injection: When follicles reach ~18–20 mm, a trigger shot (hCG or GnRH agonist) completes egg maturation. Retrieval is timed precisely 34–36 hours later.
3. Egg retrieval: A minor procedure under IV sedation (~15–20 minutes). A fine needle aspirates fluid from each follicle under ultrasound guidance. You go home the same day with mild cramping for 1–2 days.
4. Fertilisation: In the embryology lab, depending on sperm quality, fertilisation occurs via standard IVF (eggs and prepared sperm placed together) or ICSI (a single selected sperm injected into each mature egg — used for male-factor infertility, prior fertilisation failure, or surgically retrieved sperm).
5. Embryo culture (Days 1–5): Embryos develop in controlled incubators, monitored daily, to Day 3 (cleavage) or Day 5/6 (blastocyst culture) depending on number and quality.
6. Embryo transfer: One healthy embryo (occasionally two, on clinical assessment) is transferred to the uterus — see below.
7. Luteal phase support: Progesterone (and sometimes oestrogen) supports the uterine lining for implantation.
8. Pregnancy test: A blood beta-hCG test 10–14 days after transfer.

Every embryo in our lab is tracked through the cycle with a rigorous witnessing and identification protocol, so that your samples are never confused with anyone else's — the single most common worry patients raise about IVF labs.

What is embryo transfer and what does it involve?

Embryo transfer is the final IVF step — a straightforward outpatient procedure (no sedation in most cases) taking 10–15 minutes:

1. The selected embryo is loaded into a fine, soft catheter.
2. The catheter is gently passed through the cervix into the uterine cavity under ultrasound guidance.
3. The embryo is deposited in the optimal position.
4. You can usually return to normal activity the same day.

Single embryo transfer (SET): transferring one embryo at a time is the standard recommendation, to avoid the health risks of multiple pregnancy for both mother and babies. A surplus embryo can be frozen for a future frozen embryo transfer.

What is laser-assisted hatching?

Before an embryo can implant, it must break out of its outer shell (the zona pellucida) — a process called hatching. Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) uses a precise infrared laser to create a small opening in the zona to facilitate this. LAH is used selectively, based on embryo morphology assessed by our embryologist (e.g. thick zona, older embryos) — not routinely for every patient.

How is IVF success actually measured?

There is no single, honest "success rate" for IVF — and any clinic quoting one flat number is over-simplifying. Success depends heavily on the age of the woman and egg quality (the largest variable), ovarian reserve, sperm quality, embryo quality, uterine factors, and whether it is a fresh or frozen transfer. The meaningful way to read outcomes is by age band, per embryo transfer, within a defined time window — the international reporting standard.

During your consultation, Dr. Shweta Agarwal will discuss realistic, age-appropriate expectations for your specific situation rather than a marketing figure.

What does IVF cost?

IVF cost varies with the protocol, medications, whether ICSI is included, the number of cycles, and any add-ons (blastocyst culture, PGT, freezing). You receive a transparent, written cost estimate before anything begins, and the final cost is confirmed after your initial consultation and diagnostic workup.

Indicatively, an IVF cycle costs ₹1,20,000 – ₹2,40,000, excluding medications; a donor-egg add-on is ₹80,000 – ₹1,20,000 additional; cryostorage is billed separately at approximately ₹1,000/month per straw. Final cost depends on individual clinical evaluation.

• 0% EMI options available (3–24 months), so treatment can be paid monthly.
• See the IVF cost & 0% EMI page for a detailed breakdown of what is included, or estimate with our IVF cost & EMI calculator.

What are the risks of IVF? (Being honest)

IVF is generally safe but carries real risks we discuss openly:

• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): a rare but serious response to stimulation. Women with high AMH or PCOS are at higher risk — a freeze-all strategy is the safest approach.
• Multiple pregnancy: transferring more than one embryo raises the chance of twins, which carries higher risk for mother and babies. Single embryo transfer is preferred wherever possible.
• Cycle cancellation: if ovarian response is inadequate or excessive.
• Failed fertilisation or ectopic pregnancy: rare with IVF, but possible and monitored closely.
• Procedure discomfort & medication side effects: mild cramping, bloating, and temporary mood changes.