What Are the Stages of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Treatment?

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is generally the process of fertilizing reproductive cells from a woman and a man outside the body, in a laboratory environment. The treatment process consists of five stages.

Although these procedures are standard, the treatment plan is customized according to the couple’s infertility situation. While the stages remain the same, the medications, applications, or procedures used may differ. Other procedures that can be applied within the scope of IVF treatment include:

• Testicular biopsy performed under a microscope (Micro-TESE)
• When genetic issues are involved, examining embryos and selecting healthy ones (PGD - Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
• Thinning the embryo shell using laser (Assisted Hatching)
• Freezing embryos, sperms, and eggs for future use (Frozen)
• Monitoring embryo development under a camera and selecting the healthiest embryos (Embryoscope)

What Are the Steps of the IVF Method?

• Step 1: Initial Examination and Couple Evaluation

The couple’s previous treatments, pregnancies, and miscarriages are reviewed. Results from examinations and tests are analyzed. The tests and examinations requested from the couple include:

• All types of surgical reports or notes
• Sperm analysis
• Blood tests for both woman and man
• Reports of previous treatments
• Uterine imaging
• Chromosome analysis (may be requested in some cases)
• Thrombophilia panel (may be requested in some cases)
• Reports of other diseases, if any

Based on the results, an individualized treatment plan is created for the couple.

• Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation and Egg Development

By stimulating the ovaries, multiple eggs can be obtained from the woman. For this purpose, egg-stimulating drugs and injections are applied. The dosage and treatment duration vary depending on the patient’s age and egg reserve. This process usually lasts about 8-12 days.

• Step 3: Egg Retrieval

The developed eggs are collected under general anesthesia and taken to the laboratory for fertilization with sperm cells. Sperm samples are collected from the male partner via masturbation. In cases where sperm cells are absent, a micro-TESE surgery (removal of a small piece of testicular tissue to search for sperm) may be performed. This procedure takes about half an hour.

• Step 4: IVF or Microinjection (ICSI) Application

Depending on the couple’s infertility situation, either the classical IVF method or the microinjection method can be applied. In classical IVF, sperm and egg are left to fertilize naturally in the lab, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus. Microinjection aims to increase fertilization success by injecting sperm individually into eggs. This method is especially used in severe male infertility cases.

• Step 5: Embryo Transfer

The fertilized eggs, maintained in the lab for two to six days, are placed inside the uterus using a catheter. The procedure is completely painless and usually takes 5-10 minutes. Typically, embryos from day 3 or day 5 are preferred for transfer.

During the period before the pregnancy test, sexual intercourse requires the doctor’s approval; otherwise, it is not recommended. Showering is allowed one day after the embryo transfer. A blood test is performed 12 days after the transfer to determine if pregnancy has occurred.