World IVF Day: 5 important things you should know before starting the procedure

Risks of an IVF process include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and potential side effects like nausea and bloating.

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a complex fertility treatment involving the fertilisation of eggs outside the body.
The process, which can take 6-8 weeks, includes ovarian hyperstimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo quality assessment, and embryo transfer. The success rate varies, with younger women having higher chances.
Risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and potential side effects like nausea and bloating. It's crucial to understand that IVF often requires multiple cycles and can be time-consuming and costly.
However, it offers hope for many struggling with infertility, including older women, those with certain medical conditions, and single individuals or same-sex couples.
Dr Kshitiz Murdia, CEO & Co-Founder of Indira IVF told IndiaToday.in that embarking on the IVF journey is a hopeful step for couples facing infertility.
Before proceeding, it's vital to be aware of key aspects. From medical evaluations to genetic testing, here are five crucial points to consider before starting the IVF process.
Medical evaluation and consultation
Before commencing the IVF process, it is essential for both partners to undergo a thorough medical evaluation. This evaluation aims to assess their overall health, fertility status, and any underlying factors that might affect the success of IVF.
"This can include blood work-up, testing of semen parameters, as well as ultrasonography. During this stage, the fertility specialist will discuss the step-by-step process of IVF, potential risks involved, and success rates based on individual circumstances," said Dr Kshitiz Murdia. Success rates for IVF can vary significantly depending on the woman's age and other factors.
Genetic testing
Dr Meenal Agarwal, Clinical Genetics at MedGenome said that even without any history of genetic diseases in the family, about 10-20 per cent of couples undergoing IVF treatment may experience recurrent implantation or pregnancy failures.
"In most of these cases, the cause is presumed to be genetic. Among the genetic causes of recurrent implantation failures, chromosomal abnormalities of embryos are proposed as the single most important cause," said Dr Meenal Agarwal.
With advanced techniques available, small material (5-10 cells of the developing embryos) can be taken out from in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos and is tested for numerical chromosomal abnormalities and only those with a normal chromosomal number are prioritised for transfer.
This technique is known as Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A).
Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval
IVF requires controlled ovarian stimulation to produce multiple eggs for fertilisation. Fertility medications are administered to stimulate the ovaries, and regular monitoring is essential to track follicular growth. When the eggs are mature, a minor surgical procedure called egg retrieval is performed to collect the eggs from the ovaries.
Sperm collection and fertilisation
On the day of egg retrieval, the male partner will be required to provide a semen sample. In cases of male infertility or other concerns, alternative methods like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used to assist with fertilisation. ICSI involves directly injecting a single sperm into an egg to facilitate fertilisation.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy monitoring
After fertilisation occurs in the laboratory, the resulting embryos are cultured for a few days. Then, one or more healthy embryos are selected for transfer into the woman's uterus. The number of embryos transferred depends on various factors, including the woman's age and health.