What is IVF? The process, step by step
IVF is a step-by-step treatment. We help the ovaries grow several eggs, collect them under short anaesthesia, then bring egg and sperm together in our own laboratory. A healthy embryo is grown to the day-five blastocyst stage and gently placed in the womb, with spare embryos frozen for later use.
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What IVF really means
IVF stands for in vitro fertilisation. In plain words, it means we bring the egg and the sperm together in the laboratory, help them form an embryo, and then place that embryo gently back in the womb. It sounds complicated, but it is really a series of small, clear steps, and we explain each one as we go. Nothing is rushed, and you always know what is happening and why.
The first visit and the tests that guide us
Everything begins with a calm first consultation, where we sit with you as a couple and understand your history. Two simple tests then guide the plan. For the wife, an AMH blood test gives us a sense of the egg reserve, which helps us choose the right approach. For the husband, a semen analysis checks the number of sperm, how well they move and how they are shaped. These results, together with a scan, tell us a great deal before we begin. If your situation is better suited to a simpler treatment, we will say so honestly — you can read about IUI as a first step, and see the full range of fertility treatment options we offer.
The injections that grow several eggs
Normally the body grows only one egg at a time. In IVF we gently encourage the ovaries to grow several eggs together, using small daily injections given over a short interval. Many husbands learn to give these at home, and they are far easier than most people fear. The aim is simply to have a good number of healthy eggs to work with, which helps the whole cycle along.
Monitoring scans along the way
While the injections are working, we follow your progress with a few short ultrasound scans and, at times, a blood test. This lets us see how the eggs are growing and adjust things for you personally, rather than following a fixed recipe. When the eggs are the right size, we plan a final injection to prepare them, and set the date for egg collection.
Egg collection (OPU)
Egg collection, which we call OPU, is a short procedure done under light anaesthesia, so you are comfortable and feel nothing during it. Using ultrasound to guide us, we gently collect the eggs through a fine needle. It takes only a little time, there are no cuts and no stitches, and most women rest for a short while and go home the same day.
Fertilisation in the laboratory
On the same day, our embryologist brings the eggs and the prepared sperm together in the laboratory. Where the sperm need extra help, a single healthy sperm can be placed directly into an egg, a technique known as ICSI. The eggs are then kept safe in special conditions that mimic the body, and we watch closely to see which ones fertilise and begin to grow.
Growing to the day-five blastocyst
Over the next few days, the fertilised eggs grow into embryos. Wherever possible, we prefer to grow them on to what is called the day-five blastocyst stage. Letting the embryos develop a little longer helps us choose the strongest one to transfer, which is why our own laboratory and its steady, unhurried conditions matter so much.
The embryo transfer
The embryo transfer is the gentle final step. A healthy embryo is placed into the womb through a fine, soft tube, guided by scan. It is quick, needs no anaesthesia, and feels much like a routine internal scan. After a short rest you go home the same day, and we then wait a little before the pregnancy test, giving the embryo time to settle.
Freezing spare embryos for later
If there are good embryos left over after the transfer, we freeze them safely for the future. This is a real gift: if the first attempt does not work, or when you wish to have another child later, these frozen embryos can be used without going through the injections and egg collection again. We explain the cost of each part openly, and you can see how the cost of IVF is worked out.
Everything under one roof
This guide is by Dr Mayur Pai, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), a fertility and laparoscopy specialist. Pai Hospital in Goa has its own operating theatre and its own IVF laboratory, so the egg collection, the laboratory work and the embryo transfer all happen in one place, under one team. That means fewer journeys for you, and steady, careful conditions for your embryos at every step.
Getting started
Send us a short message on WhatsApp with your situation and any reports you already have, such as an AMH result or a semen analysis. Your first online consultation is free, and we will talk you through what the realistic next steps are for you. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.
How long does one IVF cycle take?
From the first injections to the embryo transfer, a single IVF cycle usually runs over about a month, though the exact timing is planned around your body. The injections are given over a short interval, and we set each date around your scans rather than a fixed calendar.
Is egg collection painful?
Egg collection is done under light anaesthesia, so you feel nothing during the procedure itself. There are no cuts and no stitches, most women have only mild soreness afterwards, and you rest for a short while and go home the same day.
What is the day-five blastocyst stage?
It is an embryo that has been grown in the laboratory for about five days, a little longer than the earliest stage. Growing embryos to this point helps us choose a strong, healthy embryo to place in the womb.
Why does having your own IVF laboratory matter?
Because Pai Hospital in Goa has its own operating theatre and its own IVF laboratory, egg collection, the laboratory work and the embryo transfer all happen in one place, under one team, in steady conditions. Free patient transport is available from across Goa and nearby areas.
Can we use frozen embryos later?
Yes. Any good embryos left after the transfer are frozen safely. If the first attempt does not work, or when you wish to have another child later, these can be used without repeating the injections and egg collection.
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.