The literal meaning of in-vitro (in Latin) means in the glass. IVF, in vitro fertilization, means fertilization of sperm and egg in the glass, or outside the body. IVF is indeed the foremost treatment model that has been invented to help millions of childless couples over the years. Newer technologies that are introduced are primarily to make IVF a better treatment option for couples.

IVF treatment (also known as test tube baby treatment) though may seem a little expensive but is not with better technologies and treatment options increasing the success rate. More than 1 in 5 couples need Fertility treatments to conceive. And around 8 million babies have been born to date since 1975. These “test-tube babies” are as normal as babies born through natural conception.

The In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process can vary depending on the clinic and the patient’s individual needs. However, here is a general overview of the IVF process with a step-by-step guide from day 1 to day 30:

• Day 1: Menstrual Cycle
  Start On the first day of your menstrual cycle, you’ll visit the clinic for a baseline evaluation, which includes blood tests and an ultrasound to check your hormone levels and the number of follicles in your ovaries.
• Day 2-4: Ovarian Stimulation
  You’ll begin daily injections of fertility drugs to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. You may need to continue these injections for 8-14 days, depending on your body’s response to the medication.
• Day 5-7: Monitoring
  You’ll have regular monitoring appointments to check the development of your follicles and hormone levels. These appointments will include blood tests and ultrasounds.
• Day 8-10: Trigger Shot
  Once your follicles have reached a certain size, you’ll receive a trigger shot to prepare your body for ovulation.
• Day 11-12: Egg Retrieval
  About 36 hours after the trigger shot, you’ll undergo an egg retrieval procedure. You’ll receive anesthesia to ensure that you’re comfortable during the procedure, which involves using a needle to remove eggs from your ovaries.
• Day 13-14: Fertilization After
  The egg retrieval, the eggs will be fertilized with sperm in a lab dish. This process is called insemination or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), depending on the case.
• Day 15-19: Embryo Culture
  The fertilized eggs will be monitored in the lab for several days to allow them to develop into embryos. The embryos will be evaluated for quality and graded based on their development.
• Day 20-21: Embryo Transfer
  On day 20-21, one or more embryos will be transferred to the uterus using a thin, flexible catheter. This is a quick and painless procedure that does not require anesthesia.
• Day 22-30: Luteal Phase and Pregnancy Test
  After the embryo transfer, you’ll enter the luteal phase, which is the time between the transfer and the pregnancy test. During this time, you may be instructed to continue taking progesterone supplements to support the growth of the embryo.
  Two weeks after the embryo transfer, you’ll take a pregnancy test to determine if the IVF cycle was successful.

It’s important to remember that the IVF process can vary from person to person and that it may take more than one cycle to achieve a successful pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will guide you through the process and provide support and information at every step.