Treatment
Medically reviewed by Dr. Arun Muthuvel — Fertility Specialist, 15+ years experience
Last updated: April 2026
India's most advanced IVF programme — 39+ years of experience, advanced cleanroom labs, AI-powered embryo monitoring, and personalised treatment protocols for every patient.
7
Steps in IVF cycle
4–6
Weeks per cycle
Rs 49K+
Starting price
Easy EMI
From ₹9,999/month
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a medical fertility treatment in which eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovaries, fertilised with sperm inside a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus to establish a pregnancy.
The phrase “in vitro” is Latin for “in glass” — a reference to the glass petri dish in which fertilisation originally took place outside the human body. IVF was first successfully performed in 1978, when Louise Brown became the world's first IVF baby, born in the United Kingdom. Since then, more than 8 million children worldwide have been born through IVF.
In natural conception, fertilisation happens inside the fallopian tube when sperm meets an egg after ovulation. IVF replicates and optimises this process outside the body — allowing doctors to monitor fertilisation directly, select the healthiest embryo, and transfer it at precisely the right moment. This controlled environment is why IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) available today.
At Iswarya Fertility, every IVF cycle is supported by advanced ICSI, AI-powered time-lapse embryo monitoring, pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), and personalised stimulation protocols designed for each patient's unique hormonal profile — giving every embryo the best possible start.
Every step carefully managed to maximise your chance of success
Your journey begins with a one-on-one consultation with a fertility specialist. We review your medical history, discuss your goals, and create a preliminary treatment plan. This is also the time to ask questions and understand what lies ahead.
Comprehensive tests for both partners. For women: hormone panels (AMH, FSH, LH), ultrasound scans, and uterine assessment. For men: semen analysis, hormonal evaluation, and DNA fragmentation testing if needed.
Hormonal injections stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Regular ultrasound monitoring every 2-3 days tracks follicle growth. Dosages are adjusted for the optimal response specific to your ovarian reserve.
A minimally invasive procedure under light sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, eggs are collected from the ovarian follicles via a thin needle. Most patients go home the same day.
In our advanced cleanroom lab, eggs are fertilised with sperm using IVF or ICSI. Embryos are cultured in time-lapse incubators for 3–5 days with AI-powered monitoring at every stage.
The best-quality embryo is gently transferred into the uterus using a thin catheter guided by ultrasound. The procedure is painless and takes 5-10 minutes. You can return to normal activities the next day.
About 12-14 days after embryo transfer, a blood test (beta-hCG) confirms pregnancy. A positive result is followed by early pregnancy scans and continued monitoring through to delivery.
Everything you need to know about the two-week wait and beyond
Rest for the remainder of the day after your embryo transfer. From the next day onward you can resume light, normal daily activities — walking, desk work, and gentle household tasks are all fine. There is no evidence that strict bed rest improves IVF outcomes. Avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, swimming, and sexual intercourse during the two-week wait.
Your doctor will prescribe daily progesterone — either as vaginal pessaries (suppositories) or injections — starting on the day of embryo transfer. Progesterone is essential because it prepares the uterine lining to receive and support the embryo, and your body cannot produce enough on its own after egg retrieval. Continue this medication for 8–10 weeks if a pregnancy is confirmed, or until your doctor advises stopping.
Any good-quality embryos not transferred will be vitrified (frozen) for future use. Learn about embryo freezing at Iswarya →
Eat a balanced, protein-rich diet with plenty of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Stay well-hydrated. Avoid raw or undercooked foods, alcohol, caffeine (limit to one cup of tea or coffee per day), and smoking. Gentle warmth (a warm blanket, warm foods) is fine — avoid saunas, hot tubs, and very hot baths. Take any prescribed supplements (folic acid, vitamin D) as directed.
Normal — no need to worry
Contact your clinic immediately if you have
Approximately 12–14 days after embryo transfer, you will have a blood test measuring beta-hCG — the pregnancy hormone produced by a developing embryo. A result above 25 mIU/mL is generally considered positive. A rising hCG level on repeat testing 2–3 days later confirms a healthy early pregnancy. Avoid home pregnancy tests before this point — they can give false results due to the progesterone medication.
The two-week wait is one of the most emotionally challenging parts of IVF. Anxiety, hope, and uncertainty are completely normal. Talk openly with your partner, lean on trusted friends or family, and consider speaking to our in-house counsellor. Distraction through light activities, reading, or gentle walks helps. Remember — whatever the result, our team is with you every step of the way.
Success rates by age group — among the highest in India
Understanding what influences your IVF outcome helps set realistic expectations
Age is the single most important predictor of IVF success. Egg quality declines naturally with age: success rates are 68–72% under 35, dropping to 55–65% at 35–37, 40–50% at 38–40, and 25–35% over 40. Women over 40 may be offered donor egg IVF to improve outcomes significantly.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a blood marker that reflects the number of remaining eggs. A low AMH signals diminished ovarian reserve and may mean fewer eggs retrieved per cycle. However, even women with low AMH can achieve successful pregnancies — protocol adjustments and PGT help maximise every egg.
Poor sperm motility, low count, or high DNA fragmentation reduces fertilisation rates and embryo quality. ICSI bypasses many motility barriers, while antioxidant treatment and lifestyle changes can improve sperm DNA integrity before an IVF cycle begins.
A BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 is associated with the best IVF outcomes. Smoking reduces success rates by up to 50% and is the single most modifiable risk factor. Excessive alcohol and caffeine also impair implantation. Achieving a healthy weight and quitting smoking before treatment can meaningfully improve results.
The underlying diagnosis matters. Tubal factor infertility responds very well to IVF. Unexplained infertility and PCOS typically have good IVF outcomes. Severe endometriosis may reduce egg quality and implantation. Male-only infertility treated with ICSI generally achieves outcomes comparable to non-male-factor couples.
Cumulative success rates increase with each cycle. Patients who do not succeed in cycle one often succeed in cycles two or three. Frozen embryo transfers from surplus embryos created in one stimulation cycle also contribute to cumulative success without the cost or risk of a full repeat stimulation.
Embryo quality is graded on cell number, symmetry, and fragmentation. Blastocyst-stage embryos (day 5) have higher implantation potential than day-3 cleavage embryos. Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) identifies chromosomally normal embryos, reducing miscarriage risk and improving success rates — especially for women over 37.
The embryology lab environment is a critical success factor that patients often overlook. Controlled air quality, precise temperature regulation, time-lapse incubators, and experienced embryologists collectively impact fertilisation, embryo development, and ultimately pregnancy rates. Iswarya's ISO-certified cleanroom labs are designed specifically to optimise these conditions.
IVF costs in India vary based on the stimulation protocol, number of monitoring visits, add-on procedures (ICSI, PGT), city, and clinic. The table below breaks down every component of a standard IVF cycle so you know exactly what you are paying for — and why costs differ.
| Component | Estimated Cost (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation & fertility workup | ₹2,000–₹5,000 | Blood tests, ultrasound, semen analysis |
| Ovarian stimulation injections | ₹15,000–₹40,000 | Varies by protocol and dosage |
| Monitoring ultrasounds & blood tests | ₹5,000–₹10,000 | Every 2–3 days during stimulation |
| Egg retrieval (OPU) procedure | ₹10,000–₹15,000 | Includes sedation & theatre charges |
| Embryology & lab fees (IVF/ICSI) | ₹15,000–₹25,000 | Laboratory fertilisation and culture |
| Embryo transfer | ₹5,000–₹10,000 | Ultrasound-guided procedure |
| Pregnancy test (beta-hCG) | ₹800–₹1,500 | Blood test 12–14 days post-transfer |
| TOTAL: Basic IVF cycle (all-in) | ₹49,000–₹1,20,000 | Standard protocol, single cycle |
| Add-on: ICSI | ₹10,000–₹20,000 | Recommended for male factor infertility |
| Add-on: PGT genetic testing | ₹30,000–₹60,000 | Per embryo biopsy and analysis |
| Add-on: Frozen embryo transfer (FET) | ₹20,000–₹40,000 | For subsequent cycles |
| Add-on: Embryo freezing / annual storage | ₹10,000–₹20,000 | Vitrification + first-year storage |
Advanced technology and personalised care at every step of your IVF journey
Our embryology labs maintain a controlled environment ensuring the purest conditions for embryo development.
Time-lapse incubators with AI algorithms continuously monitor embryo development — selecting the best embryo without disturbance.
Our proprietary eWitness system ensures 100% sample traceability throughout the lab process — zero chance of mix-ups.
Each patient gets a dedicated incubator — eliminating cross-contamination and providing an isolated optimal environment.
Our senior embryologists have collectively handled over 100,000 IVF cycles — unmatched expertise at every step.
No two patients are the same. We design custom stimulation protocols based on your unique fertility profile.
Our Team
Meet the doctors leading IVF care at Iswarya Fertility
Eggs and sperm are placed together in a petri dish. Sperm fertilises the egg naturally. Suitable when sperm quality and count are normal.
A single sperm is directly injected into each egg using a fine needle. Recommended when sperm quality is poor or fertilisation has failed in previous IVF cycles. Learn more about ICSI →
IVF is a well-established, generally safe procedure — but like all medical treatments, it carries potential risks. Understanding these risks helps you make an informed decision and know when to contact your care team.
OHSS occurs when the ovaries over-respond to stimulation hormones, becoming swollen and painful. Mild OHSS — bloating, mild abdominal discomfort, and nausea — affects around 10–20% of IVF patients and typically resolves within a week. Moderate OHSS includes increased abdominal distension and vomiting. Severe OHSS is rare (<1%) and involves fluid accumulation in the abdomen or chest, blood clotting risk, and may require hospitalisation. Iswarya monitors all patients with frequent ultrasound scans and adjusts dosages to prevent over-response. “Freeze-all” cycles (freezing all embryos and transferring in a later cycle) are used when OHSS risk is high, completely eliminating the risk of worsening after transfer.
Transferring more than one embryo increases the chance of twins or triplets. While many couples welcome twins, multiple pregnancies carry significantly higher risks — including premature birth, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, and complications for both mother and babies. This is why Iswarya strongly recommends single embryo transfer (SET)for most patients. Surplus embryos are cryopreserved for future cycles, so no good embryo is ever wasted. The adoption of SET, combined with advanced embryo selection technology, means we achieve high success rates with a single embryo in the majority of cases.
Hormonal stimulation medications commonly cause bloating, mood swings or emotional sensitivity, headaches, breast tenderness, and bruising or soreness at injection sites. These are temporary and usually resolve after stimulation ends. Some patients experience hot flushes from GnRH agonists used in the down-regulation phase of certain protocols. All side effects should be reported to your care team — dose adjustments can often minimise them.
Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure performed under light sedation and is very safe. Rare risks include a reaction to anaesthesia, bleeding from the needle puncture site, or infection in the pelvis. In extremely rare cases (<0.1%), the retrieval needle can inadvertently injure a nearby structure such as the bladder or bowel. Iswarya's experienced team uses real-time ultrasound guidance and sterile technique throughout to minimise all procedural risks. Most patients recover fully within 24–48 hours.
IVF is emotionally demanding — hope, anxiety, grief, and uncertainty can all be experienced within a single cycle. The two-week wait is often described as the hardest part. Relationships and daily functioning can be affected, particularly across multiple cycles. This emotional toll is real and valid. Iswarya offers access to in-house fertility counsellors and peer support resources. Never hesitate to ask your team for emotional support — it is a core part of your care, not an add-on.
In rare cases (approximately 2–5% of IVF pregnancies), the embryo may implant outside the uterus — most commonly in the fallopian tube — causing an ectopic pregnancy. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Early pregnancy ultrasound scans (performed at Iswarya around 6–7 weeks of pregnancy) detect this before symptoms become severe, enabling prompt and safe management.
Call Iswarya on 99627-00000 or go to the nearest emergency department if you experience any of the following at any stage of your cycle:
At Iswarya Fertility, every patient is closely monitored throughout their cycle with scheduled ultrasound scans, blood tests, and direct access to our clinical team. Our trigger timing protocols, freeze-all strategies, and single embryo transfer policy are specifically designed to reduce the most serious IVF risks while preserving the highest possible success rates.
Answers from our fertility specialists
IVF @ Rs 49,000* · EMI from ₹9,999/month · 84+ centres · 39+ years
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