IVF : 6 Things You Should Know Before Starting The IVF Treatment Process
The search starts quietly. A tab open after midnight. A question typed and deleted twice before you finally hit enter.
According to the WHO’s 2023 infertility report, 1 in 6 people globally (17.5%) experience infertility at some point. In India, that’s 27 million couples. You’re making a well-considered decision.
Here are the 6 most important things to understand before you begin.
What is IVF treatment, and who should consider it?
IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a process where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilized by sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus. It’s recommended when natural conception is unlikely due to a specific diagnosis, or when simpler treatments haven’t worked.
IUI (intrauterine insemination) is one such simpler treatment: it places prepared sperm directly into the uterus and fertilization still happens inside the body. IVF goes further: it retrieves the egg, fertilizes it in the lab, and returns the embryo. IVF is typically the next step when IUI has failed or when the diagnosis makes natural fertilization unlikely. [Read: IVF vs IUI: which is right for you?]
Common reasons couples turn to IVF:
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition affecting how the ovaries work) when the ovaries don’t respond to ovulation induction. Ovulation induction is medication given to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg. If it hasn’t worked after several attempts, IVF is usually the next step.
- Endometriosis affecting the tubes or ovaries
- Male factor infertility: low sperm count, or poor motility (how well sperm swim). DNA fragmentation is also a common cause. This refers to damage to the genetic material inside the sperm that can affect fertilization even when basic sperm numbers look normal.
- Unexplained infertility after 12 months of trying (6 months if you’re over 35)
- Three or more failed IUI cycles
India’s ART Regulation Act 2021 established a legal framework for IVF treatment. Under the Act, the procedure is available to women aged 21 to 50 and men aged 21 to 55. Clinics must be registered on the National ART Registry and are required to provide full informed consent before treatment begins.
IVF treatment success rates by age
Success rates are where clinics tend to oversell. The CDC National ART Surveillance figures from 2022 give a clearer picture:
| Age Group | Live Birth Rate Per Cycle |
| Under 35 | ~49.7% |
| 35 to 37 | ~35 to 40% |
| 38 to 40 | ~20 to 30% |
| Over 40 | ~7.7% |
The metric that matters is live birth rate per cycle. Some clinics quote clinical pregnancy rates (a detected heartbeat on ultrasound), which are higher but don’t account for miscarriage. Always ask which figure you’re being shown.
Age is the single most significant predictor of success. A 2024 peer-reviewed study in Fertility and Sterility identified 11 key predictors of IVF outcomes, with age showing a sharp drop after 35. If you’re 36 or 37 and still deciding, earlier is better.
Success improves across cycles. Cumulative live birth rates for women under 35 reach approximately 65% by the third cycle. Beyond age, your result also depends on ovarian reserve, sperm quality, and BMI. Ovarian reserve is measured by AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone), a blood test that tells the doctor roughly how many eggs you have left. Your first consultation gives you a much clearer, more specific view.
What the IVF procedure steps actually feel like
Most patients find the reality of IVF less frightening than their imagination of it.
The daily injections are subcutaneous, meaning the needle goes into the fatty tissue just under the skin of the abdomen or thigh. The needle is short and thin, delivered via a pre-filled pen. Most patients describe a mild sting that fades within seconds. By day 3 or 4, it’s routine.
During stimulation, bloating is the most common complaint. Your ovaries are growing more follicles than usual and they swell. Some women gain 1 to 2 kg of fluid weight toward the end of stimulation. This resolves within a week of retrieval. Mood changes are also common. Hormone doses are significant and individual reactions vary. Knowing in advance that you might feel different makes it easier to manage.
OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) is a condition where the ovaries over-respond to the hormone injections and swell beyond normal size. It affects a small percentage of patients, more commonly those with PCOS or high ovarian reserve. Mild OHSS causes bloating and discomfort. Severe OHSS is rare and is caught through monitoring before it escalates. If you experience sudden severe abdominal pain or rapid weight gain during stimulation, contact your clinic immediately.
Egg retrieval is done under sedation. You won’t be conscious during the procedure. Afterward, expect cramping similar to a period and tiredness for the rest of that day. Most patients return to normal activity within 48 hours.
Embryo transfer takes 2 to 5 minutes and requires no anaesthesia. You’ll feel mild pressure. Nearly all patients say it was far less than they’d built it up to be.
The emotional side of IVF: what most articles don’t say
IVF is physically manageable. The emotional weight is harder to prepare for.
The two-week wait between embryo transfer and the pregnancy test is the most consistently difficult part of the cycle. One of our patients described it as “trying to read a book while someone holds the last chapter.”
Many Indian couples go through IVF in silence, hiding it from family and colleagues because of the stigma that still surrounds infertility. That isolation is real. The cultural pressure to conceive, compounded by the secrecy of treatment, adds a weight that clinical articles almost never acknowledge.
Partners carry this too. Men navigating IVF often feel helpless while watching their partner go through something physically demanding. Staying present and steady matters more than having the right words.
Felicity IVF offers counselling support through the full cycle. Using it isn’t a sign that you’re struggling more than others. Most couples who use it say they wish they’d started sooner.
You don’t have to do this alone.
How to prepare before your first IVF cycle
Preparation in the 2 to 3 months before your cycle affects outcomes.
Medical: Get these baseline tests done before your first consultation if possible:
- TSH: checks thyroid function, which affects hormone levels and cycle response
- Vitamin D and blood glucose: low levels of either can affect egg quality and stimulation
- Semen analysis for your partner: covers sperm count, motility, and morphology
Coming in with these results speeds up the diagnostic phase considerably. If you have PCOS, ask your doctor about metformin pre-treatment. Metformin helps regulate insulin and hormone levels, which can improve how your ovaries respond to stimulation. If you’re over 38, request two additional tests early:
- AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone): a blood test measuring your egg supply
- Antral follicle count: an ultrasound scan that counts the small resting follicles in the ovaries
Both help set realistic expectations before you start.
Lifestyle: BMI in the 18.5 to 30 range is associated with better stimulation response. You don’t need to reach an ideal weight. Movement in the right direction helps. Prioritise folate (at least 400mcg daily, starting 3 months before) and Vitamin D. Cut alcohol and limit caffeine to under 200mg per day (about one coffee). Stop smoking. Smoking reduces ovarian reserve and egg quality significantly.
Your partner’s lifestyle matters too. Sperm quality responds to changes in alcohol and heat exposure within about 3 months.Practical: Know your all-in budget before you start. Confirm financing options. Discuss with your partner what the two-week wait will look like for each of you. Some people need distraction, others need acknowledgment. Having that conversation before the cycle is easier than during it.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Every fertility journey is different. Please consult a qualified fertility specialist before making any decisions about your treatment.
IVF treatment starts with hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Those eggs are retrieved under sedation, fertilized in a lab, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus. The full IVF process takes 4 to 6 weeks. It’s largely outpatient. Most procedures take minutes and you go home the same day.
A basic IVF cycle in India costs ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,50,000. Medications add ₹20,000 to ₹90,000 on top. At Felicity IVF, cycles start at ₹70,000 with EMI options. Budget for the all-in total including medications.
Using CDC 2022 data: approximately 49.7% live birth rate per cycle for women under 35, around 35 to 40% for ages 35 to 37, 20 to 30% for ages 38 to 40, and 7.7% for women over 40. Cumulative rates across 3 cycles for women under 35 reach approximately 65%. Age is the single most significant factor.
The daily injections go into the fatty tissue just under the skin and most patients describe them as a mild sting. Egg retrieval is done under sedation, so you won’t feel it. Afterward, expect cramping and tiredness for about a day. Embryo transfer takes a few minutes and causes mild pressure. Bloating and mood changes during stimulation are common and expected.
There’s no fixed number. It depends on age, diagnosis, and individual factors. Many patients conceive in the first or second cycle. For women under 35, cumulative success reaches approximately 65% by the third cycle. If frozen embryos are available from the first retrieval, subsequent transfers are less expensive and less physically demanding than a fresh cycle.
