IVF Process: Step by Step Cycle, Stages and How It Works

Table of Content

- What Is the IVF Procedure?
- How to Start the IVF Process?
- Pre-IVF Examinations
- What Is the IVF Process Step by Step?
- Plan Your IVF with Turkey Luxury Clinics
- FAQs About IVF Process

Wondering What an IVF Procedure Looks Like? IVF is generally safe, painless, carefully planned, and well-monitored fertility treatment that end when successful pregnancy.

It takes place over several stages, usually spanning 2 to 3 weeks, from ovarian stimulation to embryo transfer.

During the IVF process, you will get hormone injections, undergo egg retrieval, lab fertilization, embryo development, and transfer, with a period of waiting, around 2 weeks before your pregnanacy get fixed.

At Turkey Luxury Clinics, we guide you through every stage, helping you feel informed, confident, and fully prepared. Schedule a personalized consultation with our experts to start your IVF journey.

What Is the IVF Procedure?

IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, is a fertility treatment in which eggs are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish (“in vitro”), and the resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus to achieve pregnancy. IVF offers hope for couples facing infertility challenges such as blocked fallopian tubes, male factor infertility, ovulation disorders, or unexplained infertility.

The IVF treatment process is carried out as a personalized, carefully planned cycle. It follows a precise, day-by-day protocol that includes hormone treatments, close medical monitoring, and clinical evaluations, all supervised by gynecologists specialized in reproductive medicine.

Related topics: IVF after tubal ligation, the best chance for pregnancy in tight fallopian tubes

How to Start the IVF Process?

Starting IVF begins with a consultation and comprehensive fertility testing for both partners, followed by the creation of a personalized IVF treatment plan.

The process begins with a pre-IVF evaluation phase, which usually takes place during the menstrual cycle before starting the IVF cycle, most often between day 2 and day 5 of menstruation.

This early assessment is crucial to confirm eligibility for IVF, select the most appropriate treatment protocol, and determine whether additional techniques, such as ICSI or preimplantation genetic testing, may be required.

The IVF cycle involves ovarian stimulation with medications to produce multiple eggs, close monitoring through blood tests and ultrasounds, a trigger injection, egg retrieval, fertilization in the laboratory, embryo culture, and finally embryo transfer, all carefully coordinated by the fertility specialist.

Pre-IVF Examinations

Pre-IVF examinations are performed before starting any fertility medications to assess the body at its natural baseline levels.

This timing is essential because it allows fertility specialists to accurately evaluate ovarian reserve, hormone balance, sperm quality, and uterine readiness without the influence of hormonal stimulation.

By completing these tests in advance, doctors can individualize medication dosages, reduce the risk of poor ovarian response or ovarian hyperstimulation, and identify potential issues, such as hormonal imbalances, uterine abnormalities, or sperm-related concerns, early enough to manage or treat them.

For the Woman (Day 2–5 of the Menstrual Cycle):

Hormonal blood tests (FSH, LH, AMH, Estradiol) to assess ovarian reserve and hormone balance
Transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the ovaries, count antral follicles, and assess the uterus
Uterine assessment if needed (such as hysteroscopy or saline ultrasound)
Infectious disease screening as part of routine safety protocols

For the Man (Before or During the Same Cycle):

Semen analysis to evaluate sperm count, motility, and morphology
Hormonal tests to determine if sperm parameters are abnormal
Infectious disease screening

These baseline tests allow the IVF specialist to design a personalized treatment plan, determine medication dosages, and decide whether additional proceduresو such as ICSI or genetic testingو are required.

Once all results are reviewed and the body is hormonally ready, the IVF cycle officially begins with ovarian stimulation in the following weeks.

What Is the IVF Process Step by Step?

The IVF process involves several key stages that work together to maximize the chances of pregnancy. It begins with initial testing and ovarian stimulation using hormones to produce multiple eggs, with close monitoring through blood tests and ultrasounds. A trigger shot is then administered to induce final egg maturation, followed by egg retrieval and sperm collection. Fertilization occurs in the laboratoryو often using ICSIو and embryos are cultured for 3–5 days. About two weeks later, a pregnancy test is performed, and any remaining viable embryos are typically frozen for future use.

Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation and IVF hormones injection

Ovarian stimulation is the first step in an IVF cycle, designed to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single egg released in a natural cycle, increasing the chances of successful fertilization and implantation.

During ovarian stimulation, you receive hormonal injections, usually gonadotropins such as gonadotropins (FSH or hMG), over several days to stimulate the ovaries.

These hormone injections are sometimes combined with GnRH agonists or antagonists to control ovulation timing.

The specific drugs and doses are tailored based on age, ovarian reserve, and previous responses to fertility treatment.

Your doctor will monitor ovarian stimulation through transvaginal ultrasounds and blood tests to measure hormone levels, to adjust medication doses, thus optimizing egg growth and minimizing risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

The stimulation phase usually lasts 8–14 days, depending on individual response. During this period, some women may experience mild discomfort from the injections, such as stinging at the injection site, bloating, mood swings, breast tenderness, or mild cramping due to the hormonal changes. Most side effects are temporary and manageable under the guidance of the fertility specialist.

Step 2: Trigger Shot before IVF

A trigger shot in IVF is a crucial hormone injection, usually hCG or Lupron, given near the end of ovarian stimulation to induce the final maturation of eggs. This prepares them for retrieval, which is scheduled 34–36 hours later, mimicking natural ovulation. The trigger shot ensures that eggs are fully mature but have not yet been released, optimizing their readiness for fertilization.

Step 3: Egg retrieval for IVF

Egg retrieval is the collection of mature eggs from the ovaries through a minimally invasive procedure performed under sedation or anesthesia to ensure comfort. The procedure is guided by ultrasound using a thin needle and usually takes 15–30 minutes.

This step is crucial because the harvested eggs are then fertilized in the lab with sperm to create embryos for potential pregnancy or frozen for future use. Egg retrieval occurs after ovarian stimulation with hormonal injections to develop multiple eggs, increasing the chances of success, and is typically scheduled 36 hours after the trigger shot.

Step 4: Sperm Collection for IVF

Sperm collection for IVF usually involves providing a sample via ejaculation, often at the clinic, after 2–6 days of abstinence to ensure optimal quality. If ejaculation isn’t possible, sperm can be retrieved surgically using techniques like TESA, PESA, TESE, or MicroTESE, under local anesthesia or sedation to extract sperm directly from the testes or epididymis.

Preparation includes avoiding lubricants, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Samples are typically provided on the morning of egg retrieval for immediate use in fertilization or for freezing.

Step 5: Lab Fertilization & Embryo Culture

This step occurs after ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval and preparing sperm.

Lab fertilization in IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) involves combining a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish to create embryos, a process known as assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Fertilization can be done using conventional insemination or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

Conventional IVF: Eggs are placed with sperm in a culture dish and left to fertilize naturally, usually taking 12–24 hours.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): A single sperm is injected directly into each egg. The procedure for each egg takes 5–10 minutes, but fertilizing a full batch may take a few hours.

About 16–20 hours after insemination, embryologists check for the presence of two pronuclei (2PN) to confirm successful fertilization.

Then the fertilized eggs are cultured in incubators for 3–6 days, with selected embryos reaching the blastocyst stage (day 5–6) before being transferred to the uterus for implantation. In case couples want to do genetic tests for disease exclusion or gender selection this is the stage selected.

Step 6: Genetic Test and Gender Selection

Genetic testing in IVF, known as Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), is an optional procedure performed on embryos before transfer to the uterus.

It involves taking a few cells from the embryo, usually at the blastocyst stage (day 5–6), to screen for genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.

PGT helps identify healthy embryos, reduce the risk of inherited genetic disorders, lower miscarriage rates, and improve implantation success, especially for couples with recurrent pregnancy loss, advanced maternal age, or known genetic conditions.

Gender selection can also be performed as part of PGT by identifying the embryo’s sex chromosomes (XX or XY).

This option is typically used for medical reasons, such as avoiding sex-linked genetic diseases, and in some countries may be allowed for family balancing, depending on local regulations.

Not all IVF patients require genetic testing or gender selection. The decision is made based on medical history, age, and clinic guidelines, and it may add extra cost and time to the IVF process.

Step 7: Embryo Transfer

On Day 5 at the blastocyst stage, after a detailed embryo assessment and, if performed, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), the fertility specialist carefully selects the highest-quality embryo or embryos. This selection is based on multiple criteria, including the stage of development, embryo morphology, cell structure, and genetic screening results, when available.

After embryo evaluation and selection, patients have two main options. The selected embryo can either be transferred into the uterus during the same IVF cycle as a fresh embryo transfer, or embryos can be frozen through cryopreservation for future use. Freezing embryos allows transfer in a later cycle without the need to repeat ovarian stimulation or egg retrieval, offering flexibility and preserving fertility potential.

During embryo transfer, the selected embryo or embryos are gently placed into the uterus using a thin, flexible catheter, guided by real-time ultrasound to ensure precise placement and optimal conditions for implantation and pregnancy.

The embryo transfer procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and typically painless, performed without anesthesia. Many patients describe the sensation as similar to a Pap smear. Mild pressure, cramping, or a feeling of heaviness may occur afterward, and patients are usually advised to rest briefly and maintain good hydration.

Step 8: Waiting Period and Pregnancy Test

After embryo transfer, patients enter the crucial two-week waiting period, often called the “two-week wait” (2WW). During this time:

The transferred embryo may implant into the uterine lining.
Mild symptoms such as cramping, bloating, or spotting can occur, but these don’t always indicate success or failure.
It’s important to avoid strenuous activity, stay hydrated, and follow your fertility specialist’s instructions regarding medications and lifestyle.

A pregnancy test is usually performed about 12–14 days after the embryo transfer to confirm whether implantation has occurred.

A blood test (beta-hCG) provides the most accurate result.
If positive, follow-up ultrasounds and monitoring are scheduled to ensure proper embryo development and early pregnancy health.
If negative, your fertility specialist will discuss next steps, including whether frozen embryos are available for another cycle.

Plan Your IVF with Turkey Luxury Clinics

Get step-by-step guided consultation to achieve a safe, well-planned, and fully personalized IVF procedure tailored to your goals and wishes. Our experienced fertility team helps you: