IVF Treatment Is Not a Difficult or Long Process

Contrary to common belief, IVF treatment is not a difficult or lengthy process. However, when a couple decides to proceed with IVF, an initial evaluation phase takes place. During this stage, the couple undergoes detailed assessment through certain tests and examinations before starting treatment.

Sometimes this evaluation period may take longer due to the required investigations. For example, if the couple has a history of recurrent miscarriages, genetic testing may be requested, and these tests may take at least three weeks (21 days) to complete. Therefore, the pre-treatment evaluation period varies for each couple. The more thorough the evaluation before IVF, the higher the chances of treatment success.

IVF Treatment Consists of Three Stages

1. Ovarian Stimulation

The first stage, ovarian stimulation, begins on the 2nd or 3rd day of menstruation and lasts approximately 10–12 days. During this phase, insulin-like injections administered around the abdominal area stimulate the ovaries. When the follicles (fluid-filled sacs containing eggs) reach an average size of 20 mm, a trigger injection — also administered around the abdomen — completes this stage.

During ovarian stimulation, patients typically visit the clinic 3–4 times for ultrasound monitoring of follicular growth, and blood estrogen levels are measured to assess the development rate of the follicles.

2. Egg Retrieval

Approximately 35–36 hours after the trigger injection, eggs are collected from the follicles under anesthesia. This painless procedure, known as OPU (Oocyte Pick-Up), takes around 15–30 minutes.

On the same day, sperm obtained from the male partner after 2–5 days of sexual abstinence is used to fertilize the retrieved mature eggs. This fertilization process is called microinjection (ICSI), where each selected sperm is injected directly into each mature egg. OPU represents the second stage of IVF treatment.

3. Embryo Transfer

After microinjection on the day of OPU, fertilized eggs become embryos the following day. These embryos are then monitored in a laboratory environment.

They are usually kept in special incubators known as embryoscopes, which allow continuous 24-hour monitoring to help select the best-quality embryo. This observation period lasts between 2–5 days. On the 5th day after OPU, the best embryo reaching the blastocyst stage is selected and transferred into the uterus using a very thin catheter.

The embryo transfer procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance while the bladder is full and is a painless process lasting 5–10 minutes. This is the third and final — yet perhaps the most critical — stage of IVF treatment.

After the transfer, a waiting period follows until the pregnancy test. During this time, certain medications are used. Approximately 9–12 days after transfer, a blood pregnancy test determines whether the treatment has been successful.

In summary, the IVF treatment process typically lasts about 20 days, including:

• 10–12 days of ovarian stimulation
• 2 days for the trigger injection and egg retrieval (OPU)
• 2–5 days for fertilization and embryo development in the laboratory
• Followed by embryo transfer into the uterus

One of the most important factors during IVF treatment is minimizing stress and maintaining trust in the medical team managing the process.