Fetomat Wellness: The Best IVF Clinic in Kolkata

A woman usually produces one egg in a normal menstrual cycle. However, for IVF treatment, more than one egg is needed to increase the chances of creating a healthy embryo. To achieve this, we prescribe fertility medications to stimulate your body’s egg production. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is commonly used for this purpose, it is injected under the skin to encourage the ovaries to develop multiple follicles, each potentially containing an egg. Additionally, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) is frequently used to suppress the secretion of gonadotropins, thereby preventing premature ovulation. Once optimal suppression is achieved, you will receive regular injections of gonadotropins to stimulate the development of multiple follicles.

The development of follicles is monitored through regular ultrasound imaging and hormone tests. During the stimulation phase, you will undergo ultrasound scans approximately four times over two weeks. These scans and blood tests performed at each visit help assess the number and size of the follicles. This monitoring allows the doctor to determine the best time for egg retrieval and adjust your medication doses as needed to achieve the best possible outcome.

When the lead follicles reach the optimal size of 17–22 mm, the final maturation of the eggs is triggered with an injection of hCG. To prepare for the egg retrieval, this hormonal injection is administered 36 hours before the procedure. The egg retrieval is then performed 34 to 36 hours after the hCG injection.

Mature eggs are retrieved 34 to 36 hours after the administration of hCG. This procedure is conducted in a surgical suite, with the help of transvaginal ultrasound guidance, while the patient is under general anaesthesia. The embryologist removes the fluid from each follicle, which usually contains an egg, and places it in a test tube for examination.

Since ultrasound images can only provide an estimate of the number of eggs present, the actual number retrieved can vary—sometimes fewer or more than initially expected. Occasionally, follicles may appear on the ultrasound but yield no eggs during retrieval. If no eggs are obtained, the treatment cycle cannot proceed to the embryo transfer stage. In such cases, you will be given time to discuss with the doctor the available options and next steps.

The eggs are fertilised in the laboratory. If there are concerns about sperm quality, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be recommended to fertilise the eggs. If sperm quality is sufficient, sperm is added to the culture dish with the eggs, and the dish is incubated overnight to allow for fertilisation.

The following day, the embryologist will assess whether fertilisation has occurred and will continue to monitor the development of the embryos. If more than three well-developed embryos are present, additional embryos may be frozen for potential future use.

Embryo transfer normally occurs on Day 3 or Day 5 after fertilisation. This procedure is straightforward and does not require general anaesthesia. During the transfer, embryos are loaded into a catheter and guided into the uterus under transabdominal ultrasound guidance. The catheter passes through the cervix to place the embryos.

If successful, implantation generally takes place within six to ten days. Following the transfer, you will be prescribed medications to support the luteal phase and enhance the likelihood of implantation. The number of embryos transferred is adjusted based on factors such as age, embryo quality, and medical history. This approach aims to maximise the chances of success while minimising the risk of multiple pregnancies.