What Are the 5 Stages of an IVF Procedure? A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve been searching “IVF procedure cost” or reading forums deep into the night, chances are, your brain’s buzzing with questions. The emotional rollercoaster, the wait, the injections, the scans… and yes, the money talk. It’s a lot. We get it.
So, let’s slow it down.
Forget the intimidating medical language for a moment. Let’s just talk about what IVF really looks like, stage by stage — from someone who’s walked patients through it, cried with them, and cheered them on.
Whether you’re just getting started or thinking “is this the right time?”, here’s what the path typically looks like.
Stage 1: Ovarian Stimulation
This part? It’s daily hormone shots. The goal is to nudge your ovaries into producing more eggs than usual.
Most people worry about the injections, but they’re honestly manageable (tiny needles, not scary movie stuff). What you will need is patience — and a few blood tests and scans along the way to track how your follicles are growing.
And yes, medications are one of the priciest parts of IVF. The IVF injections cost in India can vary a lot depending on your body’s response and the meds prescribed.
But for now? Just take it one day at a time. Drink water. Keep breathing. You’ve got this.
Stage 2: Egg Retrieval — quick, quiet, and over before you know it
Once your follicles are ready, your doctor schedules the egg retrieval — a short procedure under light anaesthesia.
It sounds scarier than it is. Most people say they didn’t feel a thing. You’ll rest for a bit afterwards, feel groggy, maybe a little crampy. A hot water bag and a Netflix binge later, and you’re usually fine by next day.
Emotionally? This stage often feels like a milestone. It’s the first big “checkpoint” — you’ve made it this far.
Stage 3: Fertilisation — science meets hope
This is where your eggs meet sperm — in a lab, under the care of embryologists who treat them like tiny miracles.
Depending on your situation, you may do traditional IVF or ICSI (where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg).
Then, you wait. For a few days, the lab monitors how the embryos are doing. You may get daily updates. You may feel anxious, hopeful, or both at once.
No matter what happens, this part is out of your hands. Let the science do its thing.
Stage 4: Embryo Transfer
When the embryos are ready, your doctor selects the best one(s) for transfer. The procedure is quick and usually painless — no anaesthesia needed.
What you might feel though, is the emotional weight of the moment. It’s quiet. Gentle. And it hits different.
You’ll probably spend the rest of the day wondering “Did it work? Is it settling in?” Totally normal.
Stage 5: The Two-Week Wait
Now comes the toughest bit: waiting to test. No signs. No symptoms. Just you, your thoughts, and Google (try not to overdo it on that last one).
After about 10–14 days, you’ll take a beta hCG blood test to check for pregnancy. That moment? Whether it’s joy or disappointment, it changes something inside you.
And remember — one cycle doesn’t define you. Not even close.
IVF procedure cost?
Here’s the honest truth: What is the total cost of IVF treatment? Well, it varies — and not just a little.
Different clinics. Different medications. Different protocols.
If you’re searching for IVF treatment cost in Hyderabad or looking into low cost IVF treatment in Hyderabad, what matters more than the price tag is what’s included — and how supported you’ll be.
Cost shouldn’t mean compromise. Ask questions. Ask again. You deserve clarity.
Where Medcy IVF Comes In (Because Support Makes All the Difference)
At Medcy IVF, we meet you where you are — whether that’s overwhelmed, curious, emotional, or all three.
We’re here to make things less clinical, more personal. You won’t just get protocols and charts — you’ll get conversations, check-ins, real talk, and a team that cares about your story.
We know IVF isn’t one-size-fits-all. We keep our approach flexible, transparent, and human. Because IVF isn’t just about making babies. It’s about making sense of the journey you’re on — and feeling seen through every part of it.
Final Words
This process? It’s intense. Beautiful. And sometimes brutal. But if you’re here, you’re already strong enough to do it.
The five stages of IVF are more than steps. They’re chapters in a story you’re writing with courage, hope, and maybe a few tears. That’s okay. You’re not alone.
Let Medcy IVF walk with you — with care that listens, supports, and celebrates every milestone.
Thinking about starting? Let’s talk.
Book your consultation today.
Sometimes, the best way forward is simply asking for a little help.