The process of IVF-ICSI has the following steps

Controlled Ovarian Stimulation – Injections are given usually from the first day of your period and continued for about 10 to 12 days till the ovarian follicles which contain the eggs achieve a mature size. A final maturation trigger injection is administered, after which the eggs (oocytes) are retrieved.

Ovum Pick Up – The egg retrieval is a technique through which the eggs are collected from the follicles in the ovary. A sonography probe is inserted into the vagina through which a needle is attached, which punctures the ovarian follicles through the vagina and the fluid in the follicles is aspirated. This fluid is checked for the presence of eggs.

ICSI – Once the eggs are retrieved, they are injected with 1 sperm each in order for them to fertilise and form embryos. This procedure is performed by a trained embryologist using a machine called the micromanipulator under high magnification.

Embryo Transfer – The fertilised eggs are then transferred inside the uterus using a small thin plastic catheter under the guidance of ultrasound, on day 3 at the cleavage stage or day 5 at the blastocyst stage. The extra embryos can be frozen and used for the next cycle if the need arises.