How Long Does IVF Take in Nepal?

IVF is a procedure in Nepal which takes about 6 to 8 weeks to complete one cycle.

You need to wait for a few weeks so that your egg gets mature. Then you and your husband need to stay for at least half of the day at the Fertility Center Nepal for your egg retrieval and fertilization process. You need to visit the clinic again three to five days later to have the embryos inserted into your uterus and you will be able to go home that same day.

How does the IVF procedure work in Nepal?

The IVF procedure involves the following steps to complete one IVF cycle:

Week 1:

a)    Initial consultation: In your first meeting with the clinic, the clinical staff will obtain an extensive medical history of you and your husband, and they will answer to your all questions or concerns you may have at this stage. This is a stage where you can freely ask any questions without any hesitation. You feel well-informed and comfortable before you commit to IVF treatment In Nepal.

b)    Clinical consultation: This is an appointment with your clinical coordinator who will review your diagnosis and accordingly plan the best treatment for you. Your IVF expert will also help you in learning how to self-administer the medications which are used in an IVF cycle and accordingly will schedule your key procedures.

c)    Consultation on financial aspects: At Fertility Center Nepal we have good counsellors who will provide the best guidance which is one way to help minimize some stress. This consultation is provided so that you can review your options for insurance coverage. If IVF is not covered then the consultant will help you with many other flexible options to explore, including IVF financing.

Week 2 to 4:

Here your procedure for IVF will begin:

a)    Pre-treatment preparation for IVF: Your fertility expert will recommend some comprehensive lab tests which will give the clear picture of your fertility. The following are some common pre-IVF tests:

•    Ultrasounds

•    A blood tests

•    Uterine evaluation

•    Screening for infectious diseases such as AIDS or Hepatitis B

•    Male fertility tests which include a sperm analysis

b)    Start birth controlling pills: The next step followed by your clinical staff is to regulate your menstrual cycle and prepare your ovaries. Your fertility expert will ask you to take birth control pills for 2 to 4 weeks after testing and diagnosis and this mainly depends on the length of your cycle.

Week 5 to 6:

Monitoring and medication will take place during this period:

a)    Consumption of fertility drugs: Your fertility expert will give you some oral fertility medications like Clomid, injectable follicle stimulation hormones such as Follistim and Gonal-F, etc. are used to stimulate the ovaries so that you will be able to produce more mature and healthy eggs in one normal cycle. With the help of fertility drugs, you will be able to produce at least 4 eggs to process a successful outcome.

b)    Monitoring: With the help of ultrasounds and blood tests your fertility expert will be able to monitor the development and the growth of your follicles and eggs. This is the most time-taken part of the IVF process which requires at least 5 to 7 office visits.

Week 7 to 8

During this period your egg will be retrieved, triggered and fertilized:

a)    Egg retrieval: This is a day procedure which will be performed under local anesthesia. Your fertility expert will collect the eggs from your ovaries by using the hollow needle which will be easily inserted through the cervix into your uterus. If you are going through IVF you’re your partner then he needs to provide his semen specimen which will be collected on the same day as your egg retrieval or the sperm could be frozen before.

b)    Combining of egg and sperm in the lab: Once the successful fertilization takes place and embryos are developed then there are several options which can be used at this stage to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and these are:

•    Assisted hatching: This is a procedure in which a tiny hole is made in an embryo’s outer membrane which is known as the zona pellucida and it will increase the rate of implantation after transfer.

•    Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): This is one of the best options when male infertility is a factor. In this procedure, your fertility expert at Fertility Center Nepal will inject a single healthy sperm directly into an egg.

•    Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) or Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD): This is a procedure which ensures that only healthy embryos are transferred because genetic abnormal embryos can lead to the cause of miscarriage. Usually, this testing is helpful in cases of recurrent pregnancy loss.

c)    Embryo Transfer: This is the final step of the IVF procedure in which your fertility expert will transfer the best-chosen embryo into the uterus via a thin, flexible plastic tube, which is gently passed through the opening in the cervix leading to the interior of the uterus. This procedure is a painless procedure but in there are some women who may experience mild cramping which will be taken care through medications.

What after the IVF procedure?

Once the IVF procedure is completed, your fertility expert at Fertility Center Nepal will recommend you to take a progesterone supplement which helps in supporting the uterine lining and encourage implantation. Also, after two weeks of embryo transfer, you need to visit the center again for the pregnancy test. If the results are positive then you will be handed-over to OB gynecologist for care, but in case your results are not positive then you can repeat the IVF cycle or can opt for other assisted reproductive treatments to fulfill your dream of having an own baby.

Success Rates of IVF

Success rates of IVF Treatment in Nepal performed at Fertility Center Nepal are around 70 to 80% but it depends on the age and the reason for infertility. According to the study, younger women usually have healthier eggs and higher success rates as compared to older women.