How Long Does IVF Treatment Take in India for Somali Couples?

For many Somali couples facing fertility challenges, their best option is IVF treatment in India.
However, before planning the trip, one key question always arises — how long does IVF treatment take in India, and when should you arrive?
This guide from Total IVF Solutions explains the complete process and accurate timeline so Somali couples can plan their visit confidently.

When Should You Arrive in India?

For IVF using your own eggs and sperm, the woman needs to arrive at least 3 days before her expected menstrual period. This allows the IVF doctor in India for Somali couples to perform baseline ultrasound and blood tests before starting stimulation on the correct cycle day.
Arriving early prevents missing the natural cycle window and ensures smooth coordination of treatment.

Step-by-Step IVF Timeline in India

A standard treatment for IVF in India for Somali couples usually takes about 18 to 22 days in India from the start of the period until embryo transfer. Below is the detailed day-by-day overview

Step 1: Initial Testing and Cycle Preparation (3 Days)

• The couple arrives 3 days before the woman’s period.
• Baseline ultrasound and hormonal testing are done to check the ovaries and uterus.
• The doctor confirms the treatment plan, and medications are started as per cycle timing.

Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation (Day 2 – Day 12 of Period)

• Fertility injections begin on Day 2 of the menstrual cycle, not Day 3.
• These injections stimulate the ovaries to grow multiple follicles (not eggs).
• Each follicle contains one egg and is monitored by ultrasound every 2–3 days.
• The stimulation phase lasts about 10–12 days.

When the follicles reach around 18 mm in size — which indicates mature eggs inside — the doctor gives a trigger injection to prepare for egg retrieval within 36 hours.

(Reference: Clinical IVF protocol – follicles ≥ 18 mm show optimum egg maturity for retrieval.)

Step 3: Egg Retrieval and Fertilization (Day 13 – Day 15)

• About 34–36 hours after the trigger, eggs are collected through a short, painless procedure under mild anesthesia.
• On the same day, the husband’s sperm sample is collected.
• In the lab, eggs and sperm are combined for fertilization (either by IVF or ICSI).

Embryologists observe fertilized eggs carefully over the next few days.

Step 4: Embryo Culture – We Prefer Day 5 Blastocyst Transfer

After fertilization, embryos grow in the lab for several days. At Total IVF Solutions, we prefer transferring Day 5 blastocyst embryos rather than Day 3 embryos, because:
• Blastocysts have completed 5 days of natural growth.
• They have higher implantation and pregnancy success rates.
• The best-quality embryos can be selected for transfer.

Hence, embryo transfer usually occurs around Day 18 – Day 20 of the cycle.

Step 5: Embryo Transfer and Rest (1 – 2 Days)

•  A single or double blastocyst embryo is gently placed in the uterus using a thin catheter — no anesthesia or pain.
•  The woman can rest for a few hours and then resume normal activity.

After 14 days, a blood pregnancy test (Beta-hCG) confirms the result.

Total Time Required for Somali Couples