Understand in vitro fertilization (ivf), the options to discuss with a qualified clinician and what to confirm before planning a visit to Shiraz.
Key points
- Discuss your individual suitability, alternatives and risks with the treating clinician.
- Ask for written preparation and recovery instructions, including your medicines and follow-up.
- Confirm the healthcare facility, full costs and arrangements before booking travel.
On this page
IVF process: step by step
The timeline of a typical IVF is something like what follows:
- Ovary stimulation*
- Follicle development
- Trigger shot
- Egg retrieval
After you receive an anesthetic, your doctor inserts an ultrasound probe to check your ovaries and identify the follicles. Then, a thin needle is also inserted to extract eggs, which are usually 8-15. Some women experience cramping or spotting for a few days after the egg retrieval process, but generally, you will feel better in a day or two.
- Fertilization
Now it’s time for your eggs to be combined with your partner’s sperm for fertilization. Before this, an embryologist, who is a specialist in sperm, eggs, and embryo, will examine your eggs.
If after a few cycles of IVF fertilization doesn’t happen or the sperm quality is low, the specialist may recommend an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure. In this technique, sperm is directly injected into the ovum using a microinjection device.
If the eggs aren’t normal and cannot be fertilized, you need to consider egg donation, which involves using donor eggs from a third party (an anonymous or known woman) to produce embryos that are to be implanted into your uterus for pregnancy.
- Developing embryo
- Embryo selection
Now the most viable embryo(s) are selected by the embryologist and ready to be implanted into the uterus. If there are any extra embryo, they can be frozen to be used in future IVF cycles.
- Planting the embryos
Using a thin tube called catheter, the doctor inserts one to five embryos into the uterus through the cervix.
- Pregnancy
* In some women who are incapable of producing mature eggs on their own, immature eggs are retrieved and matured artificially outside the body through another process called in-vitro maturation (IVM).
IVF sex selection
Sex selection, sometimes incorrectly referred to as gender selection, in IVF is a procedure aimed at assigning an embryo’s sex to help couples have a baby of the sex they like. Some fertility clinics offer sex selection option to IVF candidates but as there are some considerations in this treatment, they also give patients a thorough consultation before the procedure.
There are two sex selection techniques in IVF: using pre-implantation genetic diagnoses (PGD) and microsorting.
Microsorting
Artificial sex selection is offered by Iranian hospitals and fertility centers through PGD and microboring, but it is mostly recommended to those who already have children and want to have another child for family balancing.
IVF aftercare
In general, the following instructions are advised for the post-IVF period:
- After embryo transfer, the woman can resume her daily activities. However, avoid intense physical activities such as running, aerobics or playing sports such as football and tennis
A practical point for your care
Before an operation, the pre-assessment team should review your health, previous tests and all medicines and supplements. Ask for written instructions on medicines, eating, drinking and aftercare that apply to your planned procedure.[1]
Planning treatment in Shiraz
Ask SanaMedTour about the appropriate specialty, appointment arrangements and practical support for your visit. The treating clinician confirms the diagnosis, treatment options, suitability and follow-up after assessment.
Request an itemised written quote identifying the clinician, facility, tests, treatment, medicines, reviews and any accommodation or transfers included.
Sources
[1] NHS: Preparing for surgery — supports the individual-care planning note above. ↑ Back to text
Editorial adaptation: 25 October 2026. General information for planning and discussion; your clinician’s individual instructions take priority.