IVF in India for International Couples: A Practical Guide
How IVF works step by step, how long a full cycle takes, what to plan for when travelling to Delhi NCR as a couple, and what Medwell's IVF package estimate covers.
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a fertility treatment in which eggs are fertilised with sperm in a laboratory and an embryo is then placed in the womb. The NHS says a full IVF cycle takes around three to six weeks and usually follows six steps. For couples travelling to India, the key is planning your time around those steps. Medwell's IVF package estimate is USD 3,800 to 6,000, confirmed only after the hospital has reviewed your reports.
This guide explains the process, what affects your chances, and how to plan a trip to Delhi NCR as a couple.
Who is IVF for?
The NHS explains that IVF may be recommended if you are having difficulty getting pregnant and other treatments have not worked. Some couples will be offered alternatives first. Your fertility specialist decides which treatment is suitable after reviewing both partners' reports and test results.
How IVF works: the six steps
The NHS describes a typical IVF cycle like this, although the exact steps depend on the type of treatment you have:
- Suppressing your natural cycle. An injection or nasal spray is used every day for two to three weeks to stop the ovaries producing eggs naturally, followed by an ultrasound scan to check it has worked.
- Boosting your egg supply. You inject a fertility medicine every day for about two weeks, with tests or scans to check progress.
- Egg collection. A doctor collects the eggs using a needle inserted through the vagina. This takes around 20 minutes, and you are offered a sedative.
- Sperm sample. Your partner gives a sperm sample, usually while the eggs are being collected. If donor sperm is being used, it will be ready in the laboratory.
- Fertilisation. The eggs are fertilised in the laboratory. The clinic usually calls the next day to say how many embryos have developed.
- Embryo transfer. After a few days, an embryo is placed in the womb through a thin tube. If you have more than one embryo, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of transferring more than one.
Any suitable embryos left over may be frozen for future attempts. Ask the clinic about any storage costs.
After the transfer
The NHS says you will be given a pregnancy test to take around 16 days after the embryo transfer. If it is positive, a scan at around seven weeks of pregnancy checks the baby's heartbeat.
What affects your chances?
According to the NHS, the chance of having a baby with IVF can depend on:
- the cause of your fertility problems;
- your age;
- your body mass index (BMI);
- lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol.
No clinic can promise a pregnancy. Your specialist can talk you through your own chances before you start, and we encourage you to ask.
Risks to know about
The NHS lists possible risks including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (when too many eggs develop), a pregnancy with more than one baby, and ectopic pregnancy. Your clinic should explain these before treatment begins.
Planning your trip as a couple
Before you travel
The NHS notes that tests before IVF can include blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and that you must give consent to treatment before IVF can start. Ask the hospital which tests you can have at home and which must be done in India, and send us your existing reports so the fertility team can review them.
How long to stay
Because a full cycle takes around three to six weeks, the timing of your trip matters. Ask your specialist which steps, if any, can begin at home and which must take place in India. Once you have a schedule, we will build your flights and hotel near the hospital around it.
Partners and visas
If your partner needs to give a sperm sample on the day of egg collection, they will need to be in India on that day. India's official visa portal states that up to two companions can travel on e-Medical Attendant Visas linked to the patient's e-Medical Visa. Check the portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, for the category that fits your situation.
Rules and consent
The NHS reminds people considering IVF abroad that clinics in other countries may not be regulated in the same way as in their home country. Laws on fertility treatment, donor eggs or sperm, and embryo storage differ between countries, so ask the hospital to explain the rules and consent forms that apply to you before you travel.
Medwell IVF package estimate
Medwell's package estimate for IVF is USD 3,800 to 6,000. This is a package estimate, confirmed only after the hospital's fertility team has reviewed your reports and agreed your plan. If your plan may include extra steps, such as embryo freezing or genetic testing, ask us what your quote covers. Request your free, no-obligation personalised quote and we will reply within 24 hours.
Where to have IVF in Delhi NCR
Our partner hospitals include Fortis La Femme, Greater Kailash II, alongside other accredited partners across Delhi NCR listed on our hospitals page. You can read specialist profiles on our doctors page. Fertility treatment is personal, so we handle your information confidentially, and an interpreter is available on request.
