IVF and ICSI in Dubai

Who it is for

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Significant male factor, where ICSI (injecting a single sperm into each egg) is used
• Endometriosis affecting the ovaries or tubes
• Low ovarian reserve or age, where time matters and each egg counts
• Unexplained infertility after simpler treatments have not worked
• Couples who need embryos tested for a genetic condition (PGT-M) or for chromosome number (PGT-A)
• Couples who want to freeze embryos or eggs for the future

The cycle, step by step

1. Preparation. Your checkup results, age and history decide the protocol. Dr. Shami explains the medication, the schedule and the realistic expectations for you specifically, and you receive them in writing.

2. Stimulation, about 10 to 12 days. Daily injections encourage several follicles to grow at once. Three or four ultrasound scans and blood tests track the response and adjust the dose. For patients living abroad, this stage can often start at home; see treatment from abroad.

3. Trigger and egg collection. A final injection matures the eggs. About 36 hours later they are collected through the vagina under light sedation, in around 20 minutes. Your partner gives his sample the same morning.

4. The laboratory. Eggs are fertilised by conventional IVF or by ICSI. Embryos are cultured for five to six days to the blastocyst stage. If PGT-A or PGT-M is part of your plan, a few cells are taken from each blastocyst and tested in the clinic's own genetics laboratory while the embryos are frozen.

5. Transfer. A single embryo is placed in the uterus, either fresh or, increasingly often, in a later frozen cycle when the lining is calm and ready. The transfer takes a few minutes and needs no anaesthetic.

6. The wait. A blood pregnancy test about ten days later. Whatever the result, you will have a conversation with Dr. Shami about what it means and what comes next.

Risks, honestly

IVF is safe for most women, but it is not without risks. Ovarian hyperstimulation, reactions to medication, the small risks of the egg collection procedure, and the emotional weight of the process are all real, and Dr. Shami discusses them with you before you start. Outcomes vary widely with age, ovarian reserve and the reason for treatment; she will give you a realistic picture for your situation rather than a general number.

Questions patients ask

What is the difference between IVF and ICSI?

In conventional IVF, eggs and sperm are placed together and fertilise on their own. In ICSI, an embryologist injects a single sperm into each egg. ICSI is used when sperm count or quality is low, after fertilisation has failed before, or when embryos will be genetically tested.

Should we test our embryos with PGT-A?

Not automatically. It is most useful when age, previous losses or repeated implantation failure make chromosomal errors more likely. Dr. Shami will tell you whether it is likely to help in your case.

Fresh or frozen transfer?

It depends on your response to stimulation, your hormone levels and whether embryos are being tested. Many transfers are now done in a later frozen cycle because the lining is often more receptive when the ovaries are quiet. Dr. Shami decides this with you, not for you.

How long does an IVF cycle take?

From the first injection to the pregnancy test, roughly four to six weeks for a fresh transfer. With embryo testing or a frozen transfer, add the time for results and for the next cycle. You will have a written timeline before you start.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Ghina Shami, Consultant Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility · September 2026