“I had to take more than 150 injections… there was a point when I was completely shattered, both mentally and physically. I started feeling that perhaps the fault was in me.” This painful admission and bitter truth does not come from an ordinary woman, but from the well-known Bollywood and OTT actress Anushka Ranjan. After announcing the happy news of her first child in May 2026, Anushka has pulled back the curtain on a silent battle that countless women are facing alone today. The 35-year-old actress, who rose to prominence with the web series ‘Fittrat’, described her agonizing and exhausting journey through IVF.
The Dual Burden of Physical and Mental Struggle
Becoming a mother after marriage is a beautiful dream for every woman, but when obstacles arise on this path, it ceases to be just a physical issue. Anushka Ranjan married actor Aditya Seal in 2021. When she announced her pregnancy five years after the wedding, everyone was joyous, but the reality of the desire for a child, the IVF process, and the mental anguish involved has only now been revealed. Anushka explained how a woman must fight on both physical and mental fronts simultaneously while trying to conceive. Constant visits to the clinic, dealing with daily hormonal shifts, and the recurring heartbreak every month can hollow a person out from within.
The most poignant part of Anushka’s account was her mention of ‘self-blame’. She honestly admitted that when success did not come despite repeated efforts, a sense of inferiority began to grow within her. She started to believe that there was something inherently wrong with her. This is a reality to which millions of women across the country and the world can relate. In society, the blame for infertility is still often placed squarely on the shoulders of the woman, leading them to view themselves as the culprit.
The Step-by-Step IVF Process
The main objective of IVF is to extract eggs from the female body, fertilize them with male sperm in a laboratory, and transfer the resulting embryo back into the uterus. This entire procedure consists of five major stages:
1. Ovarian Stimulation: Lasting 10 to 12 days, this phase involves daily hormonal injections to increase the number of eggs, as the body naturally produces only one per cycle. Regular ultrasounds and blood tests are used to track growth.
2. The Trigger Shot: Exactly 36 hours before the extraction, a final crucial injection is administered to mature the eggs. The timing of this shot is fixed and vital.
3. Egg Retrieval: This is a 20 to 30-minute minor surgical procedure. The woman is given light anesthesia to prevent pain. Using ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is passed through the vagina to reach the ovaries and aspirate the eggs. A sperm sample is also collected on this day.
4. Fertilization: In the lab, eggs and sperm are placed in a petri dish. If the sperm are weak, the ICSI technique is used to inject a single sperm directly into the egg. Over the next 3 to 5 days, these fertilized eggs develop into embryos.
5. Embryo Transfer: The best-developed embryo is placed into the woman’s womb via a thin, flexible catheter tube. This process is painless and does not require anesthesia. Pregnancy is confirmed via a Beta HCG blood test about 12 to 14 days later.
Why Are So Many Injections Required?
The injection regimen is intensive. Down-regulation requires daily injections to prevent eggs from being released prematurely. Stimulation requires one to two injections daily for 10 to 12 days. Finally, Luteal Support involves progesterone injections after embryo transfer to help the embryo implant and grow. These injections are oil-based and thick, and they may need to be administered daily for several weeks, sometimes through the first three months of pregnancy. This phase is physically the most draining. It is important to note that every woman’s body is unique. Modern advancements like ‘minimal stimulation’ and oral medications are making it possible to conduct IVF with fewer injections, though the core of the experience remains deeply personal and challenging.
