In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of the most widely used assisted-reproduction treatments in the world. If you are just beginning to research it, the terminology can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks a typical cycle into clear stages so you know roughly what to expect.
1. Consultation and baseline testing
Every cycle starts with an assessment. Your specialist reviews your medical history and orders baseline investigations — commonly hormone tests and an ultrasound — to understand your ovarian reserve and plan a suitable protocol. Many clinics can do this first step remotely for international patients.
2. Ovarian stimulation
Over roughly ten to twelve days, hormone injections encourage the ovaries to mature several eggs rather than the single egg of a natural cycle. You are monitored with scans and blood tests so the dose can be adjusted and the timing optimised.
3. Egg retrieval
Once the follicles are ready, eggs are collected in a short procedure performed under sedation. It usually takes around twenty to thirty minutes, and most people rest for the remainder of the day.
4. Fertilisation in the laboratory
The retrieved eggs are combined with sperm in the embryology laboratory. In conventional IVF the sperm and eggs are placed together; in ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into each egg. The embryos are then cultured for several days.
5. Embryo transfer
A selected embryo is placed into the uterus in a quick, usually painless procedure. Additional good-quality embryos can often be frozen for future use in a frozen-embryo transfer.
6. The two-week wait and pregnancy test
After transfer there is a waiting period before a blood test confirms whether the cycle has resulted in pregnancy. This stage is emotionally significant, and good clinics offer support throughout.
Questions worth asking any clinic
- What are your success rates for patients in my age group?
- Is the laboratory accredited, and how experienced is the embryology team?
- What is included in the written, itemised cost estimate?
- How many in-person visits will I need if I am travelling from abroad?
This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak with a qualified fertility specialist about your individual situation.