What is IVF? 

IVF, or In Vitro Fertilisation, is a fertility treatment where fertilisation happens outside the body. It's a way to help people struggling to conceive to have the family they’ve been dreaming of. By creating an optimal environment for fertilisation and early embryo development in the lab, IVF can bypass several challenges that might be preventing natural conception. 

How IVF works 
Understanding the steps involved can make IVF feel less daunting. From starting treatment to embryo transfer, the whole process takes about seven weeks. 

Here's a step-by-step guide to how IVF works:  

Step 1: The initial IVF chat 
Your IVF journey begins with a comprehensive consultation with one of our fertility specialists. During this session, they’ll discuss your health, medical history, and the most suitable options for your IVF treatment. You may also need to undergo some fertility tests. The fertility specialist will get your tests and first consultation booked for a time and date that suits you.  

You’ll also have access to your own Patient Portal, where you can find all the necessary information and resources. Our CarePals coordinator will be in touch to answer any questions and provide additional information you might need before your first consultation. 

Step 2: Fertility Testing 
These tests give us a full picture of your reproductive health. It's all about gathering the info we need to give you the best chance of success.  

Step 3: Consultation and Treatment Plan 
During your first consultation, you’ll go through your test results and detailed medical history with your IVF consultant. After the meeting, we will provide you with your personalised treatment plan. Once this is signed off, it’s time to start treatment.  

Step 4: Ovarian Stimulation 
This is the first step in the IVF treatment. We’ll use fertility drugs to encourage your ovaries to produce as many mature eggs as possible. Regular ultrasounds and blood tests help us track how you’re responding to the medication, and we’ll adjust dosages if needed. 

Step 5: Ovarian maturation and monitoring 
Monitoring during ovarian stimulation involves several ultrasound scans and blood tests over a period of 3-7 days. These tests help us assess the growth and development of the follicles, which contain the eggs. Once your follicles have reached the appropriate size, you’ll take a trigger injection. This injection is carefully timed to induce the final maturation of the eggs and prepare them for retrieval. 

Step 6: Egg and Sperm Collection 
Once your eggs are ready, we’ll retrieve them at our clinic. If needed, a sperm sample will also be collected at the same time. The egg collection is a straightforward procedure, and we'll make sure you're comfortable with sedation and pain relief. 

Step 7: Fertilisation and Embryo Development 
Your eggs are placed in a special culture medium and kept in an incubator. We then add the prepared sperm, and over the next few days, we monitor the fertilised eggs (now embryos) as they develop. 

Step 8: Embryo Transfer 
When the embryos/embryo is ready, you’ll come into the clinic for the transfer. It’s a simple and quick procedure, usually painless, but some might experience mild cramping. After the transfer, you'll rest briefly before heading home. 

Step 9: The Two-Week Wait 
This might be the hardest part. After the embryo transfer, you’ll wait around 12-14 days to find out if the treatment was successful. During this time, it’s important to take progesterone, which helps prepare your uterine lining for implantation. Remember, we’re here to support you through this emotional period. 

Step 10: Pregnancy Test and Ultrasound Scan 
Take an at-home pregnancy test around two weeks after the embryo transfer. If it’s positive, you’ll come to the clinic for an ultrasound scan to check for an ongoing pregnancy. If it’s negative, you get your period, or if the scan doesn’t show an ongoing pregnancy, we’re here to offer support and guidance on the next steps.    

Going through an IVF cycle is a significant journey for anyone, and it's essential to take care of yourself and stay close with your partner during this time. Remember, you're in this together, so offer each other emotional and physical support. Simple gestures like a hug, a kind word, or just being there for each other can make a huge difference. Your IVF journey is unique and personal, and taking care of yourselves and each other can make it a little easier.  

Our commitment to you 
At Care Fertility, we’re committed to making family possible for everyone through compassion, collaboration, and expertise. Our personalised treatments, world-leading expertise, and unwavering support provide the best chance of success for our patients. We understand the challenges you face, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Book a call with one of our fertility advisors and let us help you on your journey to parenthood.