IVF

How the IVF process works?

Treatment starts with ovarian stimulation. Daily hormone injections over roughly 10 to 14 days encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, and you will attend monitoring appointments for ultrasounds and blood tests so your care team can track follicle growth and adjust medication doses.

Once follicles reach the target size, a trigger injection is given and eggs are retrieved under sedation about 36 hours later, a procedure that takes around 20 minutes. Eggs are fertilized with sperm the same day, and the resulting embryos are cultured in the lab for three to five days before a transfer or freeze decision is made.

Who is a candidate for IVF?

IVF is generally considered when less invasive treatments have not led to pregnancy, or when a diagnosis such as blocked fallopian tubes, severe male-factor infertility, or diminished ovarian reserve makes it the most direct path forward. It is also the starting point for anyone using donor eggs, donor sperm, or a gestational carrier.

Your specialist will review your ovarian reserve through antral follicle count and AMH testing, along with your medical history and any prior treatment outcomes, before recommending a stimulation protocol suited to you.

IVF success rates by age

Age is the single biggest factor in IVF outcomes because it affects both the number and the genetic quality of eggs retrieved. Live birth rates per cycle generally run highest under age 35 and decline in each successive age bracket, dropping most sharply after 40.

These figures vary by clinic, protocol, and individual diagnosis, so ask any clinic you are considering for their own age-banded success data rather than relying on national averages alone.

Embryo transfer and the two-week wait

A fresh embryo transfer happens three to five days after egg retrieval, or embryos can be frozen and transferred in a later cycle once the uterine lining has recovered from stimulation. Frozen transfers are increasingly common because they can improve implantation rates for some patients.

After transfer, progesterone support continues for the first several weeks, and a blood pregnancy test is scheduled around 10 to 14 days later. A positive result is followed by an ultrasound to confirm a clinical pregnancy.

Risks and side effects of IVF

Ovarian stimulation can cause bloating, mood changes, and injection-site discomfort, and in rare cases leads to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which your clinic will monitor for throughout the cycle. Egg retrieval carries a small risk of bleeding or infection, as with any minor surgical procedure.

Multiple pregnancy is also a consideration if more than one embryo is transferred, which carries higher risks for both parent and babies. Ask your specialist about single embryo transfer if minimizing this risk matters to you.

IVF treatment questions answered

How many IVF cycles do most patients need?

Many patients achieve a pregnancy within two to three cycles, though this varies significantly by age and diagnosis. Cumulative success rates rise with each additional cycle for patients who do not conceive on the first attempt.

What's the difference between IVF and ICSI?

IVF fertilizes eggs by mixing them with sperm in a dish, while ICSI injects a single sperm directly into each egg. ICSI is typically used when sperm count, motility, or morphology could make conventional fertilization less reliable.

Can IVF be done with donor eggs or donor sperm?

Yes. Donor eggs are often recommended when ovarian reserve is very low or egg quality is a concern, and donor sperm is used for severe male-factor infertility or when there is no male partner. Availability and legal requirements for donor treatment vary by clinic and location.

Does insurance cover IVF?

Coverage varies widely by insurer, employer, and location, and many patients pay out of pocket for some or all of a cycle. Check your policy directly and ask your clinic's billing team what documentation they need to submit a claim on your behalf.

What happens if an IVF cycle doesn't result in pregnancy?

Your specialist will typically review the cycle, including egg and embryo quality, hormone response, and lining development, to see if adjustments to the protocol could help. If frozen embryos remain from the cycle, a frozen embryo transfer is often the next step before considering a new stimulation cycle.