IVF and The
IVF Process
IVF is a fertility treatment where an egg and sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory, allowing the fertilised embryo to develop before being transferred to the uterus to increase the likelihood of pregnancy.
An introduction to IVF
Simply put, the IVF process takes eggs and sperm and combines them in a culture dish in a lab. If the natural process occurs and they fertilise, an embryo will form. We take the tiny embryo (0.2 mm) and insert it into the uterus. If it grows and develops, you’ll take your baby home nine months later.
So, how do we get there?
- We stimulate your ovaries to help your body produce eggs it has created naturally. This involves a series of injections or medications. They’re easy to manage; our friendly nurses will walk you through the process and we have additional resources to guide you at home.
- We remove those eggs in a simple day procedure called the egg collection or egg retrieval with our experienced SSfertility IVF Clinicians.
- Your partner provides our laboratory with a sample of his sperm, or we prepare the donor sample in the laboratory. The laboratory will prepare the samples to collect the most viable sperm from the sample for combining with your eggs.
- Our expert scientists combine and culture the eggs and sperm in our lab. Our goal is to create as many embryos as possible—the more embryos you have, the greater the chance of some being viable for use
- If the eggs fertilise, they become embryos and we’ll grow them for five days to the blastocyst stage. At this point, you’ll come back in to have the embryo/s transferred into your uterus.
- At this time we will get you to do a blood test to see if you’re pregnant.
Did you know that the hormones in the most common IVF medications are produced naturally in the body? The eggs we’re stimulating already exist - the medication simply boosts the natural levels of these hormones to encourage more eggs to develop.
What is the IVF process?
Step 1 : Day 1 of your period
Let’s get started!
The first official day of your IVF treatment cycle is Day 1 of your period. Everyone’s body is different; your fertility nurse will help you understand how to identify Day 1.
What is the IVF process?
Step 2 : Stimulating your ovaries
The stimulation phase begins on Day 1. In a natural monthly cycle, your ovaries would normally produce one egg. With an IVF cycle, you’ll take medication for eight to 14 days to encourage the follicles in your ovaries (where the eggs grow) to produce more eggs.
What is the IVF process?
Step 3 : Egg retrieval
The egg retrieval - also known as the egg ‘pick up’ (EPU) - is a hospital day procedure where your fertility specialist collects the eggs from your ovaries. An anaesthetist will give you a general anaesthetic so that you’re asleep for the procedure, which takes about 20-30 minutes.
What is the IVF process?
Step 4 : The sperm
If you’re a couple planning on using fresh sperm, the male will produce a sample the morning of the egg retrieval. If you are using frozen or donor sperm our scientists will have it ready in the lab.
What is the IVF process?
Step 5 : Fertilisation
Your fertility specialist gives our scientists the eggs they’ve retrieved from your ovaries. The eggs are contained in tubes of follicular fluid taken from your ovaries. Our scientists use powerful microscopes to find the eggs in the fluid so that they can remove them.
What is the IVF process?
Step 6 : Embryo development
Ideally, after combining a sperm with the egg, approximately17 hours later it will fertilise and begin forming an embryo. Our scientists will culture the developing embryo(s) in a special incubator, where the conditions for growth and development are optimised to grow the best possible embryos.
What is the IVF process?
Step 7 : Embryo transfer
If your embryo develops in the lab, the next step is to transfer it into your uterus in a simple procedure known as an ‘embryo transfer’.
Your fertility nurse will contact you with some easy instructions on how to prepare.
What is the IVF process?
Step 8 : The pregnancy blood test
Approximately two weeks after your embryo transfer, you’ll have a blood test to measure your levels of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). hCG in your bloodstream usually indicates a positive pregnancy test. Your nurse will let you know exactly when to have your blood test, as it may vary for some patients.
Common questions
The side effects you experience during IVF treatment will depend on the specific medication/s your specialist has prescribed for you. You can learn more about IVF medications here.
An IVF cycle typically takes around 6-8 weeks. The process includes an initial consultation, ovarian stimulation that lasts 8-14 days, egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo transfer, and a pregnancy test. The embryo transfer and pregnancy test are typically performed 5 days after fertilisation.
It’s important to note that IVF is a complex process, and treatment and results can vary from person to person. In some cases, multiple cycles of IVF may be required to achieve a pregnancy.
Our experienced counsellors are here to support you through the ups and downs of fertility treatment. Our counsellors have degrees in psychology or social work, so you know you’re in expert hands.
Absolutely. Early intervention options include simpler treatments like Ovulation Induction and IUI.
Your fertility specialist will only recommend IVF treatment if you’ve exhausted other less-invasive options first. Our goal is to get you pregnant with the least amount of intervention possible.
Elective surgery refers to medical procedures that are chosen by the patient, rather than being deemed medically necessary. These procedures are not considered to be life-saving or required to mitigate disease, but are carried out for personal or cosmetic reasons.
IVF is not considered an elective procedure. It is intended to address a specific medical condition or fertility-related issue. It is usually recommended for people who have struggled to conceive for at least 12 months or who have been diagnosed with infertility.
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fertility journey
Wherever you are on your journey, one of our supportive nurse enquiry team can help you understand your options and take the next step. These conversations are free and informative.
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