What is IVF?
IVF involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving them, fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory, and transferring one of the resulting embryos back to the uterus. Any additional good-quality embryos can be frozen for future use. The process bypasses many of the obstacles to natural conception — including blocked tubes, low sperm count and unexplained infertility — and is the most effective single treatment available.
The IVF Cycle Step by Step
Pre-cycle: Tests, consultations and protocol planning
Stimulation (10-14 days): Daily injections grow multiple follicles
Monitoring: Several ultrasound and blood-test visits
Trigger and retrieval: Final injection followed by egg collection under sedation
Fertilisation: Eggs and sperm combined in the lab (or ICSI for male-factor cases)
Embryo culture (3-5 days): Embryos develop and are graded
Transfer: A single embryo is placed in the uterus (a quick, painless procedure)
Two-week wait: Pregnancy test about 9-14 days after transfer
Frozen embryos: Stored for future cycles if available
Success Rates
Under 35: roughly 35-45% live birth per embryo transfer
35-37: roughly 30-35%
38-40: roughly 20-25%
41-42: roughly 10-15%
43+: under 5% with own eggs; donor eggs change this dramatically
Cumulative success across multiple cycles is significantly higher
Costs and Getting Started
A single IVF cycle costs £4,000-£8,000 in the UK or $15,000-$25,000 in the US (excluding medications)
NHS funding is available in some regions, with eligibility criteria
The process from first consultation to embryo transfer typically takes 6-10 weeks
Choose a clinic carefully — published HFEA / SART success rates help compare options
Emotional and physical support during treatment is just as important as clinical care