The IVF Process
IVF can sound technical and intimidating. It doesn’t have to. Here is the whole process, step by step, in plain language.
The big picture
Every cycle is personalized, but the path follows the same four phases.
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1
Pre-IVF testing and preparation
Typically 2 to 4 weeks before your cycle starts
Bloodwork, ultrasound, and a review of your medical history. These tests confirm the right protocol for you and cover the safety and legal requirements before treatment begins.
- Hormone and fertility panel
- Baseline ultrasound
- Consent review with your care team
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2
Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval
About 10 to 14 days of medication, then a short procedure
Daily medication encourages your ovaries to mature multiple eggs at once. You come in every few days so we can track progress and adjust your dose. When the eggs are ready, retrieval takes about 20 minutes under sedation.
- Self-administered injections at home
- Monitoring visits every 2 to 3 days
- Retrieval is outpatient, home the same day
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3
Fertilization and embryo development
5 to 7 days in the lab
Your eggs are fertilized in our lab and the resulting embryos grow under continuous monitoring. If genetic testing is part of your plan, embryos are biopsied and tested before being frozen for transfer.
- Fertilization confirmed the next day
- Daily development updates from the lab
- Optional genetic testing
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4
Uterine preparation and embryo transfer
A 2 to 4 week prep cycle, then transfer
Medication prepares your uterine lining to receive an embryo. The transfer itself is quick, needs no sedation, and you go home right afterward. A pregnancy test follows about 10 days later.
- Lining checked by ultrasound
- Transfer takes about 10 minutes
- Pregnancy test roughly 10 days later
What your schedule looks like
A sample cycle. Yours will be personalized, and your care team will give you an exact calendar.
Timelines are illustrative. Your cycle will be personalized to meet your needs.
Go deeper on any step
Pre-IVF requirements
The tests and paperwork that come first.
Monitoring visits
What happens at each check-in.
Egg retrieval
The procedure and recovery, explained.
Fertilization and culturing
How embryos are created and grown.
Embryo development
What the lab watches for day by day.
Embryo transfer
The final step toward pregnancy.
Ready to talk through your options?
Meet with our clinical team to review your history and build a plan that fits your situation.