Everything you need to know about IVF

1. Fertility assessment for both partners is needed first to evaluate all possible reasons that may contribute to infertility.
2. Preparation: scheduling the IVF cycle, receiving training from the nurses, signing forms, and ordering medications.
3. Ovarian stimulation: 8-14 days of medication injections to stimulate the growth of follicles, future eggs.
4. Egg retrieval: a 15-minute simple surgical procedure performed under anesthesia. At least 60 minutes before the egg retrieval, a semen sample should be received by the lab.
5. Embryo stage: after the eggs are retrieved, they are combined with sperm in the laboratory to facilitate fertilization. During 4-5 days, the fertilized eggs, now called embryos, are cultured in the laboratory to allow them to develop further.
6. Embryo transfer: in the final stage, one or more embryos are transferred into the uterus through a thin catheter. ASRM guidelines recommended choosing one embryo transfer as it has a lower risk of multiple pregnancies and birth complications.

The IVF timeline can vary; the entire process, from the start of ovarian stimulation to embryo transfer, can take around 3 to 7 weeks depending on whether you are doing fresh or frozen embryo transfer. Following the embryo transfer, you may need to wait for about 9-14 days for a pregnancy test to determine if the IVF cycle was successful.

Sometimes, it is hard to compare the quality of different fertility clinics and success rates versus the national level, which could give you some reference points on the clinic's performance. We make it easy for you to see what clinics perform above or below the national level.  Compare fertility clinics near you using our database.

The cost of an IVF procedure can vary widely depending on factors such as:
• the clinic's location,
• reputation,
• success rates.

The cost of a single IVF cycle or procedure can range from $6,500 to $40,000 without insurance. It's recommended to ask the clinic what's included in this cost; some clinics may charge separately for ultrasounds, blood tests, embryo transfers, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), and anesthesia. Preliminary testing for both partners before starting the IVF process, partner carrier testing, or embryo genetic testing is typically not included in the cycle cost.

Learn more about different elements of IVF cost or check the prices of fertility clinics near you.

As with all medical procedures, IVF can have rare complications. The main risk during IVF is overstimulation of your ovaries - OHSS. Medium to severe OHSS happens in less than 1% of stimulation cycles, and doctors monitor your reaction closely to make sure you don't get OHSS. Symptoms include shortness of breath, gastric reflux, pain and vomiting. OHSS may improve on its own in mild cases; if it doesn't improve on its own, there is a way of treating that your doctor will recommend.

Most people feel good after the procedure, and severe symptoms are very rare. The most common side effects are fatigue and bloating during medication stimulation; some women feel very emotional during or after the IVF process.

The goal of fertility assessment is to evaluate all possible reasons that may contribute to infertility. To start, the doctor or nurse will collect:
• a comprehensive medical,
• reproductive,  
• family history
• and perform an appropriate physical examination.

After that, your doctor would define what diagnostic tests would be needed to identify factors affecting infertility based on your individual history.

Request a fertility evaluation at the best clinic in your area.