Treatment Essentials: IVF
Learn more about IVF: the steps involved, how much it costs, understand success rates and risks – all in one convenient, in-depth guide.
Author
Tassia O’Callaghan
Reviewed by
Kayleigh Hartigan
19 min read
Updated 28 July 2025
Treatment Spotlight:
- In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) was first used in 1978, and has become the most effective treatment available for those struggling with infertility.
- IVF uses strong hormonal medication to grow multiple eggs in a female reproductive cycle, before they are retrieved and fertilised outside the body in an embryology lab, before they’re then implanted in the uterus.
- There are different forms of IVF available, but it typically takes 6-9 weeks to complete one cycle.
- Understanding success rates is complex, and results vary significantly based on many factors. The average chance of a live birth from an embryo transferred during IVF is 22%. [1]
- Access to IVF can be challenging: NHS eligibility criteria vary depending on where you live in the UK, while private treatment costs are high and differ between clinics.
What is IVF?
IVF is an assisted reproductive technique (ART) that helps improve your chances of conception. Essentially, IVF mimics what happens naturally — where sperm meets and fertilises an egg released at ovulation. The big difference is that in IVF, this process happens outside the body in a controlled lab.
There are 3 main steps involved in IVF:
- Ovarian stimulation: Medication is used to boost the number of mature eggs produced by the ovaries. The eggs are then collected in a surgical procedure.
- Embryo creation: Eggs are fertilised in the laboratory using partner or donor sperm. Fertilised eggs develop into embryos.
- Embryo transfer: After 3-5 days of embryo development in the lab, one embryo is transferred into the uterus to develop naturally, resulting in pregnancy. Any embryos remaining are frozen for future use, donation to other people trying to conceive, or donation for scientific research.
Who is IVF for?
IVF is used when people can’t conceive naturally. This could be due to infertility, or because they can’t use sex to conceive — like solo parents or same sex couples.
In most cases, IVF is the preferred treatment offered to people struggling to conceive. However, sometimes, people may first choose intrauterine insemination (known as IUI or artificial insemination) because it is less invasive and cheaper.
Before you start treatment, remember:
- IVF is invasive. Hormone medication can have side effects. You’ll also need surgery (under deep sedation or general anaesthetic) to retrieve your eggs. Rest is very important.
- A live birth isn’t guaranteed. IVF is the most effective fertility treatment — but remember that the average chance of a live birth from an embryo transferred during IVF is 22%. [2,3]
- IVF is time consuming. Be prepared to free up your schedule. During ovarian stimulation, for example, you might need weekly or even daily tests to monitor your follicle development. Follicles are found inside your ovaries, and each has the potential to release an egg.
- Donor eggs or sperm could help. Age (as well as infections and other medical conditions) can cause our fertility to decline. Using donated eggs or sperm could improve your chances.
- Be prepared to change plans. Your treatment plan can change at any point until your embryo transfer, as your clinician may adapt your treatment in response to ongoing tests.
- IVF isn’t free for most people. NHS England only covered 24% of all IVF cycles in 2021. Everyone else paid privately, and costs vary significantly across clinics. [4]
Find the right clinic for you
Choosing a clinic is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. We’ll find the best options for you and arrange your pre-treatment tests, empowering you from this point onwards.
IVF: step-by-step
While every plan is tailored to your individual needs, most IVF journeys follow the same six core stages — from early testing to embryo transfer and the two-week wait. Here’s how it all works, step-by-step:
Step 1: Pretreatment
Time: Varies, but approx. 2 weeks
Location: Clinic
For females, or those assigned female at birth (AFAB), your clinic will run pre-treatment blood tests and ultrasound scans. These predict your body’s response to treatment and help to understand the number and quality of eggs available (this is known as your ovarian reserve). [5]
Tests include:
- Blood tests for Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). These are used to understand the number of eggs you have available.
- A pelvic scan, which involves an Antral Follicle Count (AFC). This looks at the number of immature follicles that can be matured (and develop eggs) in the IVF cycle — your ovarian reserve.
For men, or those assigned male at birth (AMAB), tests check the quantity and quality of sperm. This is measured as motility (movement) and morphology (shape). Depending on the results, you may need additional treatments, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSI).
Both partners undergo mandatory screening for blood-borne viruses, like HIV and hepatitis. [6]
Next, you’ll need a follow-up consultation with a doctor to discuss the results and prepare for your cycle. You’ll be given a treatment plan — or protocol — and a nurse will show you how to administer the medication.
Some clinics may also ask you to monitor your natural cycle before starting IVF. This involves regularly coming into the clinic for blood tests and ultrasounds throughout your normal cycle and can extend the process by a month.
Step 2: Ovarian stimulation
Time: 2-4 weeks
Location: Home, with in-clinic monitoring
Now it’s time to begin your treatment — or protocol.
Most protocols start on day 1-2 of your period, directly after your bleed. This is when you will begin ovarian stimulation. The process typically takes two weeks, during which you inject medication such as Gonadotrophin into your abdomen. This encourages follicles in your ovaries to grow and develop multiple eggs at the same rate. This is different to a natural cycle, where only a ‘lead’ follicle develops an egg, and increases your chances of conception.
The size of the follicle is how your doctor determines whether the egg is ready (since eggs are too small to assess otherwise). To monitor the development of your follicles, the doctor will use hormonal blood tests and a trans-vaginal ultrasound.
Sometimes, a protocol includes a period of hormonal down-regulation before you start stimulation. This involves using medication to first shut down your natural cycle. It typically starts at day 21 after your period, just after ovulation, and lasts a few weeks. Oral medication, such as Buserelin, is taken. When your bleed comes on day 1 of your next cycle, you will stop down-regulation and begin stimulation.
Step 3: Trigger shot and egg retrieval
Time: 36 hours
Location: Home and clinic
When follicles are the right size, your doctor will advise you to take your ‘trigger shot’. This is an injection containing hCG — a hormone that helps your follicles mature, and encourages them to release multiple eggs at the same time.
36 hours after the trigger shot, you will undergo a 15-30 minute surgery at your clinic to retrieve your eggs. On the same day as your egg retrieval, a sperm sample — whether from a partner or donor — is prepared.
Step 4: Embryology and uterus preparation
Time: 3-5 days
Location: Home and clinic
Following retrieval, your eggs are combined with the prepared sperm in a lab. Fertilisation occurs over the next few hours, and embryo culturing — where the egg cell begins to divide — occurs over the next 3-5 days.
During this time, your uterus lining will be prepared using progesterone you take at home, also called luteal support medication. This ensures your uterus is healthy and ready to receive an embryo.
Step 5: Transfer
Time: 20 minutes
Location: Clinic
Assuming multiple embryos survive, an embryologist will pick one to transfer to your uterus.
Transferring the embryo is a fairly quick procedure, and is usually done without anaesthetic. A catheter is inserted through the cervix, and an embryo is transferred through this into your uterus.
Step 6: The two week wait
Time: 2 weeks
Location: Home
After the transfer, your embryo will hopefully implant successfully into the lining of your uterus and continue to develop — leading to pregnancy. The ‘two week wait’ refers to the intensely stressful period before a pregnancy test can provide you with a reliable result.
Many clinics offer counselling, and some may suggest early monitoring to help you feel supported while you wait. Whatever happens, this phase deserves just as much care and compassion as the rest of the IVF process.
How long does IVF take?
Typical timeline: 6-9 weeks
This is based on a single round of IVF, from pre-treatment to taking a pregnancy test.
The length of your treatment can vary depending on the protocol used, and whether your doctor needs to carry out additional tests before starting the cycle. Many people also choose to take a break after their pretreatment testing, so IVF timelines vary from person-to-person.
Understanding IVF success rates
Like other fertility treatments, success rates are not the same for everyone. Age, the protocol you use, any underlying conditions, and the quality of care at your clinic all play a big factor.
However, the average live birth rate for IVF per embryo transferred, is 22%. [7]
But this number only tells part of the story. Age is one of the biggest influences, especially for those using their own eggs. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have. Unlike other cells in the body, like skin cells, eggs don’t regenerate. This means our eggs age like the rest of us, reducing the number and quality of eggs available over time.
This means that older women are likely to have fewer eggs collected, and the quality of these eggs is also likely to be lower. Lower quality eggs often show lower rates of fertilisation and development, and the chance of successful pregnancy using them is also smaller.
Here’s a breakdown of success rates based on age: [8]
But it’s not just women who experience an age-related decline in fertility.
Emerging research shows age affects sperm. Men over 30 are more likely to have decreased sperm motility compared to younger men, and men over 40 are more likely to have lower sperm counts. [9]
There’s also mounting evidence that sperm quality has been declining generally over recent generations. The exact cause is unknown, but thought to be caused by greater levels of pollutants and changing diets. [10,11]
What happens after my IVF cycle?
Life after an IVF cycle looks different for everyone.
If your cycle was unsuccessful, we know how heartbreaking that can be. Many people may feel the need to take a break before trying another cycle, while some go straight back into planning. Your clinic should provide follow up appointments and counselling sessions to help support you.
IVF can be a lonely process — and multiple cycles can make it even more isolating. Whilst your clinic can offer excellent support along the way, connecting with the fertility community online or in offline groups can offer invaluable friendship, connection and support.
What are the risks of IVF?
IVF has come a long way since it began in 1978 — with over 12 million babies born worldwide thanks to this treatment. And while it’s generally considered safe, it’s important to be aware of the risks involved. [12]
- Mental wellbeing: From medication side effects to money worries and uncertain outcomes, undergoing IVF can have a big impact on your mental health. It’s important you have appropriate support throughout your treatment journey.
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). OHSS occurs when your ovaries become overactive in response to hormonal medication, and start releasing their own chemicals. However, this is rare and, if it does occur, can usually be treated at home. In rare cases, it can lead to hospitalisation and pregnancy complications.
- Surgical risk. As with any surgical procedure, egg retrieval surgery carries a small risk of infection and complications. So, too, does the embryo transfer, as it involves inserting a catheter through the cervix and into the uterus — although it is far less invasive.
- Multiple pregnancy: Very occasionally during the embryo transfer stage, two embryos, rather than one, will be transferred. While this is often done when a doctor believes there is a low chance of pregnancy, multiple embryo transfers can sometimes lead to multiple pregnancies. Policies like the HFEA’s 2007 One at a Time campaign have helped reduce this risk in the UK.
Is IVF available on the NHS?
Yes, IVF is available on the NHS, however, to access treatment you must be eligible based on the criteria in your local area. Unfortunately, this criteria (as well as the number of treatment cycles you can receive), can vary a lot depending on where you live. This is known as the NHS Postcode Lottery. Overall, in the UK, this means that only 37% of IVF patients used NHS funding in 2021. [13]
Each local area (known as an Integrated Care Board or ICB) sets its own eligibility rules, which means access can vary widely across the UK. Some areas offer multiple funded cycles, while others may only offer one — or none at all. Criteria often include things like age, whether you’ve had children already, and how long you’ve been trying to conceive.
Your NHS Eligibility
Use our NHS IVF Eligibility Calculator to discover if you can access free IVF and IUI.
How much does IVF cost?
If you aren’t eligible for treatment under the NHS, you’ll need to fund your IVF privately.
The average advertised cost of an IVF package in the UK is £4,090 per cycle, but it varies considerably from clinic to clinic — so it’s important to do your research. And beware: this price usually doesn’t include the cost of preliminary tests, in-treatment blood tests, medication, or the storage and transfer of any additional frozen embryos.
That’s where Fertility Mapper can help. We break down pricing for every clinic on our roster, so you can see exactly what’s included — and what isn’t — before you commit.
Want to compare your options? Head to our IVF cost and funding guide or start browsing clinics with full transparency on what you’ll pay and what you’ll get.
Where can I find an IVF clinic?
Head to our Find a Clinic page, where you can search clinics by locations around the UK. It’s a great place to start comparing clinics; each one has a unique score based on the experiences of our community, detailed reviews and transparent data on costs and outcomes.
Using our Matching Tool is a much more targeted and bespoke approach to finding an IVF clinic. Here, you can filter clinics by an extensive range of criteria, based on your unique medical and financial needs, and create a list of favourite clinics to come back to. You can also speak to clinics at no extra cost, for better comparison before deciding on the clinic that’s right for you.
Already have an account with us? Log in and pick up where you left off to find your IVF clinic.
I’ve had IVF and it didn’t work – what next?
What you choose to do next depends on a few factors, including which (and it could be both, or neither) partner has an identifiable factor affecting fertility, your age, budget, and how long you’ve been trying to conceive. We’ve listed a few potential onward paths below, though it’s always worth remembering that yours will be entirely unique to you.
- Trying again: For those who have just finished their first cycle of treatment, moving on to the next one when you feel ready might be the answer — according to the HFEA, the average fertility patient undergoes three embryo transfers. [14]
- Further testing: Ahead of the next cycle of IVF, some people may want to have further investigations to check for potential underlying fertility conditions — this is a path that your clinic is best placed to advise you on. For example:
- If it’s advisable to try to improve sperm quality before your next cycle, an Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) might be suggested as an add-on to IVF, alongside lifestyle changes to improve sperm quality.
- If you have endometriosis, your doctors may adjust the plan to shift your hormone levels; or offer treatments like laparoscopy to remove some of the endometriosis.
- In a same sex female couple using Shared Motherhood/IVF, the alternate partner may try carrying the embryo or retrieving eggs on the next cycle.
- Or, if there were implantation issues in your first cycle, you might benefit from immunological testing and treatment, and add-ons (additional treatments that might be beneficial to those with specific health needs) like an Endometrial Scratch. The efficacy of these add-ons is limited — you can refer to the HFEA’s traffic light system for further research insights, before making any decisions.
- Changing your approach: You may want to explore other options at this stage, such as donor conception or alternative approaches to building a family, like surrogacy or adoption. Whether these are the best options for you will be an entirely personal decision.
- Taking a break — or choosing to stop: Taking a break or bringing your fertility treatment to an end might be the right path for you. Many of you will be on this road for years, from first starting out, to navigating the healthcare system, waiting for answers, seeking treatment, going through multiple rounds and trying various options. Many people benefit from a break between stages to recover physically and emotionally; and if the time is right for you to decide to stop completely, there are specific support systems that you can put in place.
A member of our community who ended 10 years of TTC, including cycles of IVF, in 2024 shared the following advice:
“Take a break anytime you feel you need to, especially after any setbacks. Don’t forget how important YOU are. Find your tribe, including UK based fertility podcasts and Instagram accounts, go to meet ups including those run by national charities. You will make friends for life. Allow others to hold the hope on those days that you don’t have any. One day at a time.”
– Clare, 42, Surrey
How does IVF compare to other treatments?
Choosing the right fertility treatment can feel confusing — especially when options like IUI, IVF, and donor conception each come with their own pros, costs, and chances of success. So we’ve broken down the essentials of each treatment to help you make the decision that’s right for you:
Find the right IVF clinic for you
Choosing a fertility clinic is a big decision – and we’ve made it clearer.
Summary
IVF is one of the most popular and effective forms of assisted reproductive treatment, with approximately 77,000 cycles carried out every year. It’s allowed many people to become parents who might not have been able to otherwise. [15]
But it’s also important to remember that IVF doesn’t work for everyone, and that factors like our age can significantly affect the outcome. There are risks involved, and IVF isn’t easy, either, for many people to access. From the NHS Postcode Lottery to the high costs of private treatment, it pays to do your research — and that’s what Fertility Mapper is here to help you with.
If you’re ready to look into clinics, start with our Find a Clinic tool or get tailored recommendations with our Clinic Matching Tool. Wherever you’re heading next, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
IVF FAQs
Can you get pregnant during IVF?
Technically, yes. If you’re having unprotected sex before egg collection, there’s a small chance of natural conception, especially if ovulation happens earlier than expected. That’s why many clinics recommend using protection or abstaining during certain parts of your cycle. [16]
But it’s not recommended to get pregnant naturally if you’re going through an IVF cycle. Once you’ve started stimulation medication and your ovaries are producing more eggs than usual, the chance of an unplanned pregnancy increases — but so do the risks. An unexpected pregnancy at this stage may complicate your treatment and isn’t considered safe. It’s always best to follow your clinic’s guidance closely — they’ll let you know what’s recommended for your protocol and why.
Are IVF babies normal?
Yes — babies born through IVF are just as healthy, loved, and “normal” as those conceived without medical help. The path to parenthood might look different, but once they’re here, IVF babies hit the same milestones and feel the same emotions as any other child. There are some small differences in birth outcomes that research continues to explore, but for the vast majority of families, IVF babies grow up just like their peers. [17,18]
Sources
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/about/pac-20384716
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/#section-9
- https://www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Ovarian.Reserve.pdf
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-clinic/preparing-for-your-clinic-appointment/
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6993171/
- https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/2/157/6824414?login=false
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32168194/
- https://www.focusonreproduction.eu/article/ESHRE-News-COP23_adamson
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/#section-9
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2018-trends-and-figures/
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/key-facts-and-statistics
- https://www.gatesheadhealth.nhs.uk/resources/ivf-booklet/
- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/most-differences-dna-binding-compounds-found-birth-children-conceived-ivf-not-seen-early-childhood
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9773093/