Treatment guide
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Eggs are retrieved, fertilized in a laboratory, and one resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus.
Written and reviewed by the MyBabyBridge editorial team · Last reviewed · 4 sources · General information, not medical advice. Our editorial standards
What it is
IVF is the most involved and most effective assisted reproductive treatment. The ovaries are stimulated with injectable medication to mature many eggs at once, the eggs are collected in a short procedure under sedation, they are fertilized in the laboratory, the resulting embryos are grown for several days, and one is placed in the uterus. Any additional embryos can be frozen for later transfers.
Who it is usually for
Commonly considered for blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, significant male-factor infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, endometriosis, unexplained infertility after other treatments, when genetic testing of embryos is planned, or when donor eggs or a gestational carrier are involved.
Unfamiliar term? See the fertility glossary.
What happens, step by step
- Step 1
Ovarian stimulation
Roughly 8 to 14 days of daily injections to mature multiple follicles, with ultrasound and bloodwork every one to three days to adjust dosing and time the trigger.
- Step 2
Trigger and retrieval
A timed trigger injection matures the eggs. Retrieval is a transvaginal ultrasound-guided procedure under sedation, usually 20 to 30 minutes, about 36 hours later.
- Step 3
Fertilization
Eggs are fertilized in the laboratory, either by conventional insemination or by ICSI, in which a single sperm is injected into each mature egg.
- Step 4
Embryo culture
Embryos are grown for roughly five to six days to the blastocyst stage. Not every fertilized egg reaches this point, and attrition at this step is normal.
- Step 5
Transfer
A single embryo is usually placed in the uterus through a thin catheter, without anesthesia. Remaining viable embryos are frozen.
- Step 6
The wait and the test
A blood pregnancy test roughly nine to twelve days after transfer. Home tests before then are unreliable because of the trigger medication.
Time and cost
How long it takes
One cycle typically spans four to six weeks from the start of medication to the pregnancy test, though preparation, testing, and scheduling often add a month or more before that.
What it typically costs
Cleveland Clinic puts the average US cycle at about $15,000 before medication, with medication adding roughly $5,000 per cycle. Genetic testing, freezing, storage, and anesthesia are often billed separately.
Prices vary widely by clinic and region. Get an itemised estimate in writing — see the IVF cost guide.
Risks and limits
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which is uncommon in severe form with modern protocols
- Discomfort, bloating, and mood effects from stimulation medication
- Procedural risks of retrieval, including bleeding and infection, which are rare
- Multiple pregnancy if more than one embryo is transferred
- Cycle cancellation before retrieval, or a retrieval that yields no usable embryo
- The emotional and financial weight of a failed cycle
What to ask your clinic
- What is your live birth rate per cycle started for patients my age with my diagnosis?
- What proportion of your cycles are cancelled before retrieval?
- Is single-embryo transfer your default?
- Who performs the retrieval and who runs the laboratory?
- What is included in the quoted price, and what is billed separately?
- What happens to the cost if the cycle is cancelled?
- What are the annual storage fees, and what happens to embryos if I stop paying?
Ask for the answers in writing, alongside itemised costs.
Sources
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — Cleveland Clinic
- Assisted Reproductive Technology — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Practice Guidance and Committee Opinions — American Society for Reproductive Medicine
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance and Success Rates — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Thinking about In vitro fertilization (IVF)?
Tell us where you are. We will review it and reply by email with general next-step information.