When IVF is recommended

• 1

  Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes

  When the tubes can't allow natural fertilization, IVF bypasses this entirely by fertilizing eggs outside the body.

• 2

  Moderate to severe male factor infertility

  Low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology can make natural conception, or even IUI, unlikely to succeed.

• 3

  Diminished ovarian reserve

  When egg quantity is lower than expected for age, IVF allows retrieval and fertilization of the eggs that are available, maximizing the chance from each cycle.

• 4

  Endometriosis

  Moderate to severe endometriosis can affect egg quality and implantation; IVF is often recommended when less intensive treatment hasn't been successful.

• 5

  Unexplained infertility or failed IUI

  When no clear cause is found, or three or more IUI cycles haven't resulted in pregnancy, IVF offers a higher per-cycle chance.

The IVF process, step by step

• 1

  Fertility evaluation

  A thorough assessment of both partners to identify the specific factors involved, before deciding on a stimulation protocol.

• 2

  Ovarian stimulation

  Hormonal medication encourages the ovaries to develop multiple eggs, monitored through blood tests and ultrasound over roughly 10–14 days.

• 3

  Egg retrieval (Ovum Pick-Up)

  A minor procedure performed under sedation, guided by ultrasound.

• 4

  Fertilization

  Eggs are combined with sperm in the laboratory, either through conventional IVF or ICSI depending on the case.

• 5

  Embryo culture

  Fertilized eggs develop in the lab for several days, typically to the blastocyst stage, with growth monitored daily.

• 6

  Embryo transfer

  A selected embryo is placed into the uterus, either fresh or in a subsequent frozen cycle.

What to expect, timeline-wise

A full IVF cycle, from the start of stimulation to embryo transfer, typically spans four to six weeks. Where a frozen embryo transfer is planned instead of a fresh one — often recommended to let the body recover from stimulation, or to allow time for additional testing — the transfer itself happens in a separate, later cycle.

What determines IVF success

Several factors influence the likelihood of success with any given cycle:

• Age and ovarian reserve — egg quantity and quality both decline with age, directly affecting response to stimulation and embryo development.
• The underlying cause of infertility — some causes, like blocked tubes, don't affect egg or embryo quality; others, like diminished ovarian reserve, do.
• Embryo quality — shaped by fertilization method, lab conditions, and how embryos develop over the culture period.
• Uterine receptivity — whether the uterine lining is properly prepared to receive the embryo at the time of transfer.

IVF safety & what to expect during pregnancy

Many patients considering IVF have questions about the safety of the process itself, not just whether it will work. An IVF pregnancy is generally considered stable once a fetal heartbeat is confirmed via ultrasound, typically around 6–7 weeks. After the first trimester, most IVF pregnancies are monitored similarly to natural pregnancies, though your doctor may recommend additional monitoring based on your specific history. The overall risk of birth defects in babies conceived through IVF is low, and broadly comparable to naturally conceived pregnancies.