Reciprocal IVF

The first stage of Reciprocal IVF is for the partner providing the eggs to take fertility medication, usually as injections, to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple follicles. Each follicle may contain an egg. During this stage, you will attend monitoring appointments, including ultrasound scans and sometimes blood tests, so we can carefully track response and time treatment.

When the follicles are ready, a trigger injection is given, and an egg collection is planned for 36.5 hours later at the clinic. If you would like a clearer picture of fertility before treatment begins, our fertility tests for women can help guide the next steps for both partners.

Egg retrieval is a short theatre procedure carried out under light sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, the fluid from each follicle in the ovaries is collected and sent directly to the laboratory for the embryology team to examine for eggs. You will receive pain relief, and you should not experience excessive pain during the procedure. Before you go home, we will let you know how many eggs were collected, explain what happens next in the laboratory, and talk you through recovery and aftercare clearly.

While the egg retrieval is taking place, your chosen donor sperm sample is prepared for use in the laboratory. The eggs are fertilised via IVF, and the embryos are then monitored as they develop. They are usually cultured to day 5 or 6, known as the blastocyst stage, before being frozen for later use. Many couples choose a donor with characteristics similar to the partner who is not genetically connected to the embryos, but that decision is completely personal.

The partner who will carry the pregnancy then begins preparation for transfer. This usually involves medication to help build the uterine lining so it is ready for implantation. We will monitor the lining with ultrasound scans and carefully plan the timing of the transfer. Because this stage happens separately from egg collection, it gives us time to create the most suitable conditions for the partner carrying the pregnancy.

In reciprocal IVF, we always use frozen embryo transfer rather than a fresh transfer. The embryo is placed into the uterus using a fine catheter in a short, straightforward procedure that does not require anaesthesia. Planning the transfer this way provides greater clarity and allows us to focus on carefully preparing the body. It also provides a smoother pathway for both partners, with each stage occurring at the right time. After your frozen embryo transfer, you will attend the clinic about 10 days later for a blood test to check if you are pregnant.