IVF

The first stage of the IVF process is ovarian stimulation. Fertility medication, usually given as injections, encourages the ovaries to produce multiple follicles, each of which may contain an egg. You will attend monitoring appointments, including ultrasound scans and sometimes blood tests, so we can carefully track your response and the timing of 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.

Egg retrieval is a minor theatre procedure carried out under conscious sedation. During this stage of IVF treatment, an ultrasound probe guides a fine needle through the vaginal wall into the ovaries. You will receive pain relief, and you should not experience excessive pain during the procedure. Fluid is gently collected from each follicle and passed to the laboratory, where the embryology team checks for eggs. Before you go home, we will let you know how many eggs were collected. Our team will explain the procedure, recovery, and aftercare clearly, helping you feel prepared and supported.

Once eggs are collected, the sperm sample is prepared in the laboratory. In IVF, eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish so fertilisation can happen outside the body. Fertilised eggs are checked the next day, and embryos are cultured, usually to day 5 or 6, in our Embryoscope time-lapse incubator at no additional cost. Suitable embryos may be transferred or frozen for future use through a frozen embryo transfer.

Embryo transfer is the placement of an embryo into the uterus using a fine catheter. It is usually a short, straightforward procedure. In some IVF cycles, a fresh embryo transfer happens 5 or 6 days after egg collection. In others, freezing all embryos and planning a frozen transfer later may offer safer or more suitable conditions. This decision is always based on your individual response, safety, and treatment plan. After your embryo transfer, you will attend the clinic about 10 days later for a blood test to check if you are pregnant.