IVF is a type of fertility treatment where fertilisation takes place outside the body. It’s suitable for people with a wide range of fertility issues and is one of the most commonly used and successful treatments available for many people. This page introduces you to how IVF works, the risks and success rates.
What is IVF?
IVF is a common treatment for people who are unable to conceive naturally
Usually in IVF, the woman has medicines (fertility hormones) to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs. The eggs are then collected and mixed with sperm in a laboratory.
IVF is carried out when the sperm quality is considered to be ‘normal’ If there are issues with the sperm quality such as low motility or numbers, a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may instead be used – this is where a single sperm is injected into the egg by an embryologist
If fertilisation is successful, the embryos are allowed to develop for between two and six days. This helps the embryologist to the strongest embryo, which is then transferred back to the woman’s womb to hopefully continue to a successful birth.
Often several good quality embryos will be d. In these cases, it''s normally best practice to freeze the remaining embryos because putting two embryos back in the womb increases your chance of having twins or triplets, which carries health risks. You can use your frozen embryos later on if your first cycle is unsuccessful or you want to try for another baby.
Who might be recommended to have IVF?
Women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.
People with unexplained fertility problems, or who have tried other treatments that were unsuccessful.
Men with low sperm counts or who have high numbers of sperm with an abnormal shape or movement. Where these problems are serious an additional procedure (intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI) may be necessary.
Women who have difficulty with ovulation and who haven’t been successful with other treatments.
Older women who are less likely to be successful with less invasive treatments.
People using surrogacy.
How safe is IVF?
IVF is generally very safe and most who have it experience no problems with their health or pregnancy. However, there are some risks to be aware of, which include:
ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome(a severe reaction to fertility drugs)
having a multiple pregnancy or birth (twins, triplets or more), which can cause serious health problems to both mum and babies
having an ectopic pregnancy
possible birth defects (these are rare and research is still ongoing).
It’s very important you understand all the risks of IVF and know when to spot the symptoms of something serious.
How long does IVF take?
Before you have IVF, you’ll need various appointments with you doctor and/or tests and investigations, so be prepared for it to take some time. It’s not something to take lightly, so take your time to think things through, ask questions and make sure you’re clear on what’s involved and what to expect.
IVF is referred to as a ‘cycle’ of treatment as it involves a number of stages: suppressing natural hormone production, hormone treatment to boost egg supply, egg collection, mixing the eggs and sperm and finally, embryo transfer (more information on the process below). How long it takes depends on your recommended treatment.
For most people, one cycle of IVF will take between four and six weeks. However, for medical reasons some women won’t have the first stage of treatment (suppressing hormone production) which brings their treatment time down to around three weeks. Your doctor will advise you on the most appropriate treatment for you.
How successful is IVF?
As with all fertility treatments, how successful IVF will be depends on the woman’s age and the cause of infertility.
What can I do to boost my chances of successful IVF?
Lifestyle factors can affect your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. Making small changes may boost your chances of success.
