The IVF process: What happens next?

So, you’ve been trying to get pregnant for over two years, and your doctor has already guided you through some fertility tests. After reviewing the results, they’ve now recommended the next step: in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). 

But you might be wondering – what exactly is IVF? What does it involve, and why has it been recommended to you? Well, don’t worry – we’re here to help guide you through it. 

What is IVF?

IVF stands for ‘in vitro fertilisation’ – a technique that many people facing fertility issues use to help start or grow their family. 

During the IVF process, you will receive a series of injections to help stimulate your ovaries and encourage your body to produce more eggs. 

Once your eggs have had a chance to mature, a fertility specialist will collect them and fertilise them with sperm (either from your partner or a donor) in a laboratory. 

After fertilisation, one of your eggs – now called an embryo – will be transferred back into your womb, where it will have a chance to grow and develop into a baby. 

Who is IVF for?

While some people are able to get pregnant without any issues, the journey to having a baby isn’t always plain sailing, and sometimes you need a helping hand to make your dream a reality. This is where IVF can make all the difference. 

IVF can help people with various fertility challenges to have children. For instance, it can be particularly beneficial for people with fertility-related issues such as: 

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis
• Low sperm count, abnormal sperm shape or reduced motility
• Having your ovaries removed
• Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)
• Other unexplained fertility issues

Many people, including male same-sex couples and people who don’t have ovaries, also use IVF to conceive using donor eggs or sperm. 

Whatever your reason for considering IVF, it is ultimately designed to give people an opportunity to achieve their dream of having a baby.

How much does IVF cost? 

Each fertility journey is unique, and the treatment you’ll receive will be completely tailored to you. For this reason, it can be difficult to predict the exact cost upfront. 

However, when you make an appointment with us, we’ll assess your fertility and provide you with a detailed quote that breaks down everything involved. 

We’ve also partnered with Access Fertility to offer various packages, helping you find a payment plan that works for your financial needs. You can learn more about how much IVF costs in our handy blog post. 

Understanding IVF: a step-by-step guide

The IVF process involves several steps, so it’s important to understand what to expect in advance of your treatment. 

If you’re more of a visual learner, we’ve got you covered. You can watch our short video to see the whole treatment pathway and hear real stories from some of our previous patients: 

Alternatively, keep reading to discover more information on each step of the process.

Step 1: Initial consultation

After first getting in touch with us, a member of our team will set up an initial consultation for you. This will take place with one of our highly experienced fertility consultants, who will analyse the results of any previous tests, assess your medical history, talk through your treatment options and prepare a personalised treatment plan.

During your consultation, we may also perform additional fertility tests, including blood tests to check your hormone levels, a semen analysis to look at sperm health and an ultrasound scan of your pelvis. These tests give us a more complete overview of your current fertility health and help us understand what you’re looking to achieve.

Step 2: Ovarian stimulation and monitoring 

Once you’re deemed to be a suitable candidate for IVF, you’ll receive medication to help increase the number of eggs your body produces. 

While your body naturally releases just one egg per month, having more eggs available during IVF can give you the best possible chance of becoming pregnant. 

The medication we provide will initially pause your natural cycle before stimulating your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. We’ll then keep a close eye on the total number of developing eggs using various ultrasound scans.

Step 3: Egg collection and fertilisation in the lab 

Once your eggs have developed and are ready for retrieval, one of our fertility specialists will collect them by inserting a thin needle into your ovaries. 

In our laboratory, the eggs will be combined with a sperm sample to encourage fertilisation. Any resulting embryos will be kept in an incubator for up to five days, where we’ll carefully monitor their growth.

Step 4: Embryo transfer 

When your embryos are ready to be transferred back into your womb, we’ll carefully select the best-quality embryo to give you the best possible chance of success. Any other high-quality embryos can then be frozen, giving you the option to use them for future IVF cycles or if you’d like to grow your family later on.

After the transfer, you’ll need to wait two weeks to see whether the treatment has worked.

Step 5: Take a pregnancy test 

And here it is – the moment of truth! After what will probably feel like the longest two weeks of your life, it will be time to take a pregnancy test to find out whether you’re pregnant. 

If your test is positive, we’ll invite you to visit us a few weeks later to confirm what’s known as a ‘clinical pregnancy’. This is simply to check whether the embryo has successfully implanted into the lining of your womb and is developing into a foetus as expected. 

Why choose Bourn Hall for IVF

Finding the right clinic for your fertility needs is crucial. By joining us as a patient, you’ll receive access to a whole host of benefits, including: 

• Free, expert-led consultations with fertility specialists
• Excellent IVF success rates – higher than the national average
• Personalised IVF care and support 
• Flexible and affordable IVF fee and funding options

Learn more about our IVF success rates

At Bourn Hall, we are very proud of the IVF success rates we achieve. Back in 2021, 56% of our patients aged under 37 achieved a pregnancy after undergoing IVF with ICSI with a blastocyst (5-day embryo) transfer. This rate is higher than the national average.

While your own chances of success will vary depending on your age, medical history and test results, we can provide you with personalised advice and support to help you achieve your dream of becoming a parent.
If you’re looking to turn your dreams of starting a family into a reality, or if you’d simply like further information, get in touch. At Bourn Hall, support is always available, and we’re happy to help in whatever way you need.