How long does IVF treatment take?

In vitro fertilisation is not a single treatment but in fact an assisted reproduction technique made up of several procedures that function both individually, and jointly, to achieve the desired treatment result.

Bear in mind that depending on the selected treatment, there are phases which may not be required, some of these steps are common and others not:

• Initial ultrasound and diagnostic tests. Ultrasound is performed before starting any assisted reproduction treatment to assess the condition of the woman’s uterus and her ovarian reserve.
• Ovarian stimulation. This consists of hormonal treatment to enable all the recruited ovarian follicles to grow that month and therefore obtain a greater number of eggs.
• Follicular aspiration. The gynaecologist uses transvaginal ultrasound to identify the most appropriate day to extract the woman’s eggs. There is a period of about 12-13 days from the start of ovarian stimulation until follicular aspiration.
• IV fertilisation and Embryo culture: Once the eggs are extracted and the semen specimen prepared, in vitro fertilisation is carried out, the fertilised eggs will then develop into embryos. Depending on their development and each couple’s situation, the team will decide on the best day to perform the embryo transfer.
• Embryo transfer: For the embryo transfer, the stage of the embryo or embryos must coincide with the optimal stage of the woman’s endometrium. The embryos are selected for transfer on day 3 or day 5 of culture, depending on several factors. 1 or 2 embryos will be selected, depending on the case.

The transfer can be done in the same cycle with fresh embryos or, if required, all optimal embryos can be frozen and transferred after the next menstrual cycle, following further preparation of the endometrium.

After embryo transfer, 12-15 days must pass before the woman can find out if she is pregnant.

Sources: HC Fertility Center