Breaking Down The IVF Process

1.    Ovarian Suppression

Not all women require this step, but if recommended by your doctor, medication will be used to replace your natural cycle with an artificial cycle. This allows it to be more "controllable" for the next steps.

2.    Ovarian Stimulation

This stage is also called superovulation. Your ovaries usually produce and release a single egg per cycle. To conceive using IVF, more eggs are usually needed. Medications are given to stimulate the production of several ovarian follicles to help retrieve more eggs.

3.   Egg Maturation

When the follicles are ready (large enough and hormone levels are adequate), you're given an injection to stimulate egg maturation and ovulation (release). This injection is given into a muscle (e.g., your arm).

4.    Egg Retrieval

Using an ultrasound to guide them, your doctor retrieves the eggs. This is done through your vagina (transvaginally). Your doctor will insert a needle, attached to the ultrasound probe, into each follicle and withdraw fluid from each of them. You're given IV sedation to help ensure you're comfortable. Once this procedure is complete, you are told how many eggs were retrieved.

On that same day, those eggs are fertilized with sperm in our laboratory to create an embryo, which is prepared for implantation once matured. The embryo maturation process usually takes about 5 days. At this point, the embryo can either be frozen for later use, or implanted right away (fresh).

5.    Embryo Transfer

The best (most viable) embryo (or embryos) are chosen and transferred into your or your surrogate's uterus. A blood test is done 12 days after implantation to confirm if it was successful. No matter the outcome, we will continue to support you in the ways you need most.