How Long Does IVF Take? An Overview of the IVF Process (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does IVF Take? An Overview of the IVF Process? ›

An IVF cycle typically takes around 6-8 weeks. The process includes an initial consultation, ovarian stimulation that lasts 8-14 days, egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo transfer, and a pregnancy test. The embryo transfer and pregnancy test are typically performed 5 days after fertilisation.

While the IVF cycle itself only takes around 4 weeks, the full process (including your preconception health regimen and fertility testing) can take up to 4 months, from your initial consultation to when you have your first beta hCG test to see if you're pregnant.

IVF is a complicated process with many steps. On average, you can expect the process to last four to six weeks. This includes the time before egg retrieval, when a person takes fertility medication until they're tested for pregnancy.

The embryo transfer itself is very similar to a pap smear, and is a short procedure, often lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. Your reproductive doctor will insert a speculum into the woman's vagin* with ultrasound for accuracy during this procedure.

Ideally you want to give yourself a minimum of 3-6 months to start preparing your body for the IVF cycle however, even if you have less time than this, any preparation is better than nothing so do what you can with however much time you have.

Starting your IVF cycle can vary depending on when the treatment plan is confirmed and when your period begins. From Day 1 of your period, each IVF treatment cycle takes around four to six weeks. While the length of each IVF step can vary, below is an example of a standard IVF treatment cycle timeline.

The IVF process and its timeline can be different for individuals as no two cases are similar and may require a specialized approach. Although each cycle can be a little bit different, the in vitro fertilization or IVF process usually lasts between 2 to 6 weeks.

Generally, after obtaining approval for funding, patients might wait about three to four months to start IVF treatment.

Depending on the area you live in, couples eligible for NHS funding can wait between a few months and up to three years to start fertility treatment. The main reason for long waiting times are the limited resources available to the NHS. In addition to this, all NHS patients must follow a specific pathway for treatment.

In addition, you will need prescription fertility medications for several steps in the process and genetic testing for the embryos. Most of your medication costs will come during the ovarian stimulation phase. The total cost for one IVF cycle can range from $15,000 to $30,000, according to Forbes.

What to avoid during IVF injections? ›

An IVF pregnancy due date is an estimated due date for your baby's arrival if you conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF). It's based on your IVF embryo transfer date. Most embryo transfers happen either three days or five days after egg retrieval and fertilization, using your own fresh or frozen embryos.

After the embryo transfer, it's wise to avoid any activities that might strain the pelvic area, including pushing during a bowel movement. Wait for about 5 hours before trying to have a bowel movement.

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.

You may need more than one cycle of treatment

If you are starting fertility treatment, it is very important to think that you are starting a course of treatment, not just individual treatment cycles. This allows you to mentally prepare for the chance that you may need multiple treatments.

The 10-14 day waiting period between transfer and receiving the pregnancy test results is often described as the most difficult part of the cycle. Having had daily contact with your medical support staff during monitoring and retrieval, you suddenly are on your own after transfer and just have to wait.

Prior authorization must be obtained from your insurance company before beginning an IVF Cycle. Prior authorization can take up to 15 business days to be approved or denied. You will not be able to start IVF treatment (medications) without a prior authorization in place.