An Introduction to IVF

Monash IVF tip: It can take more than one cycle to get that positive pregnancy result. It’s no one’s fault. Try to stay positive, and reach out to our counsellors if you need someone to talk to.

IVF is about taking eggs and sperm, putting them together in a lab and letting the natural process happen. If they fertilise, an embryo will form. The tiny embryo (0.1 mm) is then inserted into the uterus. If it grows and develops, you’ll take your baby home 9 months later. So, how do we get there?

• We stimulate your ovaries to help your body to produce eggs it has created naturally. This might involve a series of injections which are easy to manage
• We remove those eggs in a day procedure called the egg collection or egg retrieval
• Within the same day, your partner will provide us a sample of his sperm, or we prepare the donor sample in the laboratory
• Our expert scientists mix the eggs and sperm in the lab. We try to create as many embryos as we can to give you the best chance of healthy embryos
• If the embryo/s fertilise, you will be back about 5 days later to have the embryo/s transferred into your uterus
• Any extra little embryos are frozen and can be used for another cycle
• You’ll have a 2-week wait while we see if the embryo takes
• We do a blood test to see if you’re pregnant

Our team makes sure you understand what’s going on and why, and have the support you need through your treatment.

Monash IVF Smart Science: The eggs stimulated to grow would have grown or died during your natural cycle that month. The stimulation mimics your body’s natural processes. It doesn't affect future egg supply or lead to premature menopause.