IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation

An introduction to IVF

Simply put, the IVF process takes eggs and sperm and combines them in a culture dish in a lab. If the natural process occurs and they fertilise, an embryo will form. We take the tiny embryo (0.2 mm) and insert it into the uterus. If it grows and develops, you’ll take your baby home nine months later.

So, how do we get there?

• We stimulate your ovaries to help your body produce eggs it has created naturally. This involves a series of injections or medications. They’re easy to manage; our friendly nurses will walk you through the process and we have additional resources to guide you at home.
• We remove those eggs in a simple day procedure called the egg collection or egg retrieval with our experienced Monash IVF Clinicians.
• Your partner provides our laboratory with a sample of his sperm, or we prepare the donor sample in the laboratory. The laboratory will prepare the samples to collect the most viable sperm from the sample for combining with your eggs.
• Our expert scientists combine and culture the eggs and sperm in our lab. Our goal is to create as many embryos as possible—the more embryos you have, the greater the chance of some being viable for use
• If the eggs fertilise, they become embryos and we’ll grow them for five days to the blastocyst stage. At this point, you’ll come back in to have the embryo/s transferred into your uterus.
• If you have additional embryos considered to be viable, we will freeze them for you to use in another cycle if needed.
• You’ll have a two-week wait while we see if the embryo ‘takes’. It’s best to keep busy during this time if you can. Our counsellors are here for you if you need to talk.
• At this time we will get you to do a blood test to see if you’re pregnant.

Please remember, our approachable team are here for you throughout your treatment. They make sure you understand each step of the process, and that you have the information and support you need.

Will I need IVF?

That depends. Your fertility specialist will get to know your medical history and individual circumstances.

Some common reasons why they may recommend IVF include if you have:

• blocked fallopian tubes
• fallopian tube damage/tubal factor/tubal ligation
• male infertility relating to sperm quality or quantity
• endometriosis
• uterine fibroids
• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• advanced maternal age, making it less likely to conceive naturally
• unexplained infertility
• recurring miscarriage
• potential genetic issues where embryo screening may help

Our approachable team are here for you throughout your treatment. They make sure you understand each step of the process, and that you have the information and support you need.

Click here to discover more about the IVF process.