# In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) > Citation bundle for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) on The Treatment Registry. > URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/ivf > Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/ivf - Category: ivf-fertility - Average recovery: 3 days - Typical sessions: 1 - Price range (USD international): $3,000–$12,000 ## Description IVF involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving those eggs, fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory, and transferring resulting embryos to the uterus. A single cycle typically spans 4-6 weeks. Success rates vary significantly by age, clinic, and protocol used. ## Overview A standard IVF cycle begins with ovarian stimulation using injectable gonadotrophins over eight to fourteen days, during which the ovarian response is monitored by serial transvaginal ultrasound and serum oestradiol measurements. When follicles reach an appropriate size, a trigger injection is administered and egg retrieval is performed thirty-four to thirty-six hours later under sedation or light general anaesthesia. Retrieved oocytes are fertilised with prepared sperm in the laboratory, either by conventional insemination or by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Resulting embryos are cultured for three to five days before assessment. In a fresh transfer cycle, one or two embryos are transferred to the uterus approximately two to five days after retrieval. In a freeze-all strategy — preferred in cases of OHSS risk or for preimplantation genetic testing — all viable embryos are cryopreserved for transfer in a subsequent prepared cycle. A urine or blood pregnancy test is performed approximately two weeks after transfer. Unsuccessful cycles or supernumerary embryos may be frozen for future use. Candidacy depends on ovarian reserve (assessed by antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone level), uterine anatomy, and the cause of infertility. Age is a strong independent predictor of outcome: published live birth rates per transfer in women under thirty-five typically exceed forty per cent in well-performing units, falling substantially with advancing age. Donor egg cycles, using oocytes from a younger donor, significantly improve outcomes for women with diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency. ## Peer-reviewed outcome rates - **Complication rate:** 5.00% (range 2.00–10.00%) — from 1 cited source ## Common risks - Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) - Multiple pregnancy if more than one embryo is transferred - Ectopic pregnancy - Emotional and psychological stress - Failed cycle (no viable embryos or failed implantation) - Injection site reactions from hormonal medications ## FAQs ### What is the success rate of IVF? Success rates vary considerably with age and clinic quality. In women under thirty-five, live birth rates per transfer at well-performing units typically exceed forty per cent. Rates decline progressively with age, falling to around fifteen to twenty per cent for women aged forty to forty-two using their own eggs. ### How many embryos should be transferred? Most guidelines now recommend single embryo transfer (SET) in suitable patients to minimise the risk of multiple pregnancy, which carries significant risks for both mother and babies. In older patients or those with previous failed cycles, two embryos may be considered after discussion of the risks. ### Is IVF painful? The daily hormone injections during stimulation are generally well tolerated. Egg retrieval is performed under sedation or light anaesthesia and is not painful during the procedure; mild cramping and bloating for one to two days afterwards are common. Embryo transfer is a brief, largely painless outpatient procedure. ### How many IVF cycles might I need? There is no fixed answer, as it depends on the cause of infertility, age, and embryo quality. Cumulative success rates improve with successive cycles — many programmes report that most successful patients achieve pregnancy within three cycles. However, the decision to continue treatment is deeply personal and financially significant. ### What is ICSI and do I need it? Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) involves injecting a single sperm directly into each egg and is recommended when sperm count, motility, or morphology is significantly impaired. It is now used routinely at many clinics even without severe male factor infertility, though evidence for its benefit in normal sperm parameters is debated. ### Can IVF cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)? OHSS is a potential complication of ovarian stimulation in which the ovaries over-respond to hormonal medication, causing bloating, abdominal pain, and in severe cases fluid accumulation and blood clotting complications. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or high ovarian reserve are at greater risk, and clinics adjust protocols to minimise this. ### What happens to unused embryos? Viable embryos that are not transferred in the current cycle are typically cryopreserved (frozen) for use in future frozen embryo transfer cycles. Couples must make decisions about long-term storage, donation to other patients, use for research, or disposal if they do not wish to use remaining embryos. ### Does IVF increase the risk of birth defects? Large studies suggest that IVF-conceived children have a marginally higher rate of certain birth defects compared with naturally conceived children, though the absolute risk difference is small. It is unclear whether this is attributable to the IVF process itself or to the underlying fertility conditions that necessitated it. ## Alternative treatments - **Intrauterine insemination (IUI)** — First-line for mild male-factor infertility or unexplained infertility; lower cost, lower per-cycle success. - **ICSI** — Required when male-factor infertility is severe; same cycle structure as IVF. - **Donor-egg IVF** — When advanced maternal age or premature ovarian insufficiency makes own-egg success unlikely. - **Ovulation induction with timed intercourse** — Lowest-intervention option for anovulatory infertility; appropriate first step in many cases. ## Sources - [ESHRE — Guidelines for Good Practice in IVF Laboratories](https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal/Guidelines) — European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (accessed 2026-05-09) - [ESHRE — Clinical Practice Guidelines (ART, infertility, ICSI, donor cycles)](https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal/Guidelines) — European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (accessed 2026-06-29) - [ASRM — Practice Committee Documents](https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/) — American Society for Reproductive Medicine (accessed 2026-05-09)