Assessment, stimulation & monitoring
Before treatment, both partners complete the assessments the doctor needs. For the woman this can include hormone and ovarian-reserve blood tests, ultrasound and infection screening. For the male partner this commonly includes semen analysis, blood tests and infection screening.
Fertility medication is then used to stimulate the ovaries. Ultrasound scans and, where needed, blood tests monitor the response so medication can be adjusted if required.
Collection, fertilisation & transfer
When the follicles are ready, a trigger injection is followed by egg collection. The male partner usually provides a fresh sperm sample on the day. The clinical team may use conventional IVF or ICSI as recommended for the cycle.
Embryos are monitored in the laboratory. A day-5 blastocyst transfer is common; the doctor may instead recommend freezing embryos for transfer in a later cycle. A pregnancy blood test is usually performed around 9–14 days after embryo transfer.