What Is IVF?

Understanding IVF Procedures, Risks, Costs & Success Rates

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IVF stands for in vitro fertilization, which literally means "in lab conception." With IVF treatment, the egg is fertilized with sperm in a petri dish. Typically, many eggs are retrieved from the biological mother (who may or may not be the intended parent), as not every egg will fertilize, and not every fertilized egg will become a viable embryo.

A few days after fertilization, the best embryo or embryos are transferred to the mother or surrogate's uterus via a catheter through the cervix. Any extra embryos may be cryopreserved for future cycles.

When Is IVF Used?


IVF is also used for cases of male infertility that cannot be overcome with IUI treatment or other treatments. In some cases, men with no sperm in their semen may have sperm retrieved directly from the testicles or vas deferens. Men with low sperm count are more likely to achieve treatment success with IVF.


IVF may also be used in cases of unexplained infertility, women who need to use an egg or embryo donor, those who are using a traditional surrogate or gestational carrier, or after multiple failed fertility treatments.

The Procedure

The IVF procedure may be slightly different for different people, depending on which assisted reproductive technologies are being used and whether or not donor eggs, sperm, or embryos are involved. There are also some situations that lead to a cycle being canceled in the middle, either because not enough follicles grow or due to a high risk of serious ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

That said, this is a basic overview of the procedure.

Usually, the woman will start taking birth control pills or an injectable medication that prevents ovulation the cycle before treatment, shutting down the woman's normal ovulation cycle. This is so the doctor can regulate ovulation and not lose the eggs before the retrieval. After baseline blood work and an ultrasound, the woman will start taking ovulation stimulation medications, typically gonadotropins.

In minimal stimulation IVF, Clomid or no ovulation-stimulating medications are used, but this is unusual. The clinic will monitor follicle growth and hormone levels with ultrasound and blood work every so many days.

When the follicles look ready, the woman will receive an injection of hCG to mature the eggs. An egg retrieval will be scheduled a very specific number of hours after the injection, during which the woman will receive IV sedation and the eggs will be retrieved via an ultrasound-guided needle through the vaginal wall.




Success Rate

Your chance for IVF success will depend on a variety of factors, including your age, cause(s) of your infertility, whether or not donor eggs are being used, previous treatment outcomes, and the clinic's expertise in your particular needs.


Success rates decrease with age, with a 12 percent rate of success for women age 41 to 42.



Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurs in 10 percent of women going through IVF treatment. For most women, symptoms will be mild and they will recover easily. For a small percentage, OHSS can be more serious and may require hospitalization. Less than 1 percent of women going through egg retrieval will experience blood clots or kidney failure due to OHSS.


If pelvic infection does occur, you'll be treated with intravenous antibiotics. In rare cases of severe infection, the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes may need to be surgically removed.


There is a risk of multiples, which includes twins, triplets, or more. Multiple pregnancies can be risky for both the babies and the mother. It's important to discuss with your doctor how many embryos to transfer, as transferring more than necessary will increase your risk of conceiving twins or more.


IVF Pregnancy



Women who conceive with IVF are more likely to experience spotting in early pregnancy, though it's more likely for their spotting to resolve without harm to the pregnancy.

The risk of miscarriage is about the same for women who conceive naturally, with the risk going up with age. For young women in their 20s, the rate of miscarriage is as low as 15 percent, while for women over 40, the rate of miscarriage may be over 50 percent.

There is a 2 to 4 percent risk of ectopic pregnancy with IVF conception.


The average cost for IVF is $12,000, but this can vary depending on what technologies are being used. IVF with egg donation is the most costly, with one cycle being anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000.

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