The world of IVF can seem to have a language of its own and can be quite overwhelming when you are starting out on your fact-finding journey. This section of the website is designed to give you clear information about IVF, help you understand what terms mean, and how the process works.

The terms that we have included apply to the information provided on this website and may not reflect the terminology used elsewhere, particularly when defining a treatment cycle. Please keep this in mind if comparing the success rates reported on this site with those reported on other websites.

We have also provided some links to helpful resources that you might find helpful.

This website and the linked resources are not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your doctor or fertility specialist to discuss your treatment options and your personal chances of having a baby through IVF.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment is the most advanced form of fertility treatment. It includes all fertility treatments in which eggs and sperm or are handled outside of the body with the aim of achieving a pregnancy.

IVF involves extracting a woman's eggs directly from her ovaries, fertilising the eggs in a laboratory setting, growing embryos for 3-6 days in embryo culture, and then usually transferring a single embryo into the woman's uterus through the cervix. Remaining embryos can also be frozen (cryopreserved), and thawed later and transferred in future IVF cycles. The eggs can either be fertilised using IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Fertilisation by IVF occurs when the eggs and sperm are mixed together to allow fertilisation to create an embryo; ICSI involves an embryologist injecting a single sperm into the egg and is usually used when there are issues with the sperm, or fertilisation does not occur in previous IVF cycles.

The source of eggs and sperm usually come from the couple planning to parent the child, but in about 5-10% of treatments in Australia they are provided by donors.

How successful IVF is depends on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the woman's age and the cause of infertility. Birth rates generally range from around 5% to 40% per embryo transferred.

IVF is referred to as a 'cycle' of treatment as it involves a number of stages. One cycle of IVF involving an embryo transfer will usually take between four and six weeks.

Typically there are six stages in a 'complete' egg retrieval cycle:

1
Ovarian Stimulation
Medications are used over a couple of weeks to stimulate the production of a number of follicles containing eggs. A woman is monitored during this time which may involve having blood tests and ultrasounds.
2
Egg retrieval
Under light sedation or general anaesthetic eggs are collected transvaginally under ultrasound guidance.
3
Fertilisation
The retrieved eggs are fertilised using IVF or ICSI with either the partner's or donor sperm to create an embryo. Fertilisation by IVF occurs when the eggs and sperm are mixed together to allow fertilisation. ICSI involves an embryologist injecting a single sperm into the egg and is usually used when there are issues with the sperm or if fertilisation does not occur in previous IVF cycles.
4
Embryo culture
Embryos are grown for 3-6 days in the laboratory and will be monitored by an embryologist for development and quality. Viable embryos not selected for Fresh embryo transfer (Step 5), may undergo cryopreservation and may be used in future embryo transfer cycles (frozen embryo transfer).
5
Fresh embryo transfer
The 3-6 day old embryo is transferred into the woman's uterus (womb) through the cervix using a fine plastic catheter. There is usually no need for any type of anaesthetic for this procedure.
Embryo freezing
If extra embryos are available from the egg retrieval these are usually frozen and may be used in future embryo transfer cycles (frozen embryo transfer).
6
Pregnancy test
A pregnancy test is performed (either at home or at the clinic) after a couple of weeks following embryo transfer.
Different steps in egg retrieval cycle
Different steps in egg retrieval cycle
Important
There are many variations to this standard cycle and these are best discussed with your fertility doctor.

This is a single IVF treatment started with the intention of a fresh or frozen embryo transfer procedure. This includes an egg retrieval procedure where a fresh embryo is intended to be transferred, or where frozen embryos are thawed with the intention of transfer.

Sometimes no embryo transfer procedure takes place because suitable embryos are not available.

Often more than one embryo is created from the eggs collected during an egg retrieval procedure and these can be transferred over many months as part of one or more embryo transfer procedures (for example one fresh embryo transfer followed by one or more frozen embryo transfers).

A complete egg retrieval cycle includes all embryo transfers that result from one egg retrieval procedure (fresh and frozen embryo transfers).

There may be no fresh embryo transfers if there are no suitable embryos for transfer or if the decision was made on medical grounds to freeze all embryos.

The first baby born in Australia resulting from an IVF cycle was Candice Reed on the 23rd June 1980. In the 40 years since then almost 270,000 babies have been born across Australia from IVF, and over 7 million worldwide.

IVF treatment is offered by around 80 fertility clinics across Australia that are accredited by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee of the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Australia is one of the safest countries in the world for IVF treatment, with a number of national and state guidelines and licencing requirements covering how IVF is practiced in Australian fertility clinics. In Australia, IVF treatment is funded through a combination of Australia's universal insurance scheme - Medicare, private health insurance, and out-of-pocket patient expenses. The cost to patients varies between clinics and the type of treatment undertaken and is best discussed with your fertility clinic.

Going through IVF can be physically, emotionally and financially tough - so it's important to get the right support. Please see the Helpful Resources section below for links to organisations and other websites for further information to assist you on your IVF journey.

For more detailed information on all IVF procedures and outcomes performed in Australia and New Zealand, go to Assisted Reproduction Technology in Australia and New Zealand annual reports.