In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Explained

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If you’ve been following our fertility journey, you know we were this close to moving forward with in vitro fertilization (IVF). We ended up choosing a different path, but that doesn’t mean IVF isn’t a great option for you!

So today I’m breaking down what IVF actually is, how the process works, success rates, and a few things to know before you start.

What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is when eggs are fertilized outside of the body, in a lab. It’s been around since the late 1970s (the first IVF baby was born in 1978!), and the technology has come a long way since then.

The IVF procedure involves the following steps:

1. First comes ovarian stimulation. You take fertility medications so your ovaries produce multiple eggs instead of the usual one per cycle. Your doctor keeps a close eye on things with regular ultrasounds and bloodwork to figure out the right time for retrieval.
2. Next is the egg retrieval. You’re sedated for this one, and the doctor uses a thin needle guided by ultrasound to collect the eggs from your ovaries. It usually takes about 20 minutes.
3. The same day, your partner gives a sperm sample (or donor sperm is used, if needed).
4. Then the magic happens in the lab. The eggs and sperm are combined in a dish, or with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), a single sperm is injected directly into each egg. ICSI is super common now, especially if there are any sperm quality concerns. Then the team watches to see which eggs fertilize and start developing into embryos.
5. The embryos grow in the lab for several days while the specialists check on their quality and development.
6. Next is the embryo transfer, where the healthiest embryo is placed into your uterus. Sometimes this happens a few days after retrieval, but a lot of people freeze their embryos and do the transfer later (this is called a frozen embryo transfer, or FET). Either way, this part is usually painless and doesn’t require anesthesia.
7. And then comes the hardest part… the two-week wait! After that you take a pregnancy test, and if it’s positive, you’ll keep taking hormones for a bit to support the pregnancy.

Keep in mind these steps can look a little different for everyone. For example, I didn’t include genetic testing of the embryos. For some people it’s a really important step, and for others it doesn’t matter as much.

What are the success rates of IVF?

Success rates really depend on a few things, mainly your age, the cause of infertility, and the clinic you go with. Age is the big one since younger women tend to have better egg quality. According to the latest national data from SART (2023), the chance of a live birth from one egg retrieval (counting all the embryo transfers from it) is about 53% for women under 35. That drops to about 26% for ages 38 to 40 and about 4% after 42..

The CDC also has an IVF success estimator if you’re curious about your own odds. I filled in our background and history, diagnosis, and plan, and it came back with the same success rate our fertility specialist gave us.

I thought that was interesting!

Potential Risks and Considerations

IVF has helped so many couples have a baby, but there are a few things to keep in mind going in:

1. OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) is a possible side effect of the stimulation meds, where your ovaries get swollen and painful. Your care team monitors you closely to keep the risk low and catch it early if it happens.
2. It’s a lot, emotionally and financially. Have your support system in place, and get a clear picture of the costs upfront (medications, clinic fees, and any extra procedures).
3. Your clinic matters so much. Look for a doctor and clinic with a reputable IVF lab and strong success rates, and don’t be afraid to interview a few doctors before you choose. You’ll be surprised how different their approaches can be!

Final Thoughts

IVF is a lot (physically, emotionally, and financially), but it’s helped so many families start or grow, and it might be the right path for you. Talk it through with your doctor so you know exactly what to expect.

Every journey looks different. Whether you’re just starting to look into fertility treatments or you’re already in the thick of it, lean on your people and your faith.

I hope this made IVF a little easier to understand! If you have questions or just want to talk, email me at sonia@mrsprofresh.com or message me on Instagram. I’m always happy to chat!

xoxo,
Sonia

Ps. If you would like to learn about the approach we decided to move forward with, read this blog post.