This guide walks you through every key step — from your very first consultation to the moment of embryo transfer — so you can feel informed, prepared, and empowered.
Step 1: The Initial Consultation — Where It All Begins
Your IVF journey officially starts with a consultation at a fertility clinic. This is your chance to sit down with a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) — a specialist in fertility — and talk openly about your medical history, your concerns, and your goals.
During this visit, expect a thorough review of your health history, previous pregnancies (if any), and lifestyle factors. Your doctor will likely order a series of diagnostic tests, including blood work to check hormone levels (like AMH, FSH, and estradiol), an ultrasound to assess your ovarian reserve, and a semen analysis if a male partner is involved.
This stage can feel a bit clinical, but think of it as building the foundation for your personalized treatment plan. Don’t hesitate to ask questions — no question is too small when it comes to your fertility journey.
Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation — Growing Your Eggs
Once your testing is complete and a treatment plan is in place, you’ll begin the stimulation phase. This is where your body gets a little help producing multiple eggs, rather than the one egg it naturally releases each month.
You’ll self-administer injectable hormonal medications (gonadotropins) for about 8 to 14 days. Yes, that means needles — and for many people, this is the most daunting part. But most find it much more manageable than they expected. Your clinic will walk you through exactly how to do it, and many patients say they get into a comfortable routine within a few days.
Throughout this phase, you’ll have frequent monitoring appointments — typically every 2 to 3 days — including blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds to track how your follicles (which contain the eggs) are developing. Your medication doses may be adjusted based on your response.
Side effects during stimulation can include bloating, mood swings, breast tenderness, and fatigue. Be kind to yourself during this time. Your body is doing incredible work.
Step 3: The Trigger Shot & Egg Retrieval
When your follicles reach the right size, you’ll take a “trigger shot” — usually hCG or leuprolide — to trigger final egg maturation. The timing of this shot is very precise, so follow your clinic’s instructions exactly.
About 36 hours after the trigger shot, the egg retrieval procedure takes place. You’ll be under light sedation (so you won’t feel a thing), and your doctor will use a thin needle guided by ultrasound to gently collect the eggs from your follicles. The procedure typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Afterwards, you may feel some cramping or grogginess — this is completely normal. You’ll need someone to drive you home, and most people take the rest of the day to rest. The number of eggs retrieved varies from person to person, and your embryologist will update you shortly after the procedure.
Step 4: Fertilization & Embryo Development
While you’re recovering at home, your eggs are being fertilized in the lab. This happens through either conventional IVF (mixing eggs and sperm together) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg. ICSI is commonly recommended when there are sperm quality concerns.
Over the next 5 to 6 days, your clinic will monitor the fertilized eggs (now called embryos) as they develop. Embryos are typically cultured to the blastocyst stage — the most advanced stage before transfer — as this is associated with higher implantation rates.
Your embryologist will call you with updates, and while the wait can feel agonizing, try to take it one day at a time. Not all eggs will fertilize, and not all fertilized eggs will become viable embryos — this is a natural part of the process.
Step 5: Preimplantation Genetic Testing (Optional)
Before transferring an embryo, some patients opt for Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). A small biopsy is taken from each embryo and sent to a genetics lab to screen for chromosomal abnormalities.
PGT can help identify the embryos most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy and reduce the risk of miscarriage. If PGT is performed, your embryos will be frozen while you wait for results — which typically take 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will recommend whether this step makes sense for your specific situation.
Step 6: The Embryo Transfer — The Big Day
The embryo transfer is often described as the most emotional moment of the entire IVF process — and understandably so. It’s the moment where everything you’ve been working toward comes together.
The procedure itself is simple and painless for most people. A thin catheter is passed through the cervix into the uterus, and the embryo is gently deposited. No sedation is needed, though some clinics may offer a mild sedative to ease anxiety. The whole thing takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Depending on your age, embryo quality, and medical history, your doctor may recommend transferring one or two embryos. Single embryo transfer (SET) is increasingly the standard, as it reduces the risk of multiple pregnancies while still achieving excellent success rates.
After the transfer, you’ll rest for a short period at the clinic before heading home. You’ll continue taking progesterone supplements (usually via vaginal suppositories or injections) to support the uterine lining.
Step 7: The Two-Week Wait (TWW)
And then comes what many call the hardest part of IVF — the two-week wait. About 10 to 14 days after the transfer, you’ll go in for a blood test (beta hCG test) to find out if you’re pregnant.
During this time, you may experience symptoms that feel similar to early pregnancy or PMS — and because of the progesterone supplements, it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference. Try to resist the urge to take home pregnancy tests too early, as they can give misleading results.
Lean on your support system, give yourself grace, and do things that bring you comfort. The two-week wait is a test of patience, but you’ve already come so far.
A Final Word: You’re Not Alone
Starting your first IVF cycle takes courage. It’s a path filled with appointments, emotions, and moments of deep hope. While every journey looks a little different, knowing the steps ahead can help you feel more grounded and prepared for what’s to come.
Talk to your care team about any concerns, seek out a support group or community of others going through IVF, and remember — no matter the outcome, you are doing something incredibly brave.
Wishing you strength, peace, and all the hope your heart can hold.