In vitro fertilization (IVF) combines eggs and sperm in a laboratory dish, and the resulting embryos grow for several days. A doctor then places one into the uterus. Since each stage follows a set timeline, knowing the steps helps you plan work, travel, and appointments. This is how the IVF service process works, from your first visit to embryo transfer:
Initial Consultation
When you arrive for your first IVF service visit, a fertility specialist reviews your medical and reproductive history. Bring records of past pregnancies, surgeries, and fertility treatments. The doctor asks about your menstrual cycle, and your partner answers questions about their own health.
The specialist explains each IVF stage, and you receive a draft calendar of likely dates. Since medication schedules vary, the clinic matches your protocol to your test results and history. You also learn about injection timing and monitoring visits.
Insurance discussions may happen during this visit too. If you have insurance, the billing team checks your coverage for testing, medication, and procedures. Write down your questions before the appointment, or you may forget them during the conversation.
Routine Bloodwork and Diagnostics
Before treatment starts, your care team orders blood tests and imaging to assess your reproductive health. Tests typically take only a few minutes, and results return within weeks. Your clinic will run the following tests:
- Hormone panels, such as AMH, FSH, and estradiol
- Ultrasound to count resting follicles
- Disease screening for both partners
- Semen analysis to check sperm count and movement
Testing continues during ovarian stimulation. While you take daily hormone injections, you return every few days for bloodwork and ultrasounds. These visits track follicle growth, and the doctor adjusts your medication dose based on the results.
Sedated Egg Retrieval
You take a final “trigger” injection to mature the eggs, and retrieval follows. Plan to fast from midnight the night before. Since the procedure uses IV sedation, you need another adult to drive you home.
The retrieval itself is typically short. While you sleep, the doctor guides a thin needle into each follicle using ultrasound. Mild cramping and spotting may follow, and most people return to normal activity the next day. Your care team calls you with the number of eggs collected.
Uterine Embryo Transfer
After the embryologist fertilizes the eggs, the embryos grow in an incubator. The lab team grades each embryo on its development. Some patients transfer a fresh embryo right away, and others freeze embryos for a later cycle. The transfer is fast, and it requires no sedation. As the doctor watches an abdominal ultrasound, a thin catheter places the embryo in the uterus. Before transfer day, follow these steps:
- Take prescribed progesterone on schedule
- Arrive with a comfortably full bladder
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing
- Plan a quiet rest of the day
Schedule IVF Services Today
If you want to begin IVF, the first step is booking an initial consultation. Gather your medical records and insurance details beforehand. A medical team can answer questions about timing and costs, and we build a schedule around your test results. Call or book online to request an appointment.
