In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) refers to a medically assisted method of reproduction in which an egg is fertilised in a laboratory. IVF involves the following steps:

  • An initial consultation, which includes a medical assessment and an outline of any previous treatments; legal issues, costs and possible treatment risks are also addressed
  • A personalised therapy plan with instructions and a schedule to follow
  • Hormone therapy to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs
  • The removal of the eggs from the ovaries – a small outpatient procedure under short-term anaesthetic
  • The fertilisation of the mature egg cells
  • Monitoring and assessment of the embryonic development
  • Introduction of an embryo into the uterus
  • A pregnancy test two weeks later to see if the embryo has embedded itself