What is IVF?

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a fertility treatment to help you to conceive (become pregnant).

IVF involves eggs being removed from your ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. An embryo (fertilised egg) is then transferred back into your uterus. If the transferred embryo successfully implants, this will result in pregnancy.

What does the IVF process look like?

IVF is a long process with multiple steps. All the steps together make up one cycle of IVF.

1. Blood test: On day one of your menstrual cycle, you will have a blood test at your fertility clinic.
2. Hormone stimulation: On day 2 or 3 of your menstrual cycle, your hormone stimulation treatment will start. You will take medicine to stimulate your ovarian follicles to grow. As the follicle grows, so does the egg inside it.
3. Trigger shot: Once your follicles have reached a certain size, you will be told to give yourself an injection containing hormones. This injection helps your eggs mature.
4. Egg retrieval: About 34 to 36 hours after the trigger shot, your eggs will be retrieved (collected). Your fertility specialist will use a thin needle to collect the eggs from your ovaries.
5. Semen sample: If you are using your partner's sperm, they will need to provide a semen sample on the same day as the egg collection. If this is not possible, a surgical procedure can help extract sperm directly from their testicles. You may also use frozen donor sperm.
6. Fertilisation: The sperm and eggs are brought together in a dish and incubated (given time to develop). In some situations, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used. ICSI is a procedure where a single healthy sperm is injected directly into the egg. ICSI may be helpful when the sperm amount or sperm quality is low.
7. Embryo transfer: When your embryos have grown enough, your fertility specialist will transfer an embryo into your uterus. Usually one embryo is transferred, but your doctor may transfer 2 embryos under special circumstances. Embryo transfers are usually done 3 to 5 days after fertilisation but, depending on your circumstances, your embryos may be frozen for a later transfer.
8. Pregnancy test: After the embryo is transferred, you will need to wait 2 weeks before you can test for pregnancy. Blood tests are more reliable than a home pregnancy test, so it's best to do this at your fertility clinic or with your doctor.

Why might I want to use IVF?

IVF can be used to help with fertility problems, including if you or your partner has:

• low sperm count
• low sperm motility (slow-moving sperm)
• problems with ovulation due to conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• problems with the fallopian tubes
• been sterilised (had an operation to prevent pregnancy)
• problems with endometriosis or fibroids

You might choose to use IVF if you want to start a family, and you:

• are sexually diverse or gender-diverse (LGBTIQA+)
• do not have a partner
• or your partner have a genetic condition that you do not want to pass on to your child

Some people may choose to use donor sperm or eggs. If you or your partner is at risk of passing on a serious genetic disorder to your child, you may be advised to use donor sperm or donor eggs.

Cancer treatment can affect your fertility. Before starting cancer treatment, some people choose to have their eggs or sperm frozen. These can later be thawed and used in IVF once cancer treatment is finished. Freezing your eggs is also called fertility preservation.

Should I try other fertility treatments first?

For some people, IVF is the preferred treatment from the start. Others may try simpler and less expensive ways to increase fertility first.

Other fertility treatments include:

• fertility drugs to stimulate your eggs to mature and ovulate
• surgery
• artificial insemination

Some lifestyle changes may also help improve your fertility, such as:

• maintaining a healthy body weight
• eating a healthy, balanced diet
• exercising regularly
• avoiding or limiting alcohol intake
• avoiding smoking or vaping

Your doctor can give you more information about which fertility treatment is right for you.

What is the success rate of IVF?

Your chance of becoming pregnant using IVF depends on many factors. Some important factors include:

• your age
• your partner's age or donor's age
• the cause of your fertility difficulty
• your previous experience with IVF

You will have a better chance of becoming pregnant if you are younger than 35 years of age. The chance of success decreases as you get older.

Some people may need multiple cycles of IVF treatment to be successful. Others never become pregnant.

To learn more about your chances of a successful pregnancy:

• ask your doctor
• ask your fertility clinic
• use the Australian Government IVF success calculator

Can single and LGBTIQA+ people use IVF?

In Australia, IVF is available to:

• single people
• LGBTIQA+ people
• couples experiencing fertility issues

For information about IVF that is relevant to your situation, talk to:

• your doctor
• your local fertility specialist
• a family planning organisation in your state or territory

How much does IVF cost?

The cost of IVF can vary, but each cycle of IVF may cost several thousand dollars. You may be able to get a Medicare rebate on some components of IVF. Your private health fund may pay for some aspects of treatment.

Along with the cost of the IVF procedure, there may be other costs, including:

• medicines
• tests
• counselling
• egg storage
• day surgery

You may need to take time off work, meaning that you might receive less pay, while you have fertility treatment.

If you are considering IVF, it's important to understand what is covered and any out-of-pocket costs. Talk to:

• your doctor
• the fertility clinic
• your private health fund (if you have one)

How long does IVF take?

IVF takes time. When you are first considering IVF, you will need to talk to your doctor and get a referral to an IVF clinic or fertility specialist.

Before starting treatment, you (and your partner) will need to have several tests including:

• ultrasounds
• sperm analysis
• blood tests

Once you start IVF, there are multiple steps involved, including visits to clinics and laboratories. A normal IVF cycle will take around 6 to 8 weeks.

If the first cycle of IVF is not successful, you may decide to try again with one or more additional cycles. Your fertility specialist may recommend waiting between cycles.

Talk to your fertility specialist about what is best in your circumstances.

What are the risks of IVF?

It's important to remember that there is a risk of not getting pregnant with IVF. This can be upsetting and emotionally painful.

Medical complications are rare, but can include:

• ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) — your ovaries may become overstimulated during or after hormone stimulation. This can cause dehydration and severe abdominal (tummy) pain.
• bleeding or infection — this may occur because of the egg retrieval procedure
• general anaesthetic risks — egg retrieval is usually done under general anaesthetic, which can cause side effects like nausea or vomiting

Does an IVF pregnancy have different risks to other pregnancies?

All pregnancies carry a chance of complications. Females who become pregnant through IVF are more likely to experience certain complications, such as:

• vaginal bleeding
• blood clots in early pregnancy
• high blood pressure
• gestational diabetes
• premature birth
• birth by caesarean section
• having a child with a congenital disorder

If more than one embryo is transferred into your uterus at once, you have a higher chance of having a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets or more, depending on how many embryos have been transferred).

The risk of complications will depend on your situation. Discuss the risks and benefits of having IVF with your doctor or fertility clinic before you start treatment.

How can I cope if having IVF makes me stressed and emotional?

Many couples are not successful in their first IVF cycle. You may need multiple cycles of treatment, and some couples do not become pregnant at all.

This can be an emotional process, especially if you have already been trying to have a baby for a few years. You or your partner may also be receiving hormone medications that can affect your mood, potentially impacting on your emotional and sexual relationship.

You may be offered counselling before you start IVF treatment. You should also consider ongoing counselling to help cope with any emotional or relationship issues that you or your partner may experience.

Joining a fertility support group can also help you cope with any challenges you may experience during IVF treatment.

How can I find an IVF doctor?

To start the process of IVF, your doctor can refer you to a:

• fertility specialist
• IVF clinic
• special hospital unit

If you live in a rural or remote area, patient assisted travel schemes (PATS) can help you access healthcare that isn't available locally. The scheme might provide subsidy for:

• travel costs
• accommodation near your treatment centre
• support person costs

Ask your doctor if you are eligible for patient assisted travel schemes.

Searching for fertility clinics and specialists

You can search the Your IVF Success website for IVF clinics near you. You can look at the services they offer and view their success rates.

You can also search The Fertility Society of Australia website for a list of accredited clinics and doctors near you.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) register lists the credentials of fertility specialists or IVF practitioners. You can use the register to search by the practitioner's name or profession before starting treatment.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

What questions should I ask my IVF doctor?

It's a good idea to think about any questions you have about the IVF process.

Here are some questions you might like to ask at your appointment:

• What treatment options are available to me?
• What are the risks and benefits of the treatments available?
• Would all IVF procedures be done by my own specialist?
• What IVF success rate do you have for people of my age and with my condition?
• What tests, treatments and medicines are covered by Medicare or private insurance? Which are not?
• How many cycles of IVF treatment a year are funded by Medicare? Does the practice or clinic manage the claim?
• Do you have a gap agreement with my health fund?

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

What are the alternatives to IVF?

IVF can be costly and is a big investment of physical and emotional energy.

Some people may find that other options can help them grow their family, such as:

• fostering
• adopting a child
• surrogacy (when a person carries a pregnancy for another person)

This can be meaningful and rewarding for both the parents and the child.

The rules and regulations for adoption and surrogacy vary state by state.

Resources and Support

The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand offers information on different fertility treatments, including:

• ovulation induction
• intrauterine insemination
• in vitro fertilisation

Visit Your IVF Success for information about IVF success rates in clinics across Australia.

The University of Melbourne provides information for patients about IVF optional extras.

The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) offers useful resources about emotions and feelings when you are going through IVF.

Information for gender diverse people

Learn more about IVF for the LGBTQA+ community on the Rainbow Fertility page.

Languages other than English

The Health Translations page offers information in multiple languages, including fact sheets on:

• the possible health effects of IVF
• fertility treatment
• public fertility care

Fostering, adoption and surrogacy

Barnados Australia has information about fostering and adoption.

Intercountry Adoption Australia has a list of counselling and therapeutic services by state.

Read more about surrogacy laws in your state on the Surrogacy in Australia page.