Understanding In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF involves several stages.

First is controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. In a typical cycle, one egg matures and is released during ovulation. IVF uses injectable medications (gonadotropins) to stimulate multiple ovarian follicles. Blood tests and ultrasounds monitor their growth, and mature follicles are drained to retrieve eggs in a brief outpatient procedure under anesthesia.

Retrieved eggs are fertilized either by standard insemination (placing sperm near the egg) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where sperm is directly injected into the egg.

Fertilized eggs grow into embryos, which are monitored and graded in an incubator. You’ll learn how many eggs were retrieved, fertilized, and are ready for transfer or freezing. If genetic testing is included, a few cells are removed from each embryo to check for abnormalities.

Most embryos are frozen or transferred to the uterus at the blastocyst stage (days 5–6). A fresh transfer places an embryo immediately, while frozen transfers occur later with thawed embryos.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT GOING THROUGH IVF?

At Boston IVF, we are committed to providing complete transparency about what to expect throughout your treatment. We offer a variety of support options to guide you every step of the way. With the dedicated support of your care team, we believe you will find the IVF process manageable and, ultimately, hope for a successful outcome.

IVF treatment, much like infertility, is more common than you think. While IVF treatment once was a rarity, you may already know friends, relatives, and co-workers who have been through IVF – or even know people who were IVF babies themselves. Most importantly, technological advancements have led to continued improvements in IVF treatment over the last four decades. It is estimated that there are more than 8 million babies born from IVF worldwide. 

An IVF cycle typically takes about 3 weeks from start to finish, leading to the creation of embryos that can either be frozen or transferred. If the plan is to freeze all the embryos without a fresh transfer, a separate plan for a frozen embryo transfer will be scheduled after the IVF cycle is complete.

WHAT ARE THE MEDICATIONS USED IN IVF?

During controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, there are two types of medications most people will take:

✓ Fertility medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to grow more than one follicle. Menopur, Follistim, and Gonal-F are just a few of the brand name options that reproductive endocrinologists have to choose from

✓ A trigger shot called hCG (Ovidrel, Novarel, Pregnyll) and/or leuprolide acetate (Lupron) is used to signal the final steps of development in the egg before the follicles are ovulated. 

WHAT ARE THE MEDICATIONS USED WITH AN EMBRYO TRANSFER?

When preparing for either a fresh or frozen embryo transfer and in the days and weeks following, most people will take medications to provide hormonal support to the uterus and any subsequent pregnancy.

✓ If undergoing a fresh transfer of embryos with an IVF cycle, progesterone is supplemented for the first several weeks of pregnancy until the placenta starts to make its own (around 6-8 weeks).

✓ If going through a frozen embryo transfer (FET) there is a medication protocol to prepare the uterus for embryo implantation as well.