IVF: the complete patient resource
The question to ask first
What is your live birth rate per cycle started, for women in my age band?
Per-transfer figures exclude cycles that never reached transfer — cancelled cycles, failed fertilisation, no embryo developed. Those outcomes rise with age, so per-transfer figures flatter results most for the patients who most need accurate numbers.
The process in outline
Stimulation — daily injections. Conventional dosing is 150–225 IU. For predicted low responders, doses above 300 IU are not recommended; for predicted high responders, a reduced dose of 100 to under 150 IU is probably recommended to lower OHSS risk.
The GnRH antagonist protocol is recommended over agonist protocols, given comparable efficacy and better safety.
Monitoring — ultrasound. Adding oestradiol is probably not recommended; neither is routine endometrial thickness monitoring. Serum progesterone on trigger day is probably recommended where a fresh transfer is planned.
Trigger — about 36 hours before retrieval. Where OHSS risk is high, a GnRH agonist trigger with freeze-all is recommended.
Retrieval — short procedure under sedation.
Fertilisation — conventional IVF or ICSI. ICSI is used far more widely than its indications require; without male factor it has not been shown to improve live birth.
Culture — to day 3 or day 5. Not all embryos reach blastocyst; most that arrest do so because of chromosomal abnormalities.
Transfer — brief. Bed rest does not improve success rates.
Luteal support — progesterone.
Warning signs after retrieval
Contact your clinic the same day for severe or worsening abdominal pain, marked bloating, breathlessness, reduced urine output, or weight gain over about a kilogram in 24 hours. These can indicate OHSS.
On add-ons
The ERA test is red-rated by the UK regulator — no evidence it improves live births, and one study associated it with lower live birth rates after a failed transfer.
PGT-A has not been shown to increase live birth rates or reduce time to pregnancy compared with expectant management for most patients.
For any add-on, ask what evidence exists that it increases live births.
The honest framing
Of the 90 evidence-based recommendations in the ESHRE stimulation guideline, none rests on high-quality evidence and only six on moderate quality. That is an argument for caution about adding interventions.
Where to go next
See the detailed guides on the IVF process, medications, preparation, the two-week wait, frozen transfer, and why cycles fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IVF and how does it work?▾
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) retrieves eggs from the ovaries after hormone stimulation, fertilises them with sperm in a laboratory, and places the resulting embryo into the uterus. One cycle takes approximately 5–6 weeks. Live birth rates per cycle range from 40–50% under age 35 to 5–8% at age 43–44 (ESHRE 2023).
How many IVF cycles does it take to succeed?▾
Most successful IVF pregnancies occur within 3 cycles. Cumulative live birth rates across 3 cycles reach 65–75% for women under 35 and 40–55% for ages 38–40 (ESHRE 2023). Frozen embryo transfers from surplus blastocysts allow multiple transfer attempts from a single egg collection, significantly improving cumulative outcomes.
Who needs IVF?▾
IVF is recommended per ASRM 2023 for: bilateral tubal blockage, severe male factor (TMSC <5 million), failed IUI after 3–6 cycles, women 38+ with unexplained infertility, moderate-severe endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve, and any couple needing embryo genetic testing (PGT-A or PGT-M).
What is the IVF success rate in India?▾
At quality accredited centres in India, IVF success rates are broadly comparable to international data: 40–48% live birth rate per cycle for women under 35, 30–38% for ages 35–37, 20–27% for ages 38–40. Rates vary significantly by clinic — always ask for age-stratified live birth rates per egg collection cycle, not just per transfer.