In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is the most established and widely used form of assisted reproductive technology (ART). It involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving those eggs, fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory, and then transferring one or more resulting embryos into the uterus.
IVF has helped millions of people around the world achieve parenthood and remains the most effective treatment for many causes of infertility. At Lotus Fertility, every IVF cycle is carefully individualised — your stimulation protocol, monitoring schedule, and transfer timing are tailored specifically to your physiology and circumstances.
"IVF puts science and care at the service of hope — giving couples the best possible chance of the outcome they are working towards."
The IVF Process Step by Step
Ovarian Stimulation
You will take injectable hormones for 8–14 days to stimulate your ovaries to develop multiple follicles simultaneously. Your response is monitored closely with ultrasound scans and blood tests.
Egg Retrieval
When follicles are mature, a trigger injection finalises egg maturation. 34–36 hours later, eggs are retrieved under sedation using a fine needle guided by ultrasound. The procedure takes 15–20 minutes.
Fertilisation
Retrieved eggs are assessed and combined with prepared sperm in the laboratory. Standard IVF involves placing eggs and sperm together; ICSI may be recommended depending on sperm quality.
Embryo Culture
Fertilised eggs are cultured in our laboratory for 3–5 days, during which embryologists assess their development. The aim is to reach the blastocyst stage, which offers the highest implantation potential.
Embryo Transfer
One or two embryos are selected and placed into the uterus using a soft catheter. This is a brief, usually painless procedure. Remaining viable embryos can be frozen for future use.
Pregnancy Test
Approximately 10–14 days after transfer, a blood test confirms whether implantation has been successful.
Who Is IVF Recommended For?
Conditions for Which IVF Is Often Recommended
- Blocked, damaged, or absent fallopian tubes
- Moderate to severe male factor infertility (low sperm count, motility, or morphology)
- Endometriosis affecting fertility
- Unexplained infertility after other treatments have been unsuccessful
- Ovulation disorders that have not responded to less invasive treatments
- Diminished ovarian reserve or age-related fertility decline
- Same-sex couples and single parents using donor gametes
- Couples who have experienced multiple failed IUI cycles
Success Rates
IVF success rates vary by age and diagnosis. Women under 35 typically see live birth rates of 35–45% per cycle. Rates decline with age, but many women over 40 achieve success with personalised protocols.
Frozen Embryo Transfer
If additional embryos are available after a fresh transfer, they can be vitrified (rapidly frozen) for future use, offering more attempts from a single stimulation cycle.
Duration
A full IVF cycle from the start of stimulation to pregnancy test takes approximately 4–6 weeks. Preparation and testing beforehand may add a further month.
Genetic Testing
IVF can be combined with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A or PGT-M) to screen embryos before transfer, improving outcomes for couples with specific genetic concerns.
Take the first step towards IVF
Our specialist team will assess your individual situation and design an IVF protocol tailored specifically to you. Book your consultation today.
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