Home - Your health and care - Health A to Z - IVF - IVF

Health A to Z: IVF

Find out about IVF (in vitro fertilisation) including why it’s needed, who can have it, how it works and where to get support.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a type of fertility treatment.

It may be recommended if you're having difficulty getting pregnant and other treatments have not worked.

How well it works

Your chance of having a baby using IVF can depend on many factors such as:

  • what's causing your fertility problems
  • your age
  • your body mass index (BMI)
  • lifestyle factors, such as smoking or drinking alcohol

A GP or the fertility clinic team can discuss this with you before starting IVF.

Find out more

You may be able to get IVF (in vitro fertilisation) on the NHS if you're aged 42 or under and eligible for treatment.

Local integrated care boards (ICBs) assess who is able to have IVF in their area and make the final decision about funding treatment.

Some ICBs may only offer IVF if:

  • you're under a certain age
  • you're a healthy weight
  • you do not smoke
  • you do not have any children already

If you think you may be eligible for IVF, speak to your GP. They can help you find out what's available in your area.

Paying for IVF privately

If you're not eligible for NHS treatment, or you decide to pay for IVF, you may be able to have treatment at a private clinic.

Each private clinic is different, but they usually only offer IVF to people within a certain age range or body mass index (BMI) range.

The cost of private IVF treatment can also vary as each clinic sets their own prices.

Having IVF abroad

If you're considering having IVF abroad, it's important to think about your safety. Clinics in other countries may not be regulated in the same way as they are in the UK.

Find out more

If you're having IVF (in vitro fertilisation) on the NHS, you'll be referred to a fertility clinic.

The doctor will discuss what happens during IVF, including the risks and benefits of any medicines and procedures.

They'll tell you about any tests you may need before starting IVF, such as blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

You may be offered the oral contraceptive pill or progestogen tablets before starting IVF, to help the doctor start your fertility medicine at the right time.

Before IVF can start, you must also give consent to treatment.

This is required by law to make sure the sperm, eggs and embryos are used and stored in a way you're happy with.

Find out more

A full cycle of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) takes around 3 to 6 weeks to complete. It usually follows 6 steps, depending on the type of treatment you’re having.

Your doctor should discuss the options with you and explain each of these steps before any treatment starts.

  1. You use an injection or nasal spray every day for 2 to 3 weeks to stop your ovaries producing eggs naturally. You'll have an ultrasound scan to check if the medicine has worked.
  2. Once your ovaries are no longer producing eggs, you'll inject yourself every day for 2 weeks with medicine that increases your egg supply. You'll have tests or scans to check how well it's working.
  3. A doctor at the clinic collects your eggs using a needle inserted through your vagina. This takes around 20 minutes and you'll be offered medicine that makes you sleepy (a sedative).
  4. Your partner is asked to give a sperm sample in a private room, usually while your eggs are being collected. If you're using donor sperm, it will be ready in the laboratory.
  5. The eggs are fertilised with the sperm in a laboratory. The clinic will call you the next day to let you know how many embryos have been made and how many they might be able to use.
  6. After a few days, an embryo is put in your womb using a thin tube inserted through your vagina. If you have more than 1 embryo, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of putting in more than 1 embryo.

If any suitable embryos are left over, they may be frozen for future IVF attempts. The clinic will discuss this with you and let you know about any additional costs, such as embryo storage.

Finding out if you're pregnant

After an embryo is put in your womb, you'll be given a pregnancy test and a date to use it. This will be around 16 days after the embryo transfer.

It's important to take your test on the date you're given to get an accurate result.

If you have a positive test, you'll be asked to come back to the clinic for a scan when you're around 7 weeks pregnant. This is to check the baby's heartbeat and confirm your pregnancy.

If you have a negative test, it's important to give yourself time to recover and make sure you're getting plenty of support.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) can affect you emotionally and physically.

But help and support is available from your healthcare team and online fertility support groups.

Counselling

Counselling is a type of talking therapy that allows you to talk about your problems and feelings in a confidential environment.

It's recommended for anyone having IVF.

Your fertility clinic should offer you an opportunity to speak to a counsellor before, during and after IVF treatment.

Fertility support groups

You may find it helpful to contact a fertility support group to talk with other people who share similar experiences.

Find out more

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a safe procedure and most people do not have problems with their health or pregnancy.

When you have fertility medicine to stimulate ovulation, there's a small chance of too many eggs developing in your ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome).

Your ovaries can become large and painful and you may have to stop your current treatment cycle.

Other possible risks of IVF include having:

Contact your fertility clinic or NHS 111 as soon as possible if:

  • you have pain and bloating in your tummy (abdomen)
  • you're feeling and being sick
  • you feel faint
  • you're coughing up blood
  • you have vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge
  • you have pain or discomfort when going for a poo or wee

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • you have difficulty breathing
  • you have pain in your chest or upper back
  • you’re very thirsty and peeing less than usual (dehydration)
  • you have swelling in any part of your body
  • you have tummy pain, low down on one side
  • you have pain in the tip of your shoulder

These could be severe symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or an ectopic pregnancy.

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

Find out more

Content supplied by the NHS website

Page last reviewed: 23/04/2025