Preparation & Stimulation

• Through the use of oral and injectable medications, the ovaries are pushed into hyperstimulation with the goal of creating a large amount of follicles (which hold the eggs).

• Between this step and the next, about 25% of the present eggs are lost.

Egg Retrieval

• After about 14 days of stims (ovarian stimulation via medications), the person usually goes under general anesthesia for the egg retrieval. The doctor will typically use transvaginal ultrasound aspiration to retrieve the eggs from the follicles.

• Between this step and the next, about 30% of the present eggs are lost.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

• Once the eggs have been retrieved, they quickly will be fertilized with washed, healthy sperm.

• Over the next 3-7 days, the fertilized eggs are closely monitored to see which make it to the blastocyt stage, “blasts” for short.

• Between this step and the next, about 60% of the present eggs are lost.

Embryo Testing

• Once Embryos (Blasts) have reached this stage, they then are tested for genetic abnormalities and graded based on their cellular structure. This helps the doctors see which embryos have the highest potential of becoming a fetus and eventually a baby.

• Between this step and the next, about 50% of the present eggs are lost.

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

• Now that there are healthy, well-graded embryos they can be transferred back into the body.

• A doctor will inject 1-2 embryos into the carrier’s uterine lining with the hopes that they will implant and stick around for a while.

• Keeping in mind, this entire time the carrier will have been taking additional medications to prepare their bodies for FET, implantation, and hopefully, carrying a baby to full-term.

• 1 in 4 pregnancies end in a miscarriage. IVF success rates vary based on age, health factors, and grade of embryo. You can check out what your chances would be here.

Beta Blood Test

• A Blood test will be conducted 7-10 days after a FET to determine if pregnancy has occurred.

• If the HCG is indicating that there is a potential pregnancy, a second blood test will be done 48 hours later to determine if the HCG is doubling as it should during this phase. This second test is the first indicator if the pregnancy is initially viable.

• If the test is negative, the person trying to conceive will discuss with their doctor if they should do another round of IVF for more eggs, or to do another FET if they have embryos available.