IVF is a method for achieving a pregnancy after fertility issues, but it will only be an option for some people after cancer. IVF is when an egg is fertilised with sperm in a laboratory and later implanted into a female body. Eggs, sperm or embryos frozen before cancer treatment can be used. One full cycle of IVF, pictured below, takes about 2–3 weeks.*
 | 1. Ovarian stimulationHormone injections daily for 10–14 days help stimulate your body to produce more eggs. |
 | 2. Egg collectionMature egg/s are collected from the follicle using a needle guided by ultrasound. |
 | 3. Egg and sperm combinedThe eggs are combined with sperm from a partner or donor, or frozen (cryopreservation) for later use. |
 | 4. Embryo freezingFertilised eggs may divide and form embryos. Embryos can also be frozen (cryopreservation) for later use. |
 | 5. Embryo transferA syringe and tube is used to implant embryos into your body (or a surrogate). This will usually happen after cancer treatment. |
→ READ MORE: Female options after cancer treatment
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Dr Sally Reid, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Adelaide) and Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Sarah Ellis, Clinical Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital and UNSW, NSW; John Booth, Consumer; Hope Finlen, Haematology Nurse Consultant, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Dr Michelle Harrison, Medical Oncologist – Gynaecological cancers, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Melissa Jones, Nurse Consultant, Youth Cancer Service SA/NT, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Violet Kieu, Clinical Director, Melbourne IVF and Fertility Specialist, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Stephen Page, Family and Fertility Lawyer, and Legal Practice Director, Page Provan, QLD; Ann Retzlaff, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; A/Prof Kate Stern AO, Fertility specialist, Gynaecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF, VIC; Georgia Webster, Consumer.
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