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How in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) works
Below are the steps that are involved in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).* One full cycle of IVF 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. |
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Prof Martha Hickey, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and Director, Gynaecology Research Centre, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Dr Sally Baron-Hay, Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Northern Cancer Institute, NSW; Anita Cox, Cancer Nurse Specialist and Youth Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Kate Cox, McGrath Breast Health Nurse Consultant, Gawler/ Barossa Region, SA; Jade Harkin, Consumer; A/Prof Yasmin Jayasinghe, Director Oncofertility Program, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Chair, Australian New Zealand Consortium in Paediatric and Adolescent Oncofertility, Senior Research Fellow, The Royal Women’s Hospital and The University Of Melbourne, VIC; Melissa Jones, Nurse Consultant, Youth Cancer Service SA/NT, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Shanna Logan, Clinical Psychologist, The Hummingbird Centre, Newcastle West, NSW; Stephen Page, Family Law Accredited Specialist and Director, Page Provan, QLD; Dr Michelle Peate, Program Leader, Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing Research (emPoWeR) Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Royal Women’s Hospital and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Pampa Ray, Consumer; Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Health Psychology, and Chief Investigator, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Prof Beverley Vollenhoven AM, Carl Wood Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University and Director, Gynaecology and Research, Women’s and Newborn, Monash Health and Monash IVF, VIC; Lesley Woods, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA.
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