IVF Timeline: What to Expect from Start to Finish

When you start IVF, a medical process where eggs are fertilized outside the body to help people conceive. Also known as in vitro fertilization, it’s one of the most common and effective treatments for infertility. But most people don’t realize how long it actually takes — and how much happens between the first doctor’s visit and that pregnancy test. The whole journey usually runs 4 to 6 weeks per cycle, but it can stretch longer depending on your body, your doctor’s plan, and whether you need extra steps like genetic testing or donor eggs.

It’s not just about the timeline — it’s about the IVF process, a series of medical steps designed to stimulate ovulation, retrieve eggs, fertilize them in a lab, and transfer embryos. Each phase has its own rhythm. First comes the initial testing: blood work, ultrasounds, and sperm analysis. Then comes ovarian stimulation — you’ll take daily injections for about 8 to 14 days to grow multiple eggs. Your doctor will monitor you closely with scans and blood tests to time the egg retrieval just right. That procedure is quick, done under light sedation, and usually over in 20 minutes. The lab then combines eggs and sperm — sometimes with help from ICSI, where a single sperm is injected into each egg. After 3 to 5 days, one or two embryos are placed into your uterus. The waiting game starts again: a 9- to 12-day window before you can take a pregnancy test. Many people feel like this part is the hardest — not the shots, not the appointments, but the silence.

Not everyone succeeds on the first try. Around 30% to 40% of IVF cycles result in live births for women under 35, but that number drops with age. Some need two or three cycles. Others add IVF success rates, the percentage of cycles that lead to a live birth, which vary by age, clinic, and health factors into their decision-making. And if things don’t go as planned, there are options: frozen embryo transfers, donor eggs, or surrogacy. The IVF steps, the specific medical actions taken during fertility treatment are predictable, but your experience won’t be. Some feel in control; others feel overwhelmed. That’s normal.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories and clear guides that cut through the noise. You’ll see how others managed the injections, what they wish they’d known before their first cycle, how long recovery really takes after egg retrieval, and what to do if your first IVF doesn’t work. There’s no sugarcoating — just facts, timelines, and practical advice from people who’ve been there. Whether you’re just starting to research or you’re already on cycle two, this collection gives you the roadmap you won’t get from a brochure.