A Starters Guide to IVF: Everything You Need to Know Before You Begin

Written by Jess Rosenberg, moode Founder | Last reviewed June 2026

In 2018, Australian women initiated 84,064 IVF cycles, resulting in 14,355 babies born, almost one in 20 babies born in Australia that year, according to UNSW's Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand report. The number of cycles initiated each year has continued to grow.

Despite how common IVF has become, there remains a culture of silence around the experience. Many women go through it without knowing what to genuinely expect, physically or emotionally, until they are already in the middle of it. This guide aims to change that.

What is IVF and how does it work?

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a series of clinical procedures designed to assist conception, conducted in a clinical setting. IVF runs in cycles, with each cycle generally coinciding with one menstrual cycle.

Under normal circumstances, the ovaries release one egg per month, occasionally two. With IVF, hormone medications stimulate the follicles to produce multiple eggs in a single cycle, increasing the number of opportunities for fertilisation. The process can be invasive and involved, and it frequently brings with it an emotional rollercoaster driven by both the hormone medications and the psychological weight of the process itself.

Who is IVF for?

IVF may be recommended for a range of circumstances, including blocked fallopian tubes, irregular ovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, low egg count, fibroids, or a male partner experiencing low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal sperm morphology.

IVF is also used when one or both partners carry a genetic disorder they do not want to pass on, in conjunction with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M). It is commonly used when a person is about to begin cancer treatment that may affect future fertility, allowing eggs, sperm or embryos to be preserved beforehand.

IVF is also a well established pathway for same sex couples and single women wanting to have a baby without a male partner present in the process.

What actually happens during an IVF cycle?

Step one: your first blood test

Starting on the first day of your period, contact your fertility clinic for guidance. Day one usually includes a blood test in the morning. If your period starts in the afternoon, testing typically occurs the following morning instead.

Step two: ovarian stimulation with hormone medication

Treatment usually starts on day two or three of your cycle and continues daily until your eggs reach an appropriate size, which can take eight days or longer depending on the individual. These hormone medications are commonly associated with significant mood changes, and many women describe the emotional impact as intense.

Step three: trigger shot

Once the eggs have reached the required size, a trigger injection containing hCG hormone is administered to stimulate the release of the eggs.

Step four: egg retrieval under sedation

Roughly 34 to 36 hours after the trigger shot, the eggs are ready for retrieval. The procedure is short but can feel invasive. It is performed under sedation or anaesthetic in a procedure room or operating theatre, with eggs retrieved from the follicles via a thin needle under ultrasound guidance, performed by a fertility specialist. If the follicles cannot be accessed this way, egg retrieval is instead performed via laparoscopic surgery.

Step five: semen sample

If fresh sperm is being used rather than frozen or donor sperm, a fresh semen sample is typically produced on the same day as egg collection.

Step six: fertilisation

The mature eggs are combined with sperm in a culture dish to allow fertilisation to occur naturally. In some cases, the fertility specialist may recommend Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg. ICSI is typically used when sperm quality is a limiting factor.

Step seven: embryo transfer to the uterus

Roughly three to five days after retrieval, the embryo is transferred back into the uterus. A catheter is inserted through the vagina, and a syringe is used to place the embryo through the catheter into the uterus. The procedure is usually painless, though a mild sedative may be offered and mild cramping can occur. It is generally over within five minutes.

If more than one embryo develops successfully, the most viable is selected for transfer, and any additional viable embryos can be frozen and stored for future use.

Step eight: results

After the embryo transfer, a two week wait follows before a pregnancy test, conducted via blood test, can confirm the result.

What are the side effects of IVF hormone injections?

The hormone injections involved in IVF commonly cause bruising and tenderness at injection sites, nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, and increased moodiness and emotional fluctuation. None of these are abnormal, though the intensity varies significantly between individuals and between cycles.

How to support your body nutritionally during IVF

The nutritional environment in the months before and during IVF can meaningfully support egg quality and overall resilience through the process. Folate in its active form, choline, zinc and antioxidants including CoQ10 are the nutrients most consistently associated with supporting egg quality during ovarian stimulation.

The Prenatal by moode contains calcium folinate, 300mg of choline, zinc and a full B complex. It is Australian made and iron free. Always read the label and follow directions for use. For a deeper look at holistic support options during IVF, including acupuncture, naturopathy and nutrition, see our guide to holistic IVF add-ons.

moode answers your questions about starting IVF

How long does a full IVF cycle take?

From the start of hormone stimulation to the pregnancy test result, a single IVF cycle typically takes around four to six weeks. This does not include the preconception preparation period, which is often recommended to begin three months earlier.

Is IVF painful?

Most steps in the IVF process involve mild discomfort rather than significant pain. Egg retrieval is performed under sedation or anaesthetic. Embryo transfer is usually painless, though mild cramping can occur. The hormone injections themselves can cause bruising and tenderness rather than significant pain.

What is the difference between a fresh and frozen embryo transfer?

A fresh transfer uses an embryo from the same cycle in which the eggs were retrieved. A frozen transfer uses an embryo that was frozen in a previous cycle and thawed for transfer. According to UNSW research, frozen embryo transfers have shown higher live birth rates than fresh transfers in recent years, partly due to increased use of genetic testing on frozen embryos before transfer.

How many IVF cycles do most people need?

This varies significantly by age, underlying fertility factors, and individual response to treatment. Some people conceive on their first cycle, while others require multiple cycles. Your fertility specialist can give you a more individualised estimate based on your specific diagnostic results.

Can I work during an IVF cycle?

Many people continue working through most of an IVF cycle, though egg retrieval typically requires at least a day off to recover from sedation, and the emotional and physical demands of the stimulation phase can make full-capacity work more difficult for some. Planning flexibility into your schedule where possible is worth discussing with your employer if you are comfortable doing so.

About the author

Jess Rosenberg is the founder of moode and a trained nutritionist and naturopath. She created The Prenatal after her own experience of pregnancy left her questioning the quality of what was available on the Australian market. Learn more about moode.