WHAT TO EXPECT DURING IVF

Updated April 2024 | 5 min read

Knowing what to expect from IVF and the process can be emotional and overwhelming for couples trying to get pregnant.  

HCF member Kate started her IVF journey in 2015 at age 38. She’d done prior research and watched a friend go through multiple difficult attempts before eventual success, so she had some idea of what the experience would be like. Kate’s own doctor reinforced the need for her to have realistic expectations.

“He was very upfront. He said, ‘You can’t put it off any longer. If you’re going to do it, do it now,’ but he also said the likelihood of it working was at the lower end of the scale.”

Even so, it was a constant struggle not to daydream about holding a baby in her arms: “It’s very hard, because you want to focus on that end result, but you can’t or you’d go mad.”

What's the success rate of IVF?

IVF success rates have improved significantly over the last 10 years, a new report by UNSW medical researchers has shown. The live birth rate per initiated IVF cycle in women using their own eggs has increased by 18% overall, with even steeper improvements in older age groups.

“For example, in women aged 35 to 39, the live birth rate per cycle started has increased from 19% to 23%, representing a 20% relative increase in success rates,” says Professor Georgina Chambers, the lead author of UNSW’s Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand 2019 (ANZARD) report.

“And in those aged 40 to 44, the live birth rate has increased to 10%, representing a 27% increase in success rates over the last 10 years.”

What's the cost of IVF?

According to IVF Australia, one IVF cycle can cost $10,532, while data suggests egg freezing can cost $5,000 to $10,000, with medications thousands more. Even with private health insurance that covers IVF, it’s a significant cost because insurance doesn’t cover outpatient services like blood tests and ultrasounds.

There’s a significant variation in the costs associated with IVF, and this depends on a range of factors including:

• your personal circumstances
• where you live
• what services and treatments you require
• whether or not you have private health insurance
• what coverage is available from Medicare.

According to IVF Australia, one IVF cycle can cost over $10,000. The out-of-pocket expense could range from $5,000 to $5,483 on average for a first cycle of treatment, depending on your level of cover.

Most of the steps in the IVF process aren’t covered by private health insurance hospital cover, except when they’re performed as a day patient in hospital.

Some IVF costs are claimable on Medicare but there’ll be significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Procedures that may be partly covered by Medicare include:

• collecting your eggs
• transferring your embryos
• preparing frozen embryos.

Understanding the IVF process: what to expect

Understanding how to start IVF and the end-to-end process can be overwhelming. But learning about each step and what’s involved can help manage feelings of uncertainty, anxiousness and worry. According to Monash IVF, the steps are generally as follows:

• Hormone stimulation: On day two or three of your menstrual cycle, your hormone stimulation treatment will generally start. You’ll be given medication to stimulate your follicles, so they produce several eggs.
• Triggering ovulation: As your eggs mature, you’ll receive an injection of hormones to trigger ovulation. This precise timing is crucial for the subsequent retrieval process.
• Egg retrieval: Approximately 34 to 36 hours after your trigger injection, the egg retrieval procedure takes place. Under sedation, eggs are gently collected from the ovaries using ultrasound-guided technology.
• Sperm preparation: If you’re using your partner's sperm, they will need to provide a semen sample on the same day as the egg collection. Using frozen donor sperm is also an option.
• Fertilisation: In the laboratory, healthy eggs and sperm are carefully mixed together and incubated overnight. If the quality of the sperm is low, a specialised technique of Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) can be used. This involves the sperm being directly injected into the egg.
• Embryo transfer: Approximately two to five days after the egg retrieval, one or more eggs that have been fertilised (embryos) are placed into your uterus using a thin, flexible catheter inserted through your cervix. This is a straightforward procedure and in most cases, it can be performed without general anaesthesia. Any other viable embryos which are not transferred can be frozen for future use.
• Pregnancy test: Following the embryo transfer, you’ll need to wait two weeks before you can take a pregnancy test. Blood tests are generally more reliable than a home pregnancy test, so it's best to do this at your fertility clinic or through your doctor.

Common IVF side effects

The side effects experienced during IVF treatment will depend on the specific medications your specialist has prescribed for you.

Many women will have some reaction to the medicines used during IVF. According to the NHS, some of the side effects can be mild and may include:

• hot flushes
• feeling down or irritable
• headaches
• restlessness
• ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

You should contact the fertility clinic if you are concerned about the side effects during your IVF treatment.

A successful IVF outcome

Although Kate felt well cared for at the clinic she attended, it was still tough. Her first attempt was a cancelled cycle, which is when a woman’s eggs aren’t healthy enough to complete the procedure.

“The second appeared to be successful but was ‘a chemical pregnancy’ (a very early miscarriage), so hadn’t worked. That left me gutted for a bit. I had to have a break before I started again. You feel like you’re a failure.”

Work was both a useful distraction and, because Kate is a primary-school teacher, a sharp reminder of what was at stake.

About nine months after starting the process, Kate fell pregnant with daughter Elise, born in August 2016. “It’s like winning the lottery,” she says. “You go through the sleepless nights and you don’t really care because you’ve got this beautiful little girl who smiles at you.”

She’s intensely aware others she knows haven’t been so fortunate. “I’m very respectful of the fact that they have gone through it and it hasn’t been successful for them.”

Look after yourself

To those contemplating IVF, Kate says, “Listen to the counsellors. You don’t know what capacity you have to pick yourself up, so you need to listen to their advice about assessing your own strength as you’re going through it.”

“Also, be aware of your partner’s needs. It's different for them, but they’re on the journey as well. And don’t go into it with a fixed view that it’s going to work. You have to be realistic and think about how you’ll cope if it doesn’t.”

Your mental wellbeing during IVF

Going through IVF can be an emotionally exhausting journey which may impact your mental health. Looking after your wellbeing during this time is essential and you may benefit from extra support.

If you're struggling and need to speak to someone now, you can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

HCF’s HealthyMinds Check-in^* gives eligible members fast and easy access to a confidential telehealth consultation with a PSYCH2U psychologist who will conduct an initial assessment and refer you to further assistance and treatment.