Steps in the IVF process

When follicles mature

Your progress will be carefully monitored until a sufficient number of follicles are mature. Then you will be given an injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) that gives the eggs their final necessary growth spurt.

Once hCG is given, the clock starts ticking because ovulation will naturally occur about 40 hours later. But in an IVF cycle, egg retrieval must occur before natural ovulation occurs.

Eggs: too few or too many?

Too few? Unfortunately, some women may not respond well to the follicle stimulating drugs. When too few follicles are produced, the cycle is typically cancelled. Your doctor may suggest a different IVF protocol or investigate the reasons for the poor response.

Too many? Other women may respond too well and produce too many follicles in the ovary. This is called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), and it may range from mild to moderate to severe. Frequent monitoring of hormone levels combined with ultrasound scans will help your doctor prevent severe OHSS. However, OHSS is still one of the risks associated with IVF, even with the most diligent monitoring efforts.