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The IVF Timeline: How Long Does it Take?

By CNY Fertility Updated on — Medically Reviewed and Certified by Brandis Montez, FNP-BC Brandis Montez, FNP-BC
The IVF Timeline: How Long Does it Take?

Starting out on your In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey can be both exciting and daunting. One of the first questions couples ask is “How long does IVF take?” Understanding the timeline of the IVF process can help you plan ahead and manage expectations.

In this article, we’ll detail a typical IVF timeline, focusing on the four stages from the start of ovarian stimulation to the embryo transfer. We’ll expand our scope to include the initial consultation, preconception fertility testing, and priming protocols through pregnancy.

IVF Timeline Overview

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IVF Cycle With Fresh Embryo Transfer Timeline

Once you’ve undergone fertility testing and completed the optional priming period with a holistic preconception protocol, you’re ready to begin
the IVF cycle.

Explore our interactive IVF Timeline Calendar and details below for more information.

Phase 1: Ovarian Stimulation | From Day 1 to Day 9–11

The first phase of the IVF timeline is ovarian stimulation, which lasts approximately 10–12 days.

The first day of medicated ovarian stimulation is considered “Day 1” of IVF, but it usually takes place on days 2–5 of a woman’s natural menstrual cycle. The exact timeline may vary depending on individual circumstances.

The goal of ovarian stimulation is to develop
as many mature eggs as possible
without ovulating, a process often referred to as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Ovarian stimulation involves administering injectable medications and attending frequent
monitoring appointments
to check hormone levels. Ultrasound monitoring is also used to measure follicle, egg, and uterine lining development.

Below is a general timeline. Actual dates may vary:

The first day of your menstrual cycle

  • Call or message the care team on the first day of full menstrual flow before 12 p.m. (or whenever full flow begins).

Day 1 (of stimulation, not cycle day 1)

  • Baseline monitoring appointment to assess hormone levels, follicle count, and uterine lining thickness
  • Self-administered
    injections
    of FSH and LH to stimulate egg growth

Day 2

  • FSH (and LH)

Day 3

  • FSH (and LH)

Day 4

  • FSH (and LH)

Day 5

  • Monitoring appointment
  • FSH (and LH)

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

  • FSH (and LH)
  • GnRH antagonist

Day 9

  • Monitoring appointment
  • FSH (and LH)
  • GnRH antagonist

Day 10

  • Trigger shot (Lupron and/or hCG) to trigger final egg maturation

Day 11

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Phase 2: Egg Retrieval | Day 11–12 (35–36 hours after trigger shot)

Egg retrieval
is a same-day minor surgical procedure that takes place 35–36 hours after the first trigger shot, usually around day 12 of stimulation.

A thin needle guided by transvaginal ultrasound is used to extract fluid from mature follicles in the ovaries.
The eggs are contained within this fluid.
You are under IV sedation and should not feel pain during the procedure.

Phase 3: Embryology, Development, and Uterine Lining Preparation | Day 12–17

After retrieval, eggs are assessed by an
embryologist
to confirm maturity.

Mature eggs are
fertilized with sperm
and cultured for 3–7 days as they develop into embryos.

  • Cleavage stage: typically reached on day 3 of embryo development
  • Blastocyst stage: typically reached on day
    5,
    though some embryos reach this stage on days 6 or 7

During this time, estrogen and
progesterone
are taken to prepare the uterine lining for
implantation.

Day 12 (Egg Retrieval / Day 0 of embryo development)

  • Eggs are fertilized
  • No medications taken

Day 13 (Day 1 of embryo development)

  • Embryos checked for fertilization
  • Estrogen and progesterone

Day 14 (Day 2 of embryo development)

  • Embryos should be 2–4 cells
  • Estrogen and progesterone

Day 15 (Day 3 of embryo development)

  • Embryos should be 6–8 cells and may be transferred if doing a day 3 transfer (depending on your plan)
  • Estrogen and progesterone

Day 16 (Day 4 of embryo development)

  • Embryos should be at the morula stage
  • Estrogen and progesterone

Day 17

  • Embryos should be at the blastocyst stage and may be transferred if doing a blastocyst transfer (depending on your plan)
  • Estrogen and progesterone
  • At this point, the blastocyst embryos and uterine lining are ready for transfer.

Phase 4: Embryo Transfer | Day 17

Embryos are transferred either fresh or frozen back into the woman’s uterus.

  • A fresh transfer takes place on day 17, 5 days after egg retrieval (Day 0).

If you opt for a fresh transfer, a single embryo is transferred in a procedure that takes 20 to 30 minutes. Remaining embryos can be safely frozen and stored for later use in a process called
vitrification.

If you choose a frozen transfer (FET), embryos are cultured to blastocyst stage before freezing.

  • Frozen embryos are typically transferred between days 19 and 21 of a patient’s menstrual cycle.

The exact date on the IVF timeline depends on when the embryo was frozen and when progesterone supplementation begins.

For example, if progesterone supplementation begins after day 3 or day 5 post–egg retrieval, the transfer will usually take place on day 6.
9
10

Phase 5: Implantation and Pregnancy | Day 18–32

The embryo will typically begin to implant in the uterus a couple of days after embryo transfer.

However, it will take around 9 to 11 days from the date of transfer to detect pregnancy with a blood test called an “hCG beta.”

Home pregnancy tests may be negative even when a blood test is positive. For this reason, do not stop medications unless your care team tells you to do so (this is always after blood test confirmation).

Technically, IVF ends with embryo transfer, but most patients will continue medications that support implantation and pregnancy.

A general implantation timeline looks like this (immune protocols and add-ons may vary):

  • Day 17: Embryo transfer, progesterone, estrogen
  • Day 18: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 19: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 20: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 21: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 22: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 23: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 24: Blood test, progesterone, estrogen. A blood test checks whether your hormone levels are in the expected range. If
    traveling for IVF, this test can be done at a lab closer to home. Results are typically available the same day.
  • Day 25: Progesterone and estrogen
  • Day 26: Pregnancy test, progesterone, estrogen. Another blood test is done (at a lab of your choice) to determine whether you are pregnant. Results are typically available the same day.

Timeline From a Positive Pregnancy Test

If you get a positive pregnancy test:

  • You will take another test in 2–3 days to evaluate rising levels.
  • About 1 week later, you will have an ultrasound to confirm implantation site and the gestational sac.
  • An ultrasound at 6 weeks can detect a heartbeat. Once a heartbeat is detected, there is a 90–95% probability the pregnancy will continue to a live birth. Many patients are discharged from the IVF clinic around 8 weeks.
  • Around 12 weeks, you will schedule routine prenatal care with your obstetrician.

Timeline From a Negative Pregnancy Test

If your pregnancy test is negative:

  • Your specialist will advise which medications to stop and which to continue.
  • Your period will likely start in a few days.
  • You can begin another IVF cycle as soon as you would like.

Timeline for IVF With a Frozen Embryo Transfer

Frozen embryo transfers (FET) now account for more than half of all embryo transfers. Let’s explore how this technique impacts the length of the IVF cycle.

Frozen embryo transfers are performed for a number of reasons, including:

  • Failed fresh transfer
  • Genetic testing (all genetically tested embryos must be frozen)
  • Higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
  • The uterus is not ready for embryo transfer following the stimulation cycle

For patients who opt not to undergo a fresh embryo transfer, the protocol is called a “freeze-all IVF cycle,” in which all embryos are frozen for future FETs.

The freeze-all process follows these steps:

  1. Stimulation
  2. Retrieval
  3. Embryology lab: fertilization, embryo development, and cryopreservation

In the case of frozen embryo transfer, the IVF timeline extends by an average of 4–6 weeks. Here’s a breakdown.

Preparation

  • Hormone therapy: Some patients take hormonal medications to prepare the endometrial lining (about 2–4 weeks).
  • Natural cycle or hormone replacement cycle: Depending on whether the FET is done in a
    natural cycle
    or a hormone replacement cycle, preparation typically takes about 2–3 weeks.

Monitoring

  • Ultrasound scans and blood tests confirm that the endometrial lining is developing properly (typically over 1–2 weeks).

Transfer

  • Embryo transfer is a brief procedure similar to a fresh transfer. After transfer, there is a 9–11 day wait before a pregnancy test can confirm whether the transfer was successful.

Preparation for IVF: 30–90 Days Prior to Treatment

Once you’ve had your initial consultation (or even before), you will begin preparing for IVF. Preparation involves two key steps:

Together, these steps help your doctors tailor your treatment to your needs while you take steps to maximize the odds of a successful pregnancy.

Fertility Testing

Before starting IVF, you will undergo thorough fertility testing to assess factors that affect reproductive health.

Fertility testing may include the following:

Female Testing

Male Testing

  • Semen analysis to evaluate sperm count, motility, and morphology (when needed)

Preconception Lifestyle and Health

The human egg enters its final stage of development around 90 days before ovulation. Similarly, sperm takes about 72 days to fully develop.

During this period, preconception measures can help optimize egg and sperm quality and, ultimately, embryo quality.

Preconception measures include:

How Long Does IVF Take? The Bottom Line

The technical IVF timeline is around 30 days—about the length of a natural menstrual cycle. During this time, you undergo the four core procedures that make up IVF treatment.

  • Ovarian stimulation: Day 1 through Day 9–11
  • Egg retrieval: Day 11–12
  • Embryology: Day 11–17
  • Embryo transfer: Day 17

When using a frozen embryo transfer technique, this timeline can be extended by 4–6 weeks.

A more comprehensive IVF timeline also includes:

  • The 30–90 days prior to treatment (preconception)
  • The two weeks after transfer, when hormone levels are monitored through pregnancy testing

During preconception, diet and lifestyle practices can help prime your body for success.

It’s important to remember that every person is unique and may experience changes to their IVF timeline. If you’re new to IVF and want expert guidance, feel free to
schedule a consultation with one of our fertility specialists.