Treatment · 4 min read
IVF — in vitro fertilisation — is the most well-known fertility treatment in the world. The term simply means 'fertilisation in glass', and describes a process where an egg and sperm are brought together in a laboratory rather than inside the body.
Since the first IVF baby was born in 1978, the treatment has helped millions of people worldwide build their families. In the UK, the HFEA reports more than 75,000 IVF cycles each year — making it a well- established and tightly regulated medical treatment.
In a standard IVF cycle, hormone medications are used to encourage the ovaries to produce several eggs at once. Those eggs are collected in a short procedure, then mixed with sperm in the laboratory. If fertilisation occurs, one of the resulting embryos is transferred back into the uterus a few days later, with the hope it will implant and develop into a pregnancy.
NICE recommends considering IVF for people who have been trying to conceive for two years without success, as well as for specific medical reasons — including blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, male factor infertility, unexplained infertility, and same-sex couples or single parents using donor gametes.
Success rates depend heavily on age, the reason for treatment, and embryo quality. The HFEA publishes UK-wide data showing birth rates per embryo transferred, which is the most meaningful figure to look at. No clinic can promise a pregnancy, but a good clinic will be open and transparent about what is realistic for you.
IVF is one of several routes to parenthood, and it isn't always the first step. A thorough consultation — including the right tests — helps work out whether IVF, a simpler treatment, or further investigation is the most sensible next step. You can read more about our approach on our treatments page.
