In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a fertility treatment that involves fertilising an egg outside your body.¹ In IVF treatment, eggs are removed from your ovaries and mixed with sperm in a laboratory. One or more fertilised eggs (called embryos) are then returned to your womb. The different stages of the process are known as a treatment cycle.^1,2

IVF can be used to help people with a wide range of fertility problems.^1,2 You may also have IVF treatment if you’re having egg freezing or embryo freezing for future use. 

• You can have IVF treatment using your own eggs and sperm from a male partner, or you can use donated eggs or donor sperm. You can also have IVF as part of surrogacy. 
  
  Ultimately, we want to make sure all our patients understand the IVF process and are fully prepared for treatment. This includes the following steps. 
• An initial medical consultation with your named consultant. They’ll discuss your individual circumstances and treatment options. At the end of the consultation, we’ll provide you with a personalised treatment plan and associated costs. 
• Completion of consent forms for treatment. This is an essential clinical and legal part of the process. We’ll make sure you have all the information you need to be able to give your consent – and plenty of opportunities to ask us any questions. 
• A pre-IVF consultation with our nursing team. This happens one-to-two weeks before your treatment starts. We’ll make sure all your screening tests are complete, confirm you’ve given consent and go through your treatment plan with you.  

You can find out more about IVF and meet our clinic team at our open evenings. Held both online and in-person, these events are designed to help those actively thinking about fertility treatment options. 

IVF success rates in the UK from 2021 show that 29 out of every 100 fresh embryo transfers (29%) led to pregnancy. This is based on data from all licensed fertility clinics in the UK and across all age groups. Fresh embryo transfer means embryos that are transferred straight away in an IVF cycle, rather than being frozen. 

You’ll find more information about success rates at the Lister Fertility Clinic, here. 

Your individual chance of success with IVF will depend on many things. These include:²

• Your age. Your chance of success is greater the younger you are. 
• The number of treatment cycles you’ve had. Chances of success fall with the number of failed treatment cycles. 
• Whether you’ve previously been pregnant. Your chances are greater if you’ve previously been pregnant or had a baby. 
• Your weight. Your chances are greater if you’re a healthy weight for your height. 
• Lifestyle factors. Drinking alcohol or caffeine and smoking can reduce the chance of success. 
  

The risk of side effects from IVF is generally low. But while most people don’t experience any problems,³ it’s still important to be aware of them. IVF treatment side effects may include:^2,3

• Side effects from fertility medicines, such as hot flushes, discomfort and bloating, breast tenderness and headaches⁴
  
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This is when too many eggs develop in your ovaries. It can be very painful and, in severe cases, dangerous. Your consultant will tell you the signs to look out for. 
  
• Multiple pregnancies. This is riskier for both you and your babies. 
  
• Ectopic pregnancy. This is when a pregnancy develops in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy cannot survive. 

It’s unclear whether there could be an increase in the risk of congenital birth defects, but these are very rare. Research is ongoing in this area.³

Our price lists include clear information on our IVF treatment costs. It’s important to remember that every treatment journey is different. Some people need more services, and others need less. There are also often variations in medication costs. 

We also offer multicycle IVF packages through our partnerships with Access Fertility and Assured Fertility.