What to Expect During Your First IVF Cycle

Starting your first IVF cycle is a significant milestone. Knowing what to expect at each stage can reduce anxiety, help you prepare practically, and allow you to be an informed participant in your own treatment. Here is a comprehensive week-by-week overview of what your first IVF cycle will look like at IVF CAFE Clinic.

Before the Cycle Begins: Baseline Testing

Before your first injection, your specialist will conduct a baseline ultrasound on Day 2 or 3 of your menstrual cycle to assess your antral follicle count and check for ovarian cysts. Blood tests will measure your baseline hormone levels (FSH, LH, oestradiol). This information helps your doctor finalize your stimulation protocol.

Days 1–5: Starting Stimulation Injections

You will begin daily subcutaneous injections of gonadotropins (FSH and/or LH) to stimulate your ovaries to grow multiple follicles. These injections are self-administered and most patients find them manageable after the first few days. You may experience mild bloating, breast tenderness, or mood changes — all normal side effects of the hormones.

Days 5–12: Monitoring Appointments

You will attend the clinic every 2–3 days for transvaginal ultrasound scans and blood tests to monitor follicle growth and hormone levels. Your medication dose may be adjusted based on your response. This monitoring phase is critical to ensuring that your ovaries respond well without over-stimulating.

Day 10–14: Trigger Injection

Once your follicles reach 18–20mm, you will receive a trigger injection (hCG or GnRH agonist) to mature the eggs. Egg retrieval is scheduled precisely 34–36 hours after the trigger injection — timing is critical for maximizing egg quality.

Egg Retrieval Day

Egg retrieval is performed under light sedation in our procedure room. Using a fine ultrasound-guided needle, our specialist aspirates follicular fluid from each follicle to retrieve the eggs. Most patients experience minimal discomfort and can go home within 2–3 hours. Some mild cramping or spotting afterwards is normal.

Fertilization & Embryo Development (Days 1–5 in Lab)

Your embryologist will contact you the following morning with a fertilization report — how many eggs were mature and how many fertilized successfully. Over the next 3–5 days, your embryos develop in our incubators under close monitoring. You will receive daily updates from our lab team.

Embryo Transfer Day

On Day 3 or Day 5 (blastocyst stage), the best-quality embryo is transferred into your uterus. The procedure takes about 10–15 minutes, requires no anaesthesia, and is generally painless. You will rest briefly at the clinic before going home. Bed rest is not required — light activities are perfectly fine.

The Two-Week Wait

The 14 days between embryo transfer and your pregnancy blood test are often the most emotionally intense part of the cycle. You will continue taking progesterone support medication. Avoid home pregnancy tests during this period, as they can give misleading results. Stay in touch with our team if you have any concerns.

Pregnancy Test Day

A blood beta-hCG test at IVF CAFE Clinic will confirm whether implantation has occurred. If positive, congratulations — your clinical pregnancy journey begins! If the result is negative, your doctor will schedule a follow-up consultation to review and plan your next steps.

• Wear comfortable clothing to all clinic appointments
• Stay well hydrated throughout the stimulation phase
• Avoid strenuous exercise from stimulation start until pregnancy test
• Take all medications exactly as prescribed
• Reach out to our team immediately if you experience severe pain or bloating