Artificial insemination, or in vitro fertilization, is a technique used to help a woman become pregnant. It happens when a human egg is fertilized with sperm in a laboratory.

IVF is used to treat infertility and some genetic problems.

What happens during the IVF process?

During IVF, eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized in a laboratory with sperm provided by her partner or a donor.

One or two embryos – fertilized eggs – are implanted into the woman’s uterus.

Here are the typical stages in an IVF cycle:

• A woman’s normal menstrual cycle is stopped with daily injections or nasal sprays.
• A woman is injected with fertility hormones to stimulate her ovaries, so that she produces several eggs instead of just one.
• When the eggs mature, they are collected using a fine needle, guided by ultrasound, under light sedation.
• The eggs are fertilized in a laboratory with sperm provided by the woman’s partner or a donor.
• The fertilized eggs (embryos) are grown in an incubator for a few days.
• 1 or 2 healthy embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus using a thin tube inserted into the vagina and cervix.
• If the embryo succeeds in implantation, the woman becomes pregnant. You will need to wait two weeks to take a pregnancy test.
• Any remaining healthy embryos can be frozen and stored for later use if necessary.

Women who have IVF often have more than one cycle.

There are many variations of the IVF procedure. For example, sperm or eggs can be collected from a donor. In some cases, the surrogate may carry a pregnancy.

Chances of IVF success

On average, every time a woman gets an IVF cycle, she has a 1 in 5 chance of getting pregnant and having a baby. This chance is higher for women younger than 35, and lower for older women, as it decreases with age. At age 44, the chance of success is less than 1 in 10.

Some women need up to 5 cycles of treatment to be successful, while others never get pregnant.

Can singles, lesbians or gays use IVF?

Any infertile Australian can use IVF whether they are single or in a partnership.

The situation can be different for gay or lesbian (who may not be infertile) and same-sex couples seeking IVF. After changes to the law in recent years, IVF is now available to lesbians in most parts of Australia. For information about IVF relevant to your particular situation, talk to your doctor or local fertility clinic.

IVF costs

IVF takes a long time. Repeated cycles can take a psychological and physical toll on the people who go through them.

Financial costs vary a lot, but each IVF cycle can cost several thousand dollars. You can get a discount on some IVF items from Medicare if they are medically necessary for you to get pregnant. Your own health fund may pay for other aspects of your treatment. There are also costs for medications, tests, and day surgery.

If you’re considering IVF, it’s important to talk to your doctor, IVF clinic, and your health fund (if you have one) to understand what you will be charged and what will be covered for.