On average, it takes 6-8 weeks to complete the one stimulation cycle including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, genetic testing, and frozen embryo transfer. If couple does not want genetic testing and wants to go ahead with the fresh embryo transfer then this process can be expedited and can finish into 20-23 days.
Risks of IVF
Apart from physical and emotional energy, IVF involves time, and money too. A woman taking fertility medicines may have bloating, abdominal discomfort, mood swings, headaches, and ooccasionally breast pain. IVF injections can also cause skin bruising for limited time in few women.
In rare cases, fertility drugs may cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). But we will take every measure to avoid it. Risks of oocyte retrieval procedure are anesthesia reaction, bleeding, infection, and rarely damage to surrounding structures.
It is not clear whether IVF increases the risk for malformations in baby.