INSIDE EMBRYO · A GUIDE FOR PATIENTS
The IVF
Journey.
One connected pathway. A clearer picture of what happens, what comes next, and what you can ask along the way.
Explore your journeyLET’S START WITH YOU
where are you at this journey
Follow the arrows, or jump to the stage that matters to you today. Select any picture to open a short explanation.
Find your current stage
Your journey, one step at a time.
This shows a common IVF pathway. Your plan and timings may differ. Day 0 means egg collection day.
Before your cycleConsultation & planningExplore this stage
Your team reviews your history, investigations and treatment options. Together you discuss the proposed plan, consent, costs and the support you may need.
Your appointments and treatment plan may look different from someone else's.
During preparationStimulation & monitoringExplore this stage
Medicines may help several follicles develop in the ovaries. Ultrasound scans, and sometimes blood tests, help the team follow your response.
A follicle is a fluid-filled structure; its appearance on a scan does not confirm that an egg will be collected.
When your clinic advisesFinal maturation & timingExplore this stage
When the team judges the timing appropriate, a final maturation medicine, often called a trigger, may be prescribed before egg collection.
The time matters. Use your clinic's exact instructions and contact them if a dose or timing is unclear.
Two preparations, happening alongside each other
EGG PREPARATIONCollection day · day 0Egg collectionExplore this stage
During the collection procedure, follicular fluid is passed to the laboratory. Embryologists search it for eggs and place the eggs in suitable culture conditions.
The number of eggs collected may differ from the number of follicles seen on scans.
SPERM PREPARATIONAlongside egg collectionSperm collection & preparationExplore this stage
The laboratory prepares the planned sperm sample. Depending on your treatment, this may be a fresh sample, stored sperm, donor sperm or surgically retrieved sperm.
Sample arrangements are individual and are agreed with your clinic.
Prepared eggs and sperm come together
Usually day 0IVF or ICSIExplore this stage
With conventional IVF, prepared sperm and eggs are placed together. With ICSI, an embryologist introduces one sperm into a mature egg. Your team explains which method is planned.
These are ways of attempting fertilisation. They do not guarantee that an egg will fertilise.
Usually the following day · day 1The fertilisation checkExplore this stage
The laboratory checks for signs of fertilisation. Two pronuclei are a usual observation at the appropriate assessment time; your team explains your own result.
An egg collected, an egg fertilised and an embryo developing are different milestones.
Often days 2–3Early cell divisionsExplore this stage
The fertilised egg divides into smaller cells. Embryologists assess development over time; this picture shows one example of a cleavage-stage embryo.
Some treatment plans include transfer at this stage. Others continue culture toward a blastocyst.
Some plans include transfer at this stage. Follow the transfer route →
Other embryos continue in culture along the pathway below.
Often around day 4Compaction & morulaExplore this stage
The cells begin to pack closely together into a compact cluster called a morula.
Development varies between embryos. Not every embryo reaches each later stage.
Often days 5–6; sometimes laterBlastocyst developmentExplore this stage
A blastocyst has a fluid-filled space, an outer cell layer and a group of cells called the inner cell mass. The laboratory assesses whether an embryo is suitable for the next planned step.
An embryo's appearance or grade cannot promise implantation or a pregnancy.
Your transfer plan may follow either route
SAME CYCLEDuring the same treatment cycleFresh transfer routeExplore this stage
If your embryo and clinical circumstances are suitable, transfer may take place in the same cycle. Your team chooses the transfer day with you.
Fresh transfer may be at a cleavage stage or a blastocyst stage.
LATER CYCLEA later transfer cycleFreeze, store & warm laterExplore this stage
Suitable embryos may be vitrified and stored. For a later frozen embryo transfer, the clinic prepares the uterine lining and the laboratory warms the chosen embryo.
Freezing may be planned for all suitable embryos or for additional embryos after a fresh transfer. Not every embryo survives warming.
When appropriate, either route leads to embryo transfer
On the planned transfer dayEmbryo transferExplore this stage
A selected embryo is placed in the uterus through a fine catheter. The clinic explains the procedure and any medicines to continue afterward.
Transfer and implantation are different events. Placement in the uterus does not confirm a pregnancy.
Until your clinic's test dateThe waiting periodExplore this stage
This can be an emotionally demanding part of treatment. Follow the plan given by your clinic and use its contact arrangements if you have concerns.
Symptoms, or a lack of symptoms, cannot reliably tell you the result. Test on the date your clinic gives you.
Your clinic's scheduled datePregnancy test & next stepsExplore this stage
Share the result with your clinic. A positive result needs the follow-up they arrange; a negative or uncertain result also deserves review and support.
The next step may be follow-up tests, an early scan, a discussion of another treatment plan, or time to pause.
Some cycles pause, change or end before transfer. Your team can explain what happened and help you decide what comes next.
Some embryos are transferred at the cleavage stage, before the later development stages shown here. Jump to embryo transfer →
A LITTLE CLARITY GOES A LONG WAY
You may have heard…
Let’s look at the facts.
Five common IVF myths, explained simply. Swipe or scroll through each one.
01 / Choosing a fertilisation method
ICSI is always better than conventional IVF.
ICSI can help when there is a specific reason to use it, such as certain sperm-related problems. Routine use does not automatically improve outcomes for everyone. Ask why it is recommended in your case.
Read the supporting guidance →02 / Choosing how many embryos to transfer
Transferring two embryos is always the better choice.
More embryos can increase the chance of twins and the risks of a multiple pregnancy. For many patients, transferring one suitable embryo is the safer approach. Your team advises on your circumstances.
Read the supporting guidance →03 / Understanding embryo freezing
An embryo that has been frozen cannot lead to a healthy pregnancy.
Frozen embryos are routinely used in treatment and can lead to healthy pregnancies. Not all embryos survive warming; the laboratory checks whether a warmed embryo is suitable for transfer.
Read the supporting guidance →04 / After embryo transfer
Staying in bed after transfer improves the chance of pregnancy.
Evidence does not support routine bed rest after embryo transfer. Ask your clinic about appropriate activity and follow any individual restrictions it gives you for your own health.
Read the supporting guidance →05 / Waiting for the test date
A positive test taken very early proves that treatment worked.
Testing too early can mislead: an hCG trigger can remain in the body and cause a positive result. Use the test date your clinic gives you and report the result for follow-up.
Read the supporting guidance →1 of 5
FOR YOUR NEXT CONVERSATION
Leave with a question.
Come back with more clarity.
MY NEXT STEPWhat happens next in my own cycle?
MY NEXT UPDATEWhen should I expect to hear from the team?
MY SUPPORTWho can I contact when I need help?
You can take this one step at a time.
Keep a note of unfamiliar words. Ask your team to explain them in language that works for you, and ask about counselling or other support whenever you need it.
Sources and notes about this guide
- ASRM · Embryo transfer and evidence on bed rest
- HFEA · IVF overview
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS · Medicines and monitoring
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS · Egg collection
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS · Sperm collection
- HFEA · ICSI
- Cambridge IVF · Development in the laboratory
- HFEA · Embryo development and transfer choices
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS · Embryo transfer
- HFEA · Embryo freezing
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS · Pregnancy test and review
Sources consulted 28 September 2026. This guide explains general treatment stages and does not set a personal treatment schedule. Follow the plan given by your fertility team.
By Manoj Kumar K, Embryologist · Inside Embryo. AI-generated illustrations are not to scale and cannot be used to assess embryo quality. Medical disclaimer