When you’re ready to grow your family but things aren’t going as planned, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or even a little lost. You’re not alone. Many individuals and couples face fertility challenges—and that’s where IVF treatment can step in as a powerful and hopeful solution. We’re here to help you understand your options and guide you through the process with compassionate, expert care.
In this post, we’re diving into what IVF is, how it works, and the advanced treatment options available. Whether you’re just starting to explore fertility support or have already been on this journey for a while, we want to give you a clear, honest, and encouraging look at how IVF can help you build the family you’ve been dreaming of.
The Role of IVF in Family-Building
IVF has become one of the most effective treatments for infertility, helping millions of families around the world. It’s often considered when other methods—like timed intercourse, fertility medications, or intrauterine insemination (IUI)—haven’t led to success.
There are many reasons someone might consider IVF. Sometimes it's due to female factor infertility, such as ovulation disorders, blocked fallopian tubes, or diminished ovarian reserve. Other times, male factor infertility like low sperm count or motility plays a role. In many cases, couples are dealing with unexplained infertility—when no clear cause is found despite testing. IVF is also a solution for individuals or couples who are at risk for passing on genetic conditions and want to screen embryos before pregnancy. And for same-sex couples or single parents by choice, IVF (with donor sperm, eggs, or a gestational carrier) is often a critical part of the journey.
Understanding The IVF Process
We know that starting IVF can feel daunting. That’s why we believe in walking you through each step, so you feel informed and empowered from day one.
Initial Consultation & Fertility Evaluation
Your IVF journey begins with an initial consultation. We take the time to learn about your medical history, fertility goals, and past treatments if any. We’ll conduct a series of diagnostic tests such as bloodwork to assess hormone levels, ultrasounds to examine the ovaries and uterus, and a semen analysis for male partners. This helps us understand what’s going on beneath the surface and tailor a plan specifically for your needs.
Ovarian Stimulation & Monitoring
Once we’ve outlined your protocol, we move into ovarian stimulation. This is part of the process where you’ll take fertility medications—usually through daily injections—to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the one that typically matures each month. During this phase, you’ll visit us regularly for bloodwork and ultrasounds so we can monitor your hormone levels and follicle development closely.
Egg Retrieval & Sperm Collection
When the time is right, we’ll schedule your egg retrieval. This is a short, outpatient procedure done under light sedation. Using ultrasound guidance, we retrieve the mature eggs from your ovaries using a thin needle. On the same day, a sperm sample is collected from your partner or donor. Both the eggs and sperm are taken to our embryology lab to begin the fertilization process.
Fertilization & Embryo Development
There are two main methods we use for fertilization: conventional IVF, where eggs and sperm are combined in a dish to fertilize naturally, and ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. ICSI is often recommended in cases of male factor infertility or past fertilization issues.
Once fertilized, embryos are monitored in our lab over the next few days to assess their growth and development. Around day 5, many embryos reach the blastocyst stage—this is when they’re considered ready for transfer or freezing.
Embryo Transfer & Implantation
The next step is embryo transfer, a simple and relatively quick procedure where we place the healthiest embryo into your uterus using a thin catheter. You can choose between a fresh transfer (days after retrieval) or a frozen embryo transfer (FET), which gives your body time to recover and allows us to prepare the uterine lining under optimal conditions.
After the transfer, we enter the infamous “two-week wait” before taking a pregnancy test. We stay in close touch with you during this time, offering guidance, reassurance, and support.
Advanced IVF Treatment Options
We’re proud to offer advanced IVF technologies that enhance success rates and provide more control over your reproductive future.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
PGT allows us to screen embryos for genetic abnormalities before transfer. This is especially beneficial for individuals or couples with known genetic conditions, older maternal age, or recurrent pregnancy loss. By selecting chromosomally normal embryos, we increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Donor Egg & Sperm Options
If your own eggs or sperm aren’t viable—or if you’re a same-sex couple or single parent—you may consider using donor eggs or donor sperm. We’ll help guide you through the process, from choosing a donor to coordinating treatment and support throughout the cycle.
Gestational Surrogacy
In cases where carrying a pregnancy isn’t safe or possible, gestational surrogacy can be a beautiful option. With surrogacy, an embryo created through IVF is transferred to a surrogate who carries the pregnancy. We work with you through the medical, legal, and emotional aspects of this journey with the utmost care and professionalism.
Fertility Preservation
If you're not quite ready to build a family but want to preserve your future options, we also offer egg and sperm freezing. This is ideal for individuals undergoing medical treatments, delaying parenthood, or simply wanting peace of mind for the future.
IVF Success Rates And What Affects Them
IVF success is influenced by several factors. Age, particularly the age of the eggs, plays a major role—success rates are typically higher for younger women. Other considerations include uterine health, underlying medical conditions, and even lifestyle factors like nutrition, exercise, and stress management.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a fertility clinic that offers not just the latest technology, but also individualized care. We bring both to the table. We don’t believe in a cookie-cutter approach—because you’re not a number, you’re a person with unique needs and dreams.
How Audubon Fertility Can Help?
We know that exploring IVF is a big decision—and you want a team you can trust. We combine cutting-edge science with genuine compassion. Our highly experienced team of fertility specialists, embryologists, and nurses work together to create a treatment plan that’s as unique as you are.
From the moment you walk through our doors, we’re focused on you—your story, your goals, your hopes. We offer everything from personalized ovarian stimulation protocols and state-of-the-art lab technology to advanced embryo selection and genetic testing. We’re proud to support patients through every phase of the IVF journey with warmth, honesty, and clarity.
Whether you’re just beginning to ask questions or are ready to start treatment, we’re here to guide you through it all—with empathy, expertise, and unwavering support.
Ready To Explore IVF? Let’s Talk.
If you're ready to take the next step toward growing your family, we're ready to walk beside you. IVF can be a powerful tool on the path to parenthood, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Reach out to Audubon Fertility today to schedule a consultation. Let’s explore your IVF options, answer your questions, and design a plan that brings you one step closer to holding your baby in your arms.