Starting IVF can feel like stepping into a world with its own language. Stimulation protocols, trigger shots, blastocysts — the terminology alone is enough to feel overwhelming. But underneath the jargon, an IVF cycle follows a fairly predictable rhythm, and knowing that rhythm ahead of time makes the whole experience far less daunting.

The four phases of a cycle

Most cycles move through stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation, and transfer over roughly three to six weeks. Stimulation usually involves ten to fourteen days of injections, with regular scans to watch how your follicles respond. Retrieval itself is a short procedure under sedation, and most people are home the same day.

Questions worth asking early

Ask your clinic how they personalise protocols, what their policies are around embryo freezing, and how they communicate results. A good clinic will welcome these questions. At Oocyt, we help you prepare them in advance — so your first consultation works as hard as possible for you.