IVF FAQs

Can IVF babies be born vaginally?

Yes. Babies conceived through IVF can usually be delivered vaginally, just like babies conceived without medical assistance.

The mode of birth depends on:

• Your health and pregnancy progress

• Baby’s position and wellbeing

• Any complications (for example placenta praevia, pre-eclampsia, twins)

IVF pregnancies can have a slightly higher chance of caesarean section, but your obstetrician will recommend the safest mode of birth for you and your baby.

Can I get pregnant naturally after IVF?

Sometimes, yes.

A proportion of people conceive spontaneously after IVF, particularly if:

• The underlying fertility issue improves or resolves

• Age and overall reproductive health are favourable

However, this cannot be guaranteed. Your individual chance depends on your diagnosis, age and ovarian reserve, semen parameters and other health factors.

How long does the IVF process take from start to finish?

Stimulation medications to egg collection and embryo creation is usually 2 weeks. 

A full standard IVF cycle typically spans 4–6 weeks, including:

• Pre-treatment investigations and planning

• Ovarian stimulation (around 10–14 days of injections)

• Egg collection procedure

• Fertilisation and embryo culture in the laboratory

• Fresh or frozen embryo transfer (either in the same cycle or later, depending on your protocol)

You’ll be given a personalised timeline so you know what to expect week-by-week.

Is IVF painful?

Most people describe IVF as physically manageable, with:

• Mild discomfort or bruising from injections

• Bloating or pelvic discomfort during stimulation

• Egg collection performed under sedation or anaesthetic to minimise pain

You’ll be supported with clear instructions, pain relief where needed and close follow-up.

Do I need to start treatment on Day 1 of my period?

No — stimulation do not always have to begin with a period. While many treatment protocols traditionally start early in the menstrual cycle, modern understanding of ovarian physiology shows that the ovaries do not develop follicles in a single, predictable wave each month.

Instead, research demonstrates the multiple follicular wave theory, where:

• Follicles are recruited and begin to grow in more than one wave during a cycle

• Growth can occur in the early, mid- or late-follicular phase — even after ovulation

• A second or sometimes third cohort of follicles may be active later in the cycle

• These waves can be harnessed for stimulation without waiting for a period to begin

This means that, depending on your hormone levels and ultrasound findings, treatment can often start at various points in the cycle, rather than being restricted to Day 1.

Why this matters:

• Allows more flexibility in cycle planning

• Reduces delay between treatment cycles

• Supports urgent or time-sensitive fertility care (e.g. fertility preservation)

• Expands options for patients with irregular periods or delayed bleeding

Your specialist will determine the safest and most effective start time based on:

• Ultrasound appearance of the ovaries

• Follicle size and number

• Hormone results (E2, LH, progesterone)

• Your planned treatment type (IVF stimulation, or random start protocol)

In many cases, you do not need to wait for a period - the ovaries simply need to be in the right hormonal state to begin stimulation.