Home / Procedures / IVF / Results and aftercare

Results and aftercare · Last reviewed 10 July 2025

Written and maintained by the Clinics for Kings editorial desk·Edited by Morten Andersen & Fredrik Filipsson

Fact-checked against the cited medical and cost sources by the Clinics for Kings editorial desk·General information, not a clinician’s review — always consult a licensed doctor.

IVF, the result and the care around it.

IVF success is real but far from guaranteed, and it falls sharply with age. Here is what the numbers actually say, what the two week wait involves, and the aftercare and emotional support that matter. Honest and sourced. We never name a clinic.

General health information, not medical advice, and not a substitute for a qualified doctor. Always consult a licensed professional before making any decision.

Published by Kings Hospitality LLC · 1314 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, USA. Edited by Morten Andersen & Fredrik Filipsson. See our editorial standards & corrections policy.

falls with age

Success per cycle
age is the big factor

often >1

Cycles may be needed
not usually one and done

2 weeks

The wait for a test
after transfer

The one honest thing

No clinic can promise a baby. Success per cycle is moderate at best and drops with age, so a result often takes more than one attempt. Be wary of any guarantee.

Quick answer

What results can I expect?

IVF can work, but success per cycle is moderate and depends heavily on age. UK regulator data for 2023 put the live birth rate at roughly 35 percent per embryo transferred for patients under 35, falling to around 5 percent for those aged 43 to 44 using their own eggs. Many people need more than one cycle, and a result is never guaranteed.

These figures are from the UK HFEA and are indicative; rates vary by clinic, cause of infertility, and country. After the embryo transfer there is a two week wait before a pregnancy test. This is general information, not medical advice.

Results and what shapes them

A timeline, and the honest caveats.

An IVF cycle runs from stimulation to a pregnancy test over a few weeks. The figures below are indicative, drawn from UK HFEA data and reviewed July 2025, and vary with age, clinic, and the cause of infertility.

Stimulation and egg collection

Around two weeks of daily hormone injections encourage the ovaries to produce several eggs, monitored by scans, before the eggs are collected under sedation. Bloating and discomfort are common at this stage.

Fertilisation and embryo transfer

Eggs and sperm are combined in the lab and the embryos are grown for a few days. One, sometimes more, is transferred to the womb in a quick procedure. Any suitable spare embryos may be frozen for later.

The two week wait

After transfer you wait about two weeks before a pregnancy test, usually while taking prescribed progesterone. This wait is often the hardest part emotionally, and there is little to do but rest and follow the plan.

The result, and age

A positive test leads to an early pregnancy scan; a negative one is common and does not mean it can never work. Age is the strongest factor, with success per cycle falling markedly through the late thirties and forties.

The honest caveats

Many people need more than one cycle, the process is physically and emotionally demanding, and transferring more than one embryo raises the chance of a higher risk multiple pregnancy. No clinic can promise a baby.

Aftercare

The care around the result.

IVF aftercare is physical, medical, and emotional. The points below are typical guidance. Always follow the specific instructions your own fertility team give you.

After egg collection and transfer

Some cramping, bloating, and light spotting can be normal. Keep taking any prescribed medication such as progesterone exactly as directed, and rest as advised while you wait for the test.

Watch for OHSS

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a known risk of the hormones used. Severe bloating, rapid weight gain, breathlessness, or being unable to keep fluids down need urgent medical attention. Know the warning signs before you travel home.

Emotional support

IVF can be an emotional rollercoaster, especially during the wait and after a negative result. Counselling and support should be part of good care. Ask what is offered and line up support at home too.

The follow up problem to plan for: if you have IVF abroad, early pregnancy care, monitoring for OHSS, and the handling of any frozen embryos still need arranging. Ask how monitoring works from a distance, the rules on storing and moving embryos between countries, and who provides your care once you are home. Keep full records throughout.

Get Matched with a vetted clinic

Plan the cycle and the care.

Send one brief and we route it to vetted clinics that report success honestly, are clear about how many cycles may be needed, and explain monitoring, embryo storage, and emotional support near home. You choose, with no pressure.

Free and no obligation. Accredited clinics only. We never sell your details.

How we make money: the guides are free and no clinic can pay to be named, ranked or recommended. We never name clinics. Get Matched is an optional service that helps keep the guides free and independent of any one clinic; using it is always your choice and you are never charged. How this works.

Common questions

The things everyone asks.

What are the chances IVF works?

It depends heavily on age. UK HFEA data for 2023 put the live birth rate at roughly 35 percent per embryo transferred for patients under 35, falling to around 5 percent at ages 43 to 44 using their own eggs. These are indicative and vary by clinic and cause.

Will one cycle be enough?

Often not. Many people need more than one cycle to conceive, and cumulative chances improve over several attempts. Plan emotionally and financially for the possibility of more than one round rather than assuming one will work.

What is the two week wait?

It is the roughly two week gap between the embryo transfer and a pregnancy test, usually while taking progesterone. Many find it the most stressful part, since there is little to do but wait and follow the plan.

What is OHSS and how serious is it?

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a reaction to the fertility hormones. Mild cases are common and settle, but severe cases are a medical emergency, with bloating, breathlessness, and rapid weight gain. Seek urgent care if these appear.

What happens to frozen embryos if I treat abroad?

Rules on storing and moving embryos differ between countries and can be complex. Ask the clinic how storage works, what it costs, and whether embryos could be transported later, and keep records. Get clear answers before you commit.

Keep reading