How Long IVF Takes, Explained Week by Week 

At a Glance

Most fresh IVF cycles take about 4 to 6 weeks from medications to embryo transfer, then 9 to 14 days to the blood pregnancy test. A frozen embryo transfer, or FET, often adds weeks for uterine prep and any PGT-A results. Exact timing varies by protocol and clinic. See the calendar below.

IVF Timelines at a Glance: Fresh vs. FET

Fresh IVF

Pre-cycle prep: 1–2 weeks of labs, baseline testing, possible suppression
Ovarian stimulation: ~8–14 days of daily injections + monitoring
Trigger & retrieval: Trigger shot → egg retrieval ~36 hours later
Embryo development: 3–5 days in lab
Transfer: Fresh transfer usually on day 3 or day 5
Beta test: 9–14 days after transfer

FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer)

Retrieval & freeze: Done in a prior cycle, especially if PGT-A is planned
Embryo testing/results: PGT-A reports may take 1–2+ weeks
Endometrial prep: 2–4+ weeks of natural or medicated lining preparation
Transfer: Planned after lining is ready
Beta test: 9–14 days after transfer

What can change the timing

PGT-A biopsy and lab turnaround
Freeze-all strategies for safety (OHSS risk, etc.)
Uterine lining readiness
Insurance pre-authorization and clinic scheduling

For a detailed breakdown, see the week-by-week calendar.

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Week-by-Week IVF Calendar

Everyone’s IVF journey looks a little different, but here’s how the timing usually plays out. Think of this as a general roadmap; you may move faster or slower depending on your clinic, your health, and your protocol.

Fresh IVF Path

Weeks –2 to 0: Pre-cycle testing and suppression
Before starting stimulation, your clinic will run blood tests, perform ultrasounds, and sometimes prescribe birth control pills or medication to quiet the ovaries. This sets the stage for a more controlled cycle.
Weeks 1–2: Ovarian stimulation (about 8–14 days)
You will give yourself daily hormone injections to help multiple eggs grow at once. During this period, you will visit the clinic every few days for ultrasounds and bloodwork to check how your follicles are responding.
End of Week 2: Trigger shot and egg retrieval (about 36 hours later)
A final injection helps the eggs mature. About a day and a half later, your doctor performs egg retrieval, a short outpatient procedure where eggs are collected using a thin needle guided by ultrasound.
Week 2–3: Fertilization and embryo development (3–5 days)
Eggs are fertilized with sperm in the lab. Over the next few days, embryologists monitor how the embryos grow and divide.
Week 3: Embryo transfer
If you are doing a fresh transfer, the embryo is usually placed in the uterus on day 3 or day 5 after retrieval. This is a quick and painless procedure using a catheter.
Week 4: Beta test (9–14 days after transfer)
A blood test measures the pregnancy hormone hCG to confirm if implantation was successful.

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) Path

Prior cycle: Retrieval and biopsy
If embryos are being tested with PGT-A, they are biopsied and frozen during the retrieval cycle. This means the transfer will happen later.
Results and planning (about 1–2 weeks later)
Genetic testing results return, and you and your doctor decide which embryo to transfer.
Weeks 0–4: Endometrial preparation (2–4 or more weeks)
Hormones or a natural cycle approach are used to prepare the uterine lining so it is receptive for the embryo. This may involve estrogen and progesterone or careful monitoring of your natural cycle.
Transfer day
The frozen embryo is thawed and transferred into the uterus once the lining is ready.
9–14 days later: Beta test
Just like in a fresh cycle, a blood test checks for pregnancy.

Important Notes

IVF protocols are not one-size-fits-all. Some women will follow an antagonist cycle, others a long-Lupron cycle, and others a mild stimulation approach. Each changes the timing slightly, so your calendar may not look exactly like this outline.

Beyond the protocol itself, clinic scheduling, insurance pre-approvals, or medical holds for thyroid levels or uterine polyps can add time between steps. Clinics often provide a downloadable or printable calendar tailored to your plan. Having a personalized calendar in hand can make it easier to track what is happening week by week and keep stress levels lower.

What Speeds Up or Slows Down the IVF Timeline

Even though the calendar gives you a general idea, many factors can stretch or shorten how long IVF takes. Some are in your control, while others depend on your clinic, your health, and how your body responds.

Scheduling

One of the biggest influences is clinic scheduling. Appointments for monitoring, retrieval, or transfer have to line up with staff availability and lab space, which can add days or even weeks. Insurance pre-authorization and completing baseline labs can also delay the start of stimulation if paperwork or approvals take longer than expected.

Body Response

How your body responds to stimulation medications is another key factor. Some patients need a few extra days of injections before follicles are ready, while others may respond quickly. In rare cases, if there is a concern for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), your doctor may recommend delaying transfer and freezing all embryos for use in a later cycle.

PGT-A

If you are doing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), expect extra time for the biopsy and lab results. This often leads to a freeze-all strategy, meaning embryos are frozen first and transferred in a later frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Similarly, the uterus must be ready before transfer. If your endometrial lining is not thick enough or hormones are not where they should be, your doctor may postpone transfer to give the body more time.

Medical Holds

Medical holds are another reason cycles pause. Common reasons include finding uterine polyps, needing thyroid levels corrected, or addressing other health conditions that may affect success rates.

Because so much depends on your individual situation, it helps to stay proactive and ask clear questions at each stage.

Questions for your clinic:

How long does insurance approval usually take here?
What factors would make you recommend a freeze-all cycle instead of a fresh transfer?
How often do you delay the transfer for lining issues?
How long do PGT-A results typically take to come back?

Understanding what can affect timing helps you set realistic expectations and feel more prepared for the road ahead.

When Will I Know I’m Pregnant?

The official answer usually comes nine to 14 days after embryo transfer, when your clinic orders a blood test known as the beta. This test looks for the pregnancy hormone hCG in your blood and is far more accurate than an early home pregnancy test, which can give false negatives or positives during IVF.

Most clinics schedule a second beta a few days later to confirm that hCG levels are rising at the expected pace. A steady rise usually indicates a healthy early pregnancy. If results are negative or fall into an indeterminate range, your doctor will explain the next steps, which may include retesting, adjusting your treatment plan, or preparing for another cycle.

The wait can feel long and stressful, but remember that your results are not a reflection of effort or worth. Whatever the outcome, your care team will walk you through the next steps and support you with options moving forward.

FAQs

How long is one IVF cycle?

A fresh cycle typically takes about four to six weeks from the start of medication to the embryo transfer, plus another nine to 14 days until the pregnancy test. A frozen embryo transfer (FET) can add several weeks or even a few months, depending on uterine preparation and lab timing.

How many days of injections are needed?

Most patients give themselves daily hormone shots for eight to 14 days during the stimulation phase. The exact number depends on how your ovaries respond to medication and your clinic’s protocol.

How long between retrieval and transfer?

In a fresh cycle, transfer usually happens three to five days after retrieval. With FET, the embryos are frozen, and the transfer takes place weeks or months later once the uterine lining is ready.

When do I take a pregnancy test?

The official blood test, called the beta, is done nine to 14 days after transfer. It is more reliable than at-home tests, which can give misleading results during IVF.

Does PGT-A testing change the timing?

Yes. Because embryos need to be frozen while results come back, most PGT-A cycles involve a freeze-all strategy. This means the transfer will happen in a later FET cycle rather than a fresh one.

How many cycles do most people need, and what are the odds?

Success rates vary widely by age, health history, and clinic. Some people conceive on the first try, while others need multiple cycles. For a personalized estimate, the CDC’s IVF Success Estimator is a trusted tool.

IVF Timeline Table Explainer

The table below gives a side-by-side look at how long each phase of IVF typically takes for fresh and frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. It breaks down the key steps, what happens during each, and where timing can vary depending on your protocol or clinic.

Use this as a general guide, because your clinic’s plan may differ.

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Conclusion

The IVF timeline can feel like a maze of appointments, medications, and waiting, but having a clear roadmap makes the process easier to navigate. Each journey is unique, shaped by your clinic’s protocol, your health history, and how your body responds along the way. What never changes is the need for support that sees you as a whole woman, not just a patient.

That’s exactly why we created Perelel: doctor-formulated, research-backed vitamins that support you at every stage of your hormonal journey, especially and including your fertility journey. Because when you are preparing for IVF or supporting your body through it, you deserve care that’s targeted, trusted, and simple to follow.

Want to learn what support might be right for you today? Take our quick quiz to get personalized guidance and see how Perelel can fit into your fertility journey.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and we recommend that you always consult with your healthcare provider. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Perelel.

Sources:

In vitro fertilization (IVF) | MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycle | UW Medicine

In vitro fertilization (IVF) | Mayo Clinic

What are HCG Levels? | American Pregnancy Association