
How Long is the IVF Process? A Step-by-Step Timeline for Your Journey
If you’re starting fertility treatment, one of the first questions that might come to mind is: How long is the IVF process? Understanding the IVF timeline from start to finish helps you prepare physically, emotionally, and logistically for the road ahead.
At IVF Serum Clinic in Athens, we specialise in guiding patients through every phase of their fertility journey with compassion and expertise. Whether considering IVF in Greece for the first time or returning after previous treatment, this guide breaks down what to expect, step by step.
IVF Process from Start to Finish: What’s Involved?
The entire IVF treatment and process typically spans 3 weeks, depending on your protocol and how your body responds. The timeline may vary slightly, especially if you’re travelling to one of the best IVF clinics in Europe, like Serum, where customized approaches are key.
Let’s look at the IVF process from start to finish.
1. Initial Consultation and Fertility Testing
This requires a 3day visit to the clinic after a free online consultation.
Every IVF journey begins with a personalized consultation. During this visit, either in person or via video call, your medical history is reviewed, and fertility tests are ordered. These often include hormone blood work, ultrasounds, and semen analysis for male partners. Because the approaches are completely individualized our expert doctors will offer you treatments to optimize your chances.
At IVF Serum, your consultation also includes a warm and caring discussion with some of the best IVF doctors in Greece, who tailor your treatment plan based on your age, goals, and fertility needs. If you’re over 40, we also discuss relevant options based on IVF over 40 success stories and our clinic’s experience.
2. Ovarian Stimulation & Monitoring
Once your IVF calendar is set, you’ll be asked to have a pelvic scan (either back home or in our clinic) in order you to begin ovarian stimulation — a 10-12 day process where fertility medications help your ovaries produce multiple eggs.
Daily hormone injections are monitored through blood tests and ultrasounds. If you’re asking How do I prepare myself for IVF injections? or How long after your period do you start IVF?, we’re here to guide you at each step. Most protocols begin around Day 2 or 3 of your cycle.
Your treatment team will track how your body responds and adjust medications as needed to optimize your outcome.
3. Egg Retrieval (Around Day 12–14)
When your follicles are matured, a trigger injection is given to help the eggs released and retrieved. After the trigger injection egg retrieval follows 35–36 hours later — a quick, minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation.
The retrieved eggs are then fertilized with partner or donor sperm and monitored for quality. This is a key stage of the IVF treatment and process, especially if you’re pursuing fresh embryo transfer, embryo freezing. or egg freezing for fertility preservation.
4. Embryo Development & Transfer (Days 13–18)
Following fertilization, embryos are observed over the next 3–5 days. When they reach the right stage (blastocyst), one or two may be selected for transfer into the uterus.
How can I increase my chances of a successful embryo transfer? Our team will offer lifestyle tips and evidence-based support. Embryo transfers are done gently and precisely at IVF Serum Clinic, known for its high success rates and excellent embryology lab.
The remaining embryos, if viable, can be frozen for future use.
5. The Two-Week Wait & Pregnancy Test (Week 3-5)
After transfer, you’ll enter the “two-week wait” — a time that’s often emotionally intense. About 10–12 days later, you’ll take a blood test to check for pregnancy.
If you’ve been searching for answers like What is the timeline for IVF after transfer? or How long does the IVF process take?, this marks the final checkpoint of the initial IVF cycle.
Suppose the result is positive, congratulations! If not, we’re here to guide you through the following steps and explore questions like How successful is IVF after a failed cycle? And how fertile are you after failed IVF?
How Quickly Can You Get IVF?
At IVF Serum in Greece, we can typically begin your IVF cycle within a few short weeks of your consultation, depending on your individual readiness and cycle timing. This means receiving high-quality, affordable care with minimal delays for many international patients.
What Are the 5 Stages of IVF?
To summaries, the IVF process includes:
1. Consultation & Testing
2. Ovarian Stimulation
3. Egg Retrieval
4. Fertilization & Embryo Transfer
5. Pregnancy Test
Each of these five stages of IVF plays a crucial role in giving you the best possible chance of success.
IVF Timeline: Trust the Process, Trust Your Clinic
So, how long does the IVF process take from start to finish? Most cycles last 2-3 weeks from initial prep to pregnancy test, and may vary depending on your medical history, age, and treatment plan.
Choosing to begin or continue your journey at one of the best IVF clinics in Europe, like IVF Serum, ensures you have an experienced, caring team by your side. With decades of success stories, including patients in their 40s, we help make your dream of parenthood a reality.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re considering IVF in Greece and want to understand the IVF timeline better, reach out to our compassionate team at IVF Serum Clinic in Athens. We’ll help you create your personal IVF calendar, answer all your questions, and walk with you through every stage of the IVF process from start to finish.
Let your journey begin at Serum IVF, with trust, care, and the support you deserve.
Don’t wait any longer to start your journey,
we are here to help and support you every step of the way.
How Long is the IVF Process? A Step-by-Step Timeline for Your Journey

If you’re starting fertility treatment, one of the first questions that might come to mind is: How long is the IVF process? Understanding the IVF timeline from start to finish helps you prepare physically, emotionally, and logistically for the road ahead.
At IVF Serum Clinic in Athens, we specialise in guiding patients through every phase of their fertility journey with compassion and expertise. Whether considering IVF in Greece for the first time or returning after previous treatment, this guide breaks down what to expect, step by step.
IVF Process from Start to Finish: What’s Involved?
The entire IVF treatment and process typically spans 3 weeks, depending on your protocol and how your body responds. The timeline may vary slightly, especially if you’re travelling to one of the best IVF clinics in Europe, like Serum, where customized approaches are key.
Let’s look at the IVF process from start to finish.
1. Initial Consultation and Fertility Testing
This requires a 3day visit to the clinic after a free online consultation.
Every IVF journey begins with a personalized consultation. During this visit, either in person or via video call, your medical history is reviewed, and fertility tests are ordered. These often include hormone blood work, ultrasounds, and semen analysis for male partners. Because the approaches are completely individualized our expert doctors will offer you treatments to optimize your chances.
At IVF Serum, your consultation also includes a warm and caring discussion with some of the best IVF doctors in Greece, who tailor your treatment plan based on your age, goals, and fertility needs. If you’re over 40, we also discuss relevant options based on IVF over 40 success stories and our clinic’s experience.
2. Ovarian Stimulation & Monitoring
Once your IVF calendar is set, you’ll be asked to have a pelvic scan (either back home or in our clinic) in order you to begin ovarian stimulation — a 10-12 day process where fertility medications help your ovaries produce multiple eggs.
Daily hormone injections are monitored through blood tests and ultrasounds. If you’re asking How do I prepare myself for IVF injections? or How long after your period do you start IVF?, we’re here to guide you at each step. Most protocols begin around Day 2 or 3 of your cycle.
Your treatment team will track how your body responds and adjust medications as needed to optimize your outcome.
3. Egg Retrieval (Around Day 12–14)
When your follicles are matured, a trigger injection is given to help the eggs released and retrieved. After the trigger injection egg retrieval follows 35–36 hours later — a quick, minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation.
The retrieved eggs are then fertilized with partner or donor sperm and monitored for quality. This is a key stage of the IVF treatment and process, especially if you’re pursuing fresh embryo transfer, embryo freezing. or egg freezing for fertility preservation.
4. Embryo Development & Transfer (Days 13–18)
Following fertilization, embryos are observed over the next 3–5 days. When they reach the right stage (blastocyst), one or two may be selected for transfer into the uterus.
How can I increase my chances of a successful embryo transfer? Our team will offer lifestyle tips and evidence-based support. Embryo transfers are done gently and precisely at IVF Serum Clinic, known for its high success rates and excellent embryology lab.
The remaining embryos, if viable, can be frozen for future use.
5. The Two-Week Wait & Pregnancy Test (Week 3-5)
After transfer, you’ll enter the “two-week wait” — a time that’s often emotionally intense. About 10–12 days later, you’ll take a blood test to check for pregnancy.
If you’ve been searching for answers like What is the timeline for IVF after transfer? or How long does the IVF process take?, this marks the final checkpoint of the initial IVF cycle.
Suppose the result is positive, congratulations! If not, we’re here to guide you through the following steps and explore questions like How successful is IVF after a failed cycle? And how fertile are you after failed IVF?
How Quickly Can You Get IVF?
At IVF Serum in Greece, we can typically begin your IVF cycle within a few short weeks of your consultation, depending on your individual readiness and cycle timing. This means receiving high-quality, affordable care with minimal delays for many international patients.
What Are the 5 Stages of IVF?
To summaries, the IVF process includes:
1. Consultation & Testing
2. Ovarian Stimulation
3. Egg Retrieval
4. Fertilization & Embryo Transfer
5. Pregnancy Test
Each of these five stages of IVF plays a crucial role in giving you the best possible chance of success.
IVF Timeline: Trust the Process, Trust Your Clinic
So, how long does the IVF process take from start to finish? Most cycles last 2-3 weeks from initial prep to pregnancy test, and may vary depending on your medical history, age, and treatment plan.
Choosing to begin or continue your journey at one of the best IVF clinics in Europe, like IVF Serum, ensures you have an experienced, caring team by your side. With decades of success stories, including patients in their 40s, we help make your dream of parenthood a reality.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re considering IVF in Greece and want to understand the IVF timeline better, reach out to our compassionate team at IVF Serum Clinic in Athens. We’ll help you create your personal IVF calendar, answer all your questions, and walk with you through every stage of the IVF process from start to finish.
Let your journey begin at Serum IVF, with trust, care, and the support you deserve.