Treatment cycles are typically started on the third day of menses and consist of a regimen of fertility medications to stimulate the development of multiple follicles of the ovaries. In most patients injectable gonadotropins (using FSH such as Pergonal) are used under close monitoring. Such monitoring checks frequently the estradiol level and, by means of gynecologic ultrasonography, follicular growth. Typically approximately 9 days of injections will be necessary. Endogenous ovulation is blocked by the use of GnRH agonists or GnRH antagonists.

 When follicular maturation is judged to be adequate, hCG is given. This agent would lead to ovulation about 42 hours after injection, but just before that time a retrieval procedure will take place to recover the egg cells from the ovary. The eggs are retrieved from the patient using a transvaginal technique involving an ultrasound-guided needle piercing the vaginal wall to reach the ovaries. Through this needle follicles can be aspirated, and the follicular fluid is handed to the IVF laboratory to identify ova. The retrieval procedure takes about 20 minutes and is usually done under conscious sedation or deeper anesthesia

 Embryo quality is a critical factors affecting the success of IVF. The best embryos are  transferred to the uterus based on grade and cell number.

 Embryos are transferred into the uterus through a small tube or catheter. This procedure does  not require anesthesia, as it is usually painless. The embryos are placed in a small amount of fluid  inside the catheter, which is threaded through the cervix during a speculum examination.The  embryos are implanted so that they reach the top part of the uterus. Abdominal ultrasound is  used to confirm the correct placement. Depending on the patient's wishes, one to four embryos  may be transferred in one treatment cycle.

The patient has to wait two weeks before she returns to the clinic for the pregnancy test. During this time she may receive progesterone - a hormone that keeps the uterus lining thickened and suitable for implantation. Many IVF programs provide additional medications as part of their protocol.