How long does an IVF cycle take?

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We are on a list for NHS funded IVF in January (our only funded cycle). We have already had a series of fertility investigations and appointments which have confirmed that ‘traditional’ IVF is our only option.

My question is - if treatment starts in Jan - I’m guessing with drugs - how long (days / weeks / months?!) does the process take? I have no idea for eg how long the injections last for.

We do have a further appointment in October when I’m sure I’ll be able to ask these questions but in the meantime any help to satisfy my curiosity appreciated! Thanks

It depends on what protocol they decide to put you on and how you respond to the drugs so it can be quite variable. When you talk it through with the consultant before starting treatment, they should outline the timeline for you. I did short protocol which meant it was a similar timeline to a normal month's cycle, and I think I was doing the injections for about 15 days. But this is variable, and can take less or more time depending on how your follicles are growing and hormone levels are progressing, which they will check with ultrasounds and blood tests. Then you have egg collection and all being well, 5 days later you have embryo transfer. But Long protocol will take more time since they have to downreg your hormones first. Good luck with it OP!

We are nhs funded too (Liverpool) we started our investigations in January, by March we had our referral and were accepted that month... started the short cycle in May. Still ongoing due to OHSS delaying our transfer which is due on the 31st of this month.

So from our entire infertility journey it's taken 8 months but the ivf cycle lasted 3/4 months but had I not had OHSS we'd of completed our cycle by the end of June.

Does that make any sense I tend to waffle on lol

I completed long protocol in June this year and this is how my cycle went;
Down reg started 18th May
Stims started 9th June
Trigger 21st June
Egg collection 23rd June
Egg transfer 28th June
Progesterone pessaries until 8th week of pregnancy.
I had to stim longer than some as I was a poor responder but we still managed to get 6 eggs of which 4 fertilised and 2 made it to blast one of which is an 11 week foetus hopefully growing nicely and ready to smile for the ultrasound on Monday and the other is in the freezer for when required.
Good luck with your cycle.

I read somewhere (don't remember where) that long protocol has a slighty higher success rate. But if that is because of the protocol or the underlying conditions from which they choose the protocol, I don't know.

Anyway, a long protocol takes two cycles, a short protocol one cycle. The length of your cycles during ivf depend on how you respond to the drugs. If you have OHSS before transfer they might freeze the embryos and let you recover an extra cycle or more before a FET.

Thank you all - a lot of acronyms exposing what a newbie I am to all of this!! I have bought a book on IVF from amazon so will be devouring that and staying active on these forums - I am finding it is really helping with getting my head in the right place and not feeling alone.

Two months for a long cycle.