While it’s one of the most common fertility treatments, IVF can feel overwhelming for many. Having the right specialist by your side makes all the difference.
By the time you turn to IVF, it’s likely that you and your partner have already faced many disappointments. Coming under the care of an experienced fertility specialist can give you the reassurance that you’re getting the right advice and care.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) involves combining eggs and sperm in a specialised laboratory environment to create embryos, which can then be placed into the uterus.
This is just one type of assisted reproductive technology. IVF can be useful for couples who are having trouble conceiving due to:
IVF is also an option for same-sex couples and single women looking to conceive with donor sperm.
Since embryos are created outside the female body, IVF allows for genetic testing of these embryos. This is useful for couples who are at risk of passing on a genetic disorder.
Not everyone who is struggling to conceive needs IVF. There are very few instances where IVF is the only option, so it’s important to have a comprehensive assessment and consider all the possibilities.
As the female partner, fertility medications are used to help your ovaries produce lots of mature eggs instead of the single egg typically released during a menstrual cycle. These medications come in the form of injections, which my fertility nurse will teach you to use at home.
Once your eggs have reached maturity, they’re collected using a minor surgical procedure. A trans-vaginal ultrasound guides the insertion of a thin needle into the ovaries to collect the eggs. It can be done while awake (with local anaesthetic numbing injection) or asleep (under general anaesthetic).
Your male partner’s sperm is collected and prepared in the laboratory. If you’re undergoing IVF with donor sperm, your chosen donor’s sample will be delivered to the lab.
Your eggs and your partner’s/donor sperm are combined in a laboratory dish to facilitate fertilisation. This may be achieved spontaneously, where the sperm need to penetrate the outer layers of the egg, or via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected into an egg. This treatment decision depends on your circumstances.
Find out more about ICSI
The resulting embryos are monitored in a special incubator for 5 days. The Geri® time-lapse incubation system is exclusively used by the Genea fertility network, designed to mimic the environment of a woman’s uterus.This advanced technology improves your success rates compared to a conventional incubator.
A long thin tube is used to place the little embryo in the perfect spot in the uterus. Usually, only one embryo is transferred at a time.
The hardest part is the waiting. I will organise a pregnancy blood test for you 2 weeks after your embryo transfer.
IVF success depends on many factors — including age, egg and sperm quality, and underlying fertility conditions. Generally, younger age and good ovarian reserve are linked with higher success rates.
Dr I-Ferne Tan’s patients consistently achieve outcomes above national averages.
Her results reflect the combination of her medical expertise, individualisation of treatment, and collaboration with Genea’s leading reproductive technologies.
The figures below show the chance of having a baby in your first complete egg retrieval cycle and after an embryo transfer, using publicly available data from www.yourivfsuccess.com.au
Measure 1 – Births per complete egg retrieval cycle (including the later transfer of resulting embryos)
| Age Group | Genea Sydney CBD | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| <35 Years | 50% | 46% |
| 35-42 years | 27% | 24% |
Individual Genea clinic data independently audited and provided by NPESU in November 2025. Measure is from completed egg retrieval cycles performed in one year at Genea Sydney CBD in 2022 with follow-up period to 2023. Age is female age at time the cycle was initiated. Data includes autologous cycles only (where a woman intended to or used her own eggs).
Dr Tan’s IVF outcomes reflect both her clinical experience and the support of leading reproductive technology, with success rates consistently above the national average
