You and your partner will be required to attend a consultation with your chosen specialist. During this appointment, the medical procedures will be explained to you and all relevant medical details checked.

These tests are required as part of the routine screening process before treatment. You and your partner must have your blood tests and scans completed to proceed. The results of which will be forwarded to your fertility specialist.

It is mandatory for individuals who are considering using donated sperm to attend counselling with their partner. Counselling is mandatory as it provides the opportunity to discuss treatment on a more personal level. It allows you to raise more private issues, such as individual concerns, relationship difficulties, or current life situations that may affect your treatment experience.

Before beginning your treatment, you will also be required to go through some treatment education. This may be self-directed or done at the clinic by fertility nurses. Information will be provided on your treatment cycle, medications and their side effects. You and your partner will be required to fill in and sign consent forms before commencing your treatment.

Once the above steps have been completed, you will begin the partner IVF treatment according to your personalised treatment plan devised for you by your fertility specialist.

Here is a general outline of what to expect during treatment:

• Both partners begin a process of synchronising their menstrual cycles by taking the oral contraceptive pill.
• The partner providing the eggs will also take medications to stimulate the ovaries and promote the growth of follicles, which contain the eggs.
• While the ovarian stimulation process takes place, the partner who will carry the pregnancy takes medication to support the development of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) in preparation for embryo transfer.
• Once the ovarian stimulation phase ends, eggs are retrieved from one partner and fertilised with donor sperm to create embryos.
• Embryos are transferred to the partner who will carry the pregnancy. (Embryos can also be frozen for future use if a couple decides they’re not ready to conceive just yet.)
• Fourteen days after embryo transfer, a blood test is performed on the carrying partner to determine whether pregnancy has been achieved.