ART treatment timelines

An IVF/ICSI cycle has three phases: **preparation (1–2 weeks)** with pre-treatment workup, baseline hormones and pill/oestrogen synchronisation; **ovarian stimulation (10–14 days)** with gonadotrophins, antagonist from day 5–7 and ultrasound/hormone monitoring every 2–3 days; **trigger, retrieval, fertilisation and transfer (1 week)** ending in the pregnancy test 10–14 days after transfer. Full cycle is typically 4–6 weeks.

IUI is shorter (2–3 weeks). Egg donation can take longer due to donor selection and synchronisation. Frozen embryo transfer (FET) takes 3–5 weeks depending on whether natural, modified-natural or substituted.

Each treatment has its own dedicated timeline page. It includes: day/week breakdown, scheduled tests, medications, expected symptoms, red flags and what to ask the clinic at each visit. Use the timeline calculator to generate a personalised calendar from your start date.

We flag critical windows — OHSS risk post-trigger, implantation window after transfer, optimal beta-hCG timing. These details reduce unnecessary anxiety and help you know when to contact the clinic urgently.

We recommend printing the timeline and bringing it to the initial consultation — it is the ideal starting point to confirm the clinical plan and ask about specific variations. All information in this hub is editorially independent and cross-checked against official sources — CNPMA, Portuguese DGS, SNS, ERS and Law 32/2006. Best-practice recommendations follow European ESHRE and UK NICE NG156 guidance.