Nearly 1.5 million cycles of fertility treatment have taken place in the last 20 years, according to data collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). With a steady increase in those accessing treatment and the trend looking to continue, more and more of us will be preparing for fertility treatment this year.
What to know before starting fertility treatment in 2025
It’s normal to have questions before beginning fertility treatment. If you are new to the world of fertility, you may be unsure what questions you should even be asking. Our patients often report that the most helpful thing for them before they start treatment was the clear information and advice our team gave.
“Myself and my partner received excellent care from all the staff at Manchester Fertility. Everyone we encountered throughout our fertility journey provided us with clear information and supported us with compassion. We are so grateful for everything you have done for us.” – Manchester Fertility patient
Feeling prepared for treatment will feel different for each person. This blog covers the most common areas that help patients feel prepared before starting their treatment, including choosing the right fertility clinic, the process of IVF treatment and top tips for feeling ready to expand your family.
Choosing your fertility clinic
With many clinics offering fertility services across the UK, deciding where to look can feel daunting. The best place to start is by assessing your priorities and non-negotiables, knowing what you want will help you narrow down your options.
Are you looking for a clinic close to home for convenience or are you willing to travel for a particular expertise? Consider the clinic's reputation, success rates, and services. Additionally, look at their communication style. Are pre-treatment appointments conducted virtually or in person? Do they have support services available, such as counselling and patient forums? Do they offer a patient app to help you stay informed throughout your journey?
To select a clinic that aligns with your needs, it can be helpful to visit or talk to the teams that would be supporting you. At Manchester Fertility, we offer free 1-2-1 discovery appointments to help you understand your fertility options and get a feel if the clinic is right for you.. We can discuss the treatment process, pricing and funding options, tell you about our team or anything else you need to prepare for treatment.
The IVF process at Manchester Fertility
The fertility treatment process is slightly different at each clinic. Understanding the step-by-step process at your chosen clinic can help you feel prepared when it’s time to start treatment. Here’s what to expect on a traditional IVF journey with Manchester Fertility.
1. Initial Investigations
If you’re new to fertility treatment you’ve not had any recent fertility tests or scans, we would start with investigations to assess your fertility. If you’re transferring your care to us from another clinic, we may be able to use your previous assessments at this stage.
2. Doctors Consultation
Our doctors will discuss the results of your tests with you so we can personalise your IVF cycle for your best chance of success.
3. Fertility medication
You start your ovarian stimulation by using tailored doses of fertility drugs to help you produce mature eggs.
4. Egg collection
Your Egg collection takes place in our clinic theatre under ultrasound guidance with our specialist team of doctors, nurses, anaesthetists.
5. Insemination & Fertilisation
After your eggs have been collected the sperm sample is carefully added to your eggs by our expert embryologists. Your eggs will then be monitored by our embryology team for signs of fertilisation. The resulting embryos are placed in an incubator, where they grow for the next two to five days. Our embryologists will keep you updated on the progress of your embryos while they spend this time in our laboratory.
6. Embryo transfer
You will visit the clinic where our team will make you comfortable in our ward. Then the embryo chosen by our embryologists is transferred under ultrasound guidance into your uterus by our fertility consultants in our specially designed embryo transfer room.
7. Post-transfer
Any remaining good quality embryos that are not transferred are frozen and stored for future cycles. You can take a home pregnancy test around two weeks after your embryo transfer. If your test is positive, you will be booked for your early pregnancy scan about three weeks later.
At Manchester Fertility, our expertise runs through our entire team, and we use our over 35 years of experience to inform not just every treatment cycle but every interaction you have with our clinic.
Preparing yourself holistically for treatment in 2025
Beyond understanding the treatment process, our patients often want to know how they can feel more holistically prepared. We’ve put together our top tips on common topics so you can feel ready to expand your family mentally, physically, and financially.
How to mentally prepare for treatment
One of the best ways to feel mentally ready for your fertility journey is to educate yourself on what your path ahead will look like. No matter when or where you start your fertility journey, it needs to be the right decision for you and having a clear and in-depth understanding of your options will help you make an informed choice.
Considering the ‘what ifs’ before your treatment starts can help tackle potential issues head-on. This might involve talking to your existing support systems or seeking an external opinion for professional advice. We offer counselling before every treatment cycle and our team can provide extra resources when needed throughout your journey.
How to physically prepare for treatment
You can physically prepare your body by adjusting your lifestyle before starting treatment. We all understand the importance of the basics, but life can often get in the way. Prioritising sleep, moderate activity, a balanced diet, and reducing stress are the best ways to help your body prepare for the best possible treatment outcome and transition further into a successful pregnancy.
How to financially prepare for treatment
By exploring your different funding options, you might be surprised by the ways fertility treatment could be accessible for you. If you don’t qualify for NHS funding, there are low-cost fertility options such as Essential Fertility, or Access Fertility that offer interest-free finance packages to help with the cost of fertility treatment or fertility treatment packages that allow you to get common tests included together, this will differ depending on the clinic.
However you are funding your treatment, we pride ourselves on being transparent with our pricing so you know exactly how much you will be charged before committing to any treatment. You can find a breakdown of our latest prices and your funding options on our pricing page.
If you are ready to start your fertility treatment in 2025, you can speak with a member of our team for more information at 0161 300 2737 or get started by booking a free 1-2-1 discovery appointment today.
Last updated: 3rd March 2025
