In vitro fertilization (IVF)
The gold-standard treatment, performed entirely on site
In vitro fertilization is one of the most widely used and effective treatments to help individuals and couples who are unable to conceive naturally. IVF is a technique in which an egg is fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. The resulting embryos are cultured for several days before being transferred fresh and/or frozen for future use.
At Miacleo, the entire process takes place within our clinic: hormone stimulation, egg retrieval, laboratory fertilization, embryo monitoring, embryo transfer, embryo biopsy, and cryopreservation. Everything happens here, with the same team, from start to finish.
Understanding IVF, simply
Under normal circumstances, fertilization occurs naturally in the fallopian tubes: a sperm cell meets an egg, and if everything goes well, an embryo begins to develop. IVF recreates this process in a specialized laboratory environment, allowing embryologists to carefully guide and monitor each step of embryo development.
Is IVF right for you?
IVF may be recommended in a variety of situations. It is offered to couples, whether heterosexual or same-sex, whose infertility has not responded to less invasive treatments such as intrauterine insemination; to individuals with absent, blocked, or damaged fallopian tubes; to those with a low ovarian reserve identified through fertility assessment; to individuals experiencing moderate to severe male factor infertility, often combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); to patients wishing to perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) on embryos before transfer; to single women or LGBTQ+ individuals wishing to conceive with the help of a sperm or egg donor; as well as to those who have experienced repeated unsuccessful insemination attempts.
If you are wondering whether IVF is the next step for you, your physician will provide clear guidance after your initial evaluation.
The steps of IVF
WHAT TO EXPECT
An IVF cycle takes approximately four to six weeks. Here is how it works:
1. INITIAL CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT PLANNING
Before starting, your physician reviews your complete fertility assessment and develops a personalized treatment protocol. The type of stimulation, medication doses, and monitoring schedule are all adapted to your individual profile and ovarian reserve.
2. OVARIAN STIMULATION You receive hormone injections for 8 to 14 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature follicles rather than a single one. During this period, regular ultrasounds and blood tests allow the medical team to adjust medication doses and monitor your response.
3. TRIGGER SHOT AND EGG RETRIEVAL Once the follicles have reached the desired maturity, a trigger injection is administered. Approximately 36 hours later, eggs are retrieved through an ovarian puncture performed under light sedation in our on-site operating room. The procedure generally takes 15 to 20 minutes, and you return home the same day.
4. FERTILIZATION IN THE LABORATORY The follicular fluid is collected, and embryologists identify the eggs contained within it. The eggs are fertilized with sperm from a partner or donor, either through conventional fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), depending on the sperm profile.The developing embryos are cultured in incubators for 5 to 6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage.
5. EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT MONITORING Embryologists regularly observe the embryos to monitor their development. You will receive updates at each important stage of the process.
6. EMBRYO TRANSFER The selected embryo(s) are transferred into the uterus using a thin catheter during a simple, quick procedure that is generally painless. Any remaining good-quality embryos are vitrified (frozen) for future use.
7. PREGNANCY TEST Approximately 10 to 14 days after the transfer, a blood test measures beta-hCG levels to confirm whether a pregnancy has occurred.
2. OVARIAN STIMULATION You receive hormone injections for 8 to 14 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature follicles rather than a single one. During this period, regular ultrasounds and blood tests allow the medical team to adjust medication doses and monitor your response.
3. TRIGGER SHOT AND EGG RETRIEVAL Once the follicles have reached the desired maturity, a trigger injection is administered. Approximately 36 hours later, eggs are retrieved through an ovarian puncture performed under light sedation in our on-site operating room. The procedure generally takes 15 to 20 minutes, and you return home the same day.
4. FERTILIZATION IN THE LABORATORY The follicular fluid is collected, and embryologists identify the eggs contained within it. The eggs are fertilized with sperm from a partner or donor, either through conventional fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), depending on the sperm profile.The developing embryos are cultured in incubators for 5 to 6 days until they reach the blastocyst stage.
5. EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT MONITORING Embryologists regularly observe the embryos to monitor their development. You will receive updates at each important stage of the process.
6. EMBRYO TRANSFER The selected embryo(s) are transferred into the uterus using a thin catheter during a simple, quick procedure that is generally painless. Any remaining good-quality embryos are vitrified (frozen) for future use.
7. PREGNANCY TEST Approximately 10 to 14 days after the transfer, a blood test measures beta-hCG levels to confirm whether a pregnancy has occurred.
ICSI and PICSI
When selection goes one step further
In some cases, conventional fertilization is replaced or supplemented by ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection): a single sperm cell is directly injected into the egg using a microscopic pipette. This technique is particularly indicated in cases of severe male infertility, previous fertilization failures, or when the number of available eggs is limited.
At Miacleo, we also offer PICSI, a more selective approach. With PICSI, sperm cells are first subjected to a hyaluronic acid binding test, which helps identify more mature sperm. Only sperm cells that bind to the PICSI medium and demonstrate good morphology are selected for fertilization.
This additional selection step may help improve embryo quality and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
Enhanced IVF
Optimise uses the Time-Lapse incubator along with preimplantation genetic testing, either PGT-A or non-invasive PGT.
PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy), or embryo biopsy, is a technique used to ensure that embryos have all 23 pairs of chromosomes. Embryos with 23 pairs of chromosomes are considered normal.
The non-invasive PGT technique allows for the identification of optimal embryos for embryo transfer. This test ranks embryos in order of priority for transfer by providing the probability that an embryo is normal.
The Time-Lapse incubator is an incubator whose main advantage is that it is equipped with a mobile camera that continuously captures images of embryo development. Embryos therefore remain inside the incubator at all times.
Indeed, with images taken every 5 minutes from multiple angles, embryo development monitoring is more comprehensive, providing embryologists with a “video” of embryo development. This helps optimize embryo selection for transfer.
A laboratory designed for fertility
The quality of an IVF cycle depends largely on what happens between egg retrieval and embryo transfer, that is, in the laboratory. At Miacleo, our embryology laboratory was specifically designed for assisted reproduction, from the ground up.
GreenGuard-certified materials ensure the absence of volatile organic compounds that could potentially affect embryos. Ultraviolet-free lighting, recognizable by its characteristic yellowish tone, protects eggs and embryos from harmful light exposure. The ventilation system is completely independent from the rest of the clinic, with strict control of air quality and temperature.
Nothing is left to chance, because embryos develop in this environment during the most critical days of their existence.
This is the first infrastructure of this level on Montreal’s South Shore.
Q: How many IVF cycles are usually needed?
A: There is no universal answer. Some people achieve a pregnancy after their first cycle, while others require several attempts. Age, ovarian reserve, embryo quality, and the underlying causes of infertility all influence outcomes. Your physician will provide an honest estimate based on your specific situation, not on general assumptions.
Q: Is IVF covered by RAMQ?
A: Some assisted reproduction treatments are covered by the public healthcare system under specific conditions. Our administrative team can help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the required steps. Please contact us before your first consultation.
Q: Is hormone stimulation risky?
A: Ovarian stimulation is generally well tolerated. Like any medical treatment, it may involve possible side effects (bloating, ovarian sensitivity, fatigue) and, in rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Your physician monitors your response throughout the process and adjusts medication doses to minimize this risk.
Q: Can I work during an IVF cycle?
A: Most patients continue their usual activities during stimulation. The egg retrieval and embryo transfer days require a short absence from work. We adapt monitoring appointments to your schedule as much as possible.
Q: What happens if the first IVF cycle does not work?
A: A failed cycle can be a difficult experience, and we recognize the emotional impact it may have. It also provides valuable information about your response to stimulation, embryo quality, and potential adjustments for a future cycle. Your physician will always meet with you after a cycle to review the results and discuss the next steps with care and transparency.