IVF in Switzerland: going through the pathway step by step, as a couple

In vitro fertilisation is not just a medical technique: it is a journey of several weeks, sometimes several months or years, that becomes part of a couple's daily life. Early-morning appointments, injections at a fixed time, waiting, decisions, budget, work, emotions: everything must find its place. This page guides you practically through this journey in Switzerland, from the first appointment to the pregnancy test and beyond. It details the timeline week by week, practical organisation, each partner's role, managing the budget, choosing the centre and getting through difficult moments. To understand what happens in the laboratory, see our page on in vitro fertilisation in the laboratory, and for an overview, our guide to IVF and assisted reproduction.

An IVF cycle lasts about six weeks between the start of treatment and the pregnancy test, including around ten days of daily injections and three to five check-up appointments. Egg retrieval takes half a day, transfer a few minutes. Most women continue working by organising themselves. In Switzerland, IVF is at the couple's expense; it is useful to budget for several attempts and frozen embryo transfers. Support from the partner, those close to you and, if needed, a psychologist is part of the journey. Budget guidelines are on our page on IVF prices in Switzerland.

When the doctor suggests IVF, it is often after an assessment, sometimes after unsuccessful inseminations, or straight away when the cause requires it. For the couple, an intense period then begins, in which the plan for a child takes a very concrete, organised form. Knowing what to expect, step by step, helps you prepare better, reduce the stress of the unknown and keep room for couple life outside treatment.

The journey involves both partners, even if the woman receives most of the treatment. Each has a role, emotions and needs. Thinking about the journey together from the outset is one of the best ways to go through it calmly.

Between egg retrieval and transfer, your eggs, your partner's sperm and then your embryos are entrusted to the laboratory. Understanding its work helps interpret the daily calls: number of mature eggs, fertilisations, embryo development and choice of the embryo transferred. To find out more about these stages, see our page on in vitro fertilisation in the laboratory, which details gamete preparation, fertilisation, embryo culture and freezing.

For many couples, IVF is preceded by a few cycles of intrauterine insemination, which are simpler and often covered by basic insurance under conditions. If you have not yet tried this step and your situation allows, talk to your doctor. To find out more, see our page on artificial insemination.

The first appointment at the IVF centre is often awaited with impatience and apprehension. Come together if possible, with all your test results, the list of your treatments and your questions. The doctor reviews your history, explains why IVF is being proposed, presents the process, chances, risks and costs, and plans the next steps. It is normal to leave with a great deal of information: ask for a written summary and do not hesitate to contact the centre again with questions that occur to you later.

• The woman's test results: hormones, ultrasound, tubes.
• The semen analysis and any tests for the partner.
• Reports of previous inseminations or IVF.
• The list of current treatments and allergies.
• Medical and surgical history.
• Contact details for the gynaecologist and GP.
• Your written questions.

Waiting times for a first appointment can reach a few months. This time can be used well: completing the assessment with your gynaecologist, having the semen analysis, stopping smoking, starting folic acid, checking your insurance and thinking about budget and organisation. If you are over 35, mention it when booking: some centres take it into account.

Before starting the first cycle, a second consultation is often useful: it allows you to go back over what was said, ask questions that have arisen in the meantime, confirm the protocol, reread the consents and quote, and check that the couple feels ready. Some centres also offer a meeting with the coordinating nurse, who explains the calendar and practical aspects in detail.

This calendar is indicative: the length of stimulation and exact dates depend on your response to treatment. The centre gives you a schedule and adjusts it as check-ups progress.

Before starting, several steps are needed: a consultation to define the strategy, serology for both partners, signing consents, a session with a nurse to learn the injections, ordering medicines from the pharmacy, and often a consultation with the psychologist or information on the support offered. These weeks are also the time to review organisation and budget.

Many couples find it useful to take a few notes on what was said in consultations and prepare a list of remaining questions. Nothing should remain unclear before starting.

Preparing mentally for IVF means accepting that it is a journey, with stages, uncertainties and perhaps several attempts. It also means identifying your sources of support, thinking about what you wish to share with those around you, and planning how to react to good or bad news. Some couples find it useful to talk to a psychologist even before the first cycle, to anticipate difficult moments and strengthen their communication.

An IVF cycle does not always go as planned: stimulation may last longer, egg retrieval may be brought forward or delayed by a day, an extra check-up may be needed, or transfer may be postponed to freeze all the embryos. Leaving some slack in your diary, informing a trusted person at work and keeping a back-up childcare option allow you to cope without extra stress. Accepting this element of unpredictability is part of the journey.

It is also useful to know, before the cycle, how to reach the centre outside opening hours and what to do in the event of a problem with a medicine, a missed injection or a worrying side effect.

A minor illness, such as a cold, does not generally prevent the cycle from continuing. In the event of high fever, infection or a more serious illness, contact the centre: it may be necessary to adapt treatment, postpone egg retrieval or transfer, or freeze the embryos for later transfer. Do not take medicines without asking whether they are compatible with the current treatment.

For many couples, moving to IVF means giving up, at least for a time, the idea of conceiving a child intimately, without medical intervention. This can be felt as a loss, sometimes underestimated by those around you. It is normal to feel sadness or frustration at this point, even if you are relieved to have a solution. Talking about it together, or with a psychologist, helps approach IVF more calmly.

• Full assessment of both partners and serology up to date.
• Consents signed.
• Medicines ordered and stored correctly.
• Injection training completed.
• Centre's number and on-call hours noted.
• Diary cleared for early-morning check-ups.
• Someone arranged to accompany you for egg retrieval.
• Budget clarified and quote understood.
• Smoking stopped, folic acid started.

The doctor chooses a stimulation protocol suited to your age, ovarian reserve and previous responses. For the couple, the difference is mainly visible in the calendar: some protocols start with the period and last about ten days; others begin in the previous cycle with a phase that rests the ovaries, and last longer. The number of injections and check-ups also varies. Ask the centre to explain your protocol and give you a precise calendar.

Some centres offer milder stimulation, with lower doses and fewer injections, or natural-cycle IVF, without stimulation. These approaches are less demanding and less costly in medicines, but give fewer eggs and lower chances per cycle. They may suit some women, for example with low ovarian reserve or a wish for lighter treatment. The doctor helps you weigh up these options.

Stimulation medicines are prescribed by the centre and dispensed by a pharmacy, sometimes to order. Allow a few days. On receipt, check that you have all the products, needles and quantities planned, as well as the trigger medicine. Ask the pharmacist how to store each product. Keep the invoices for any supplementary insurance.

During an IVF cycle, tell the centre about any medicine you take or plan to take, including over-the-counter ones: painkillers, antihistamines, supplements and herbal products. Some are compatible, others are not advised. The centre tells you which painkiller to use after egg retrieval. If you have an illness requiring treatment, see your doctor and mention that you are undergoing IVF.

Many couples find it useful to keep a diary of the journey: cycle dates, doses, check-up results, number of eggs and embryos, and feelings. This diary helps follow treatment, prepare for consultations, compare cycles and keep a record of an important period. It can also become a space to express emotions. Some tracking apps exist; a simple notebook is enough.

Over the cycles, documents accumulate: reports, consents, prescriptions, invoices and results. Filing them in a paper or digital folder, by cycle and date, makes follow-up, dealings with the insurer, any change of centre and preparing for consultations easier. Also keep the information on your frozen embryos: number, stage, freezing date and end of storage period.

Apps allow you to record injections, set reminders, track appointments or share the calendar with your partner. Some centres offer their own portal or app to send instructions and results. These tools can simplify organisation. Remain cautious, however, about apps that claim to predict chances or spread unvalidated advice, and protect your health data.

During the intense two to three weeks of a cycle, simplifying daily life helps a great deal: preparing meals in advance, sharing tasks differently, reducing non-essential social commitments, and arranging childcare for early-morning appointments and egg retrieval day. Space in the fridge for medicines, a quiet corner for injections and a visible cycle calendar complete the organisation.

During a cycle, you will receive many instructions: doses, times, appointments, trigger time and egg retrieval time. Note them down every time, repeat them back to check, and do not hesitate to call back if in doubt. Tell the centre the best way to reach you and make sure your phone is available when they call. If you have a worrying side effect, call without delay, even in the evening or at the weekend, according to the arrangements in place.

Every decision in the journey involves both partners. It is useful to discuss them before appointments, ask the doctor questions together and take the time needed when a decision is not urgent. When opinions differ, for example on the number of attempts or stopping, a conversation with the centre's psychologist can help find common ground. No decision should be taken under pressure from one partner alone.

Before the first cycle, the centre gives you several documents to read and sign: consent to treatment, to freezing embryos and to their storage, and sometimes to preimplantation genetic testing or the use of donor sperm. Take time to read them at home, note your questions and talk about them together. These documents also set out what happens to the embryos in the event of separation or death, in accordance with the law. Keep a copy.

Injections quickly become routine. Choose a fixed time, often in the evening, in a quiet, well-lit place. Wash your hands, prepare the pen or syringe according to the instructions, disinfect the skin of the abdomen, gently pinch a fold and inject. Alternate sides and injection sites to limit bruising. Record each injection in a notebook or app, with the dose and time.

If the idea of injecting yourself worries you, ask your partner to learn too, or ask the nurse to help with the first injections. After a few days, most women are surprised at how easy it is.

• Read the leaflet: some products go in the fridge, others do not.
• Never freeze the medicines.
• Keep them in their packaging, away from light.
• When travelling, use an insulated pouch.
• Check the remaining quantities so as not to run out.
• Have a container for used needles, to return to the pharmacy.

During stimulation, check-ups generally take place early in the morning, so that the centre can adjust doses the same day. They combine a vaginal ultrasound, which measures the follicles, and sometimes a blood test. The visit often lasts less than half an hour, but allow for travel and sometimes a short wait. The centre calls or messages you in the afternoon with the next steps in treatment.

Organise your mornings accordingly for about two weeks: arriving at work a little later, arranging reliable transport and keeping your phone to hand for the afternoon call.

IVF cycles do not follow the working week: your period may start on a Saturday, a check-up fall on a Sunday, or egg retrieval be scheduled on a bank holiday Monday. Centres generally provide an on-call service for these situations. Note in advance how to reach the centre at the weekend, whom to contact and which instructions to follow. Also bear in mind that the trigger injection may fall on a weekend evening, and arrange to be at home at the exact time.

It is 7 a.m. After a quick coffee, you leave for the centre, where a few other women are already waiting. The nurse calls you, checks your identity and sometimes takes a blood sample. Then the doctor performs the vaginal ultrasound: they measure the follicles one by one and the thickness of the lining, and explain what they see. In less than twenty minutes, it is over. You return to work, waiting for the afternoon call that will give you the evening's doses and the date of the next check-up. This routine is repeated three to five times per cycle.

During stimulation, the centre generally contacts you in the afternoon, after analysing the ultrasound and blood test. It tells you the doses to inject in the evening, the date of the next check-up and, when the follicles are ready, the exact time of the trigger and egg retrieval. Keep your phone to hand, note the instructions and repeat them back to check. If you cannot answer, call back as soon as possible, as the instructions must be followed that same evening.

To picture stimulation concretely, here is what a week often looks like. On Monday morning, a check-up at the centre at around 7.30, then arriving at work a little later. In the afternoon, a call from the centre confirming the doses. In the evening, an injection at around 8 p.m., before dinner. On Tuesday, no check-up; evening injection. On Wednesday morning, another check-up, doses adjusted, possibly adding a medicine that prevents premature ovulation. On Thursday and Friday, evening injections, abdomen a little heavier. On Saturday morning, a check-up; the centre announces that the trigger will probably be on Monday.

This routine, repeated over about ten days, mainly requires regularity and some flexibility in your diary. At weekends, check-ups sometimes take place in specific time slots; the centre tells you how to organise yourself.

Fatigue is common during stimulation and after egg retrieval, linked to hormones, early mornings for check-ups and the emotional load. Go to bed earlier, lighten your schedule, delegate some tasks and accept slowing down. A short nap, a walk in the fresh air or a quiet moment during the day can help. If fatigue is intense or accompanied by other symptoms, talk to the centre.

During an IVF cycle, a simple, balanced diet is enough: vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, protein, dairy products and good hydration. If you are bloated during stimulation, lighter, smaller meals can bring relief. After egg retrieval, if there is a risk of hyperstimulation, the centre may give specific advice on drinking and eating. No particular food increases the chances of implantation, despite what you may read online.

As the days go by, the ovaries enlarge and the abdomen may feel heavy and swollen. Some women feel tired or have headaches, tender breasts or mood changes. Wearing loose clothing, staying hydrated, walking a little and resting help. Avoid intense sports, jumping and twisting. Intense pain, rapid weight gain or breathlessness mean you should call the centre without delay.

During stimulation and after egg retrieval, the ovaries are larger and heavier, which slightly increases the rare risk of an ovary twisting on itself: ovarian torsion. It causes sudden, intense pain on one side of the abdomen, often with nausea or vomiting. It is an emergency requiring prompt treatment. Avoiding sports involving jumping, twisting or impact during this period reduces the risk. In the event of sudden pain, call the centre or 144.

Sometimes a cycle is stopped before egg retrieval: insufficient response to stimulation, risk of hyperstimulation, premature ovulation or a health problem. This cancellation is often experienced as a failure, yet it aims to protect the woman or avoid a cycle with too low a chance. The doctor explains the reason and proposes an adjustment for the next cycle. The financial conditions of a cancellation generally appear in the quote.

When the follicles have reached the right size, the centre tells you the precise time of the trigger injection, often in the evening. This injection matures the eggs and sets the time of egg retrieval, about thirty-six hours later. Keeping to the time is essential: set an alarm, prepare the product in advance and check the dose. If you have any doubt or problem, call the centre immediately.

That evening, many couples feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension: stimulation is over, and the next stage is approaching.

• The day before: last meal at the time indicated, then fasting.
• Morning: arrival at the centre at the set time, accompanied.
• Preparation: identity check, drip inserted.
• Egg retrieval: about twenty minutes under sedation.
• Meanwhile: sperm collection by the partner.
• Waking: one to two hours of monitoring, a snack.
• Before leaving: number of eggs collected, instructions and prescriptions.
• Afternoon: rest at home.

• Prepare a light meal for when you get back.
• Set up a comfortable corner with cushions and a blanket.
• Have a hot-water bottle or heat pad for the abdomen.
• Keep permitted painkillers and a bottle of water to hand.
• Have loose clothing ready.
• Arrange childcare for the day.
• Let those close to you know you are resting.

After egg retrieval, allow yourself a day of rest, with enough to drink, a light meal and the permitted painkillers. Avoid exertion, lifting and sexual intercourse for a few days, according to instructions. Watch for increasing pain, fever or a very swollen abdomen. Most women feel better the next day and gradually resume their activities.

• Exact time of the trigger injection noted and alarm set.
• Time and place of egg retrieval confirmed.
• Fasting instructions reread.
• Someone arranged to take you home.
• Abstinence period respected by the partner.
• One or two days of rest arranged.
• Permitted painkillers at home.
• Comfortable clothing and hot-water bottle for the return home.
• Centre's number in case of problems.

After egg retrieval, the abdomen remains tender and swollen for a few days. Rest on the day itself, gradually resume activities the next day, drink enough and take the permitted painkillers. The next day, the laboratory tells you how many eggs have been fertilised, then keeps you informed of embryo development until transfer. These calls are often awaited with great emotion; note down the information and your questions.

After egg retrieval, especially in women who had many follicles, it is important to watch for certain signs: an increasingly swollen abdomen, weight gain of more than a kilo a day, increasing abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, reduced urine and breathlessness. In this case, contact the centre without delay. Mild hyperstimulation can often be managed at home, with rest and suitable hydration; more significant forms require medical monitoring. The centre explains what to do.

Transfer is a short but emotional moment. You are generally asked to come with a moderately full bladder, which makes the ultrasound easier. The partner can be present. The biologist confirms identity and presents the chosen embryo, sometimes on a screen, then the doctor places it in the uterus using a fine catheter. The procedure takes a few minutes and is painless. You can leave shortly afterwards and resume normal life.

• Transfer time confirmed.
• Bladder instructions reread.
• Hormonal support taken as prescribed.
• Partner available if you would like him or her there.
• Questions for the biologist noted.
• A lighter day, with no significant exertion.
• Date of the blood test noted.

Light bleeding or brownish discharge during the two-week wait is common and does not necessarily mean failure: it may be linked to the transfer, hormone treatment or implantation. Continue treatment and contact the centre if in doubt. Heavy bleeding, like a period, or bleeding with significant pain should be reported. In all cases, only the blood test gives the result.

The progesterone prescribed after transfer can cause effects resembling early pregnancy: tender breasts, fatigue, bloating, mood changes and vaginal discharge if given vaginally. These symptoms do not show whether pregnancy has started. They can feed hope or worry; knowing about them in advance helps you not to over-interpret them.

• Hormone treatment taken every day at the scheduled time.
• Enjoyable activities planned to fill the days.
• Urine tests put aside until the date indicated.
• Trusted people identified to share emotions with.
• How to receive the result decided together.
• Centre's number noted in case of heavy bleeding or pain.

The blood test result is generally given by phone or message on the same day. It is useful to decide in advance how you wish to receive it: together, at home, somewhere calm, rather than in the middle of a meeting. Some couples prefer the centre to call them at a set time. Whatever the result, plan to be able to take a moment for yourselves, with no immediate obligations.

A positive test is a great joy, often mixed with worry after a long journey. A second blood test two days later checks that the pregnancy hormone is rising properly. An ultrasound at around six or seven weeks confirms that the pregnancy is in the uterus and shows heart activity. Hormone treatment continues for a few weeks, then follow-up is handed over to your gynaecologist or midwife. Many couples need time to take it in and dare to look ahead.

After IVF, many couples hesitate to announce the pregnancy, for fear of a miscarriage after so much effort. Some wait until the end of the first trimester and the twelve-week scan; others share the news earlier with a few people close to them who have supported them through the journey. There is no right rule. If you have told some people about the IVF, think about how you wish to inform them, whatever the outcome.

At work, the announcement follows the usual rules for pregnancy; nothing obliges you to say it was achieved through IVF.

Once the pregnancy has been confirmed by ultrasound, follow-up is generally handed over to your gynaecologist or midwife, as for any pregnancy. Depending on age, twins or certain medical history, slightly closer follow-up may be offered. The usual screening tests, such as the first-trimester scan, are carried out as normal. Tell the professionals that you had IVF, which is useful for calculating the due date precisely and adapting follow-up.

After a long journey, pregnancy can be experienced with particular anxiety: fear of losing it, difficulty looking ahead, a need for frequent reassurance. This is very common. Talking to the midwife or gynaecologist, who can adapt follow-up, and possibly to a psychologist, helps you experience this period more calmly. Antenatal classes and talking with other future parents can also help you look to the future.

A negative test is an ordeal, even when you were prepared for it. The centre tells you to stop hormone treatment; your period arrives a few days later. Allow yourself to feel sad, angry or discouraged. Take time before deciding what to do next. An appointment is offered to analyse the cycle and discuss the options: frozen embryo transfer, new stimulation or protocol adjustment. Support from a psychologist can help with this moment.

If you have told those close to you about the cycle, announcing a failure can be an additional ordeal. You can choose to do it by message, to avoid having to talk about it face to face, or ask a trusted person to pass on the information. It is legitimate to say that you do not want to discuss it for now. Caring people will understand and give you the time you need.

When the couple feels ready to try again, preparing the next attempt is often calmer: the calendar is known, the injections mastered and the organisation well practised. It is an opportunity to keep what worked well and adjust what weighed heavily: more rest, a different way of communicating with those around you, psychological support. The protocol may also have been adapted by the doctor. Many couples cope better with the second attempt than the first.

Over a long journey, motivation can fluctuate. Remembering why you started, celebrating small steps, allowing yourselves breaks and setting realistic goals help you keep going. It is also legitimate to ask yourselves regularly whether you still wish to continue, and on what terms. Motivation is fed by the couple's mutual support, the medical team and those close to you.

The days after a negative test are often marked by sadness, fatigue and sometimes anger or a sense of injustice. The arrival of your period makes the disappointment very real. It is useful to allow yourself a few days' rest if possible, tell the people you trust and not make an immediate decision about what comes next. Some women also feel a physical after-effect linked to stopping the hormones. Talking, crying, spending time together or taking your mind off things: everyone finds their own way through these days.

A few weeks after a failure, an appointment with the doctor allows you to take stock. Prepare your questions: how did stimulation go, how many eggs were mature, how did the embryos develop, why was a particular embryo chosen, what should change next time. The doctor presents the options: frozen embryo transfer, new stimulation with or without adjustment, further tests. This appointment often helps restore hope, or helps a decision mature.

• How did this cycle go, step by step?
• What could be improved?
• Should the protocol or technique be changed?
• Do we have frozen embryos, and when can we use them?
• What are our chances for a next cycle?
• Are further tests needed?
• How long should we wait before starting again?
• How many attempts do you advise us to consider?

After several failures, physical, emotional and financial fatigue can become significant. This is the time for an in-depth assessment, sometimes a second opinion, and reflection as a couple about what comes next. Some couples choose to continue with an adapted strategy, others to take a long break, others again to stop. Psychological support is particularly recommended at this stage. Be wary of promises of costly treatments with no evidence of effectiveness.

After a failure, it can be hard to find the energy for a new attempt. Taking time to analyse the cycle with the doctor, understanding what can be improved, knowing your real chances and setting a plan often help restore confidence. It is also important to recognise the ground already covered and what it has taught the couple. Each cycle provides useful information for the next.

The first weeks of a pregnancy achieved through IVF are like those of any pregnancy: fatigue, nausea, tender breasts. The risk of miscarriage exists, as in any pregnancy, and increases with age, which explains many couples' anxiety until the end of the first trimester. Reassuring follow-up, ultrasounds and dialogue with the team help you through this period. Little by little, the pregnancy takes its place, beyond the IVF journey.

When the long-awaited child arrives after an IVF journey, the joy is immense, but other emotions can arise: fatigue, anxiety, difficulty taking it in, and sometimes a feeling of emptiness after years focused on this goal. Some parents feel particular pressure to be perfect parents. These emotions are normal. Support from the midwife, paediatrician, those close to you and, if needed, a psychologist helps you experience the first months calmly. Also remember to inform the centre of the birth, which contributes to its statistics.

If embryos remain frozen, the centre will contact you about their storage. You can take time to think about a possible second plan.

Should you tell the child they were conceived through IVF? For IVF with the couple's own gametes, it is a personal choice. Many parents choose to talk about it simply, over the years, as part of the family story. When donor sperm has been used, specialists recommend talking about it early, in suitable words, especially as Swiss law allows the child to know their origins from the age of 18. Children's books and advice from psychologists can help.

When your family plans are complete, or if you no longer wish to use your frozen embryos, several choices are open to you under Swiss law: continuing storage within the legal limits for another child, requesting their destruction or, with your consent, making them available for research under the legal framework. Donation to another couple is prohibited in Switzerland. Take time to talk about it together, possibly with the centre's psychologist.

A miscarriage after an IVF journey is often experienced as deep grief, after so much hope and effort. It most often occurs in the first trimester, because of chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, and is generally not due to anything the couple did. Take the time you need to go through it, with support if needed. The doctor will tell you when a new attempt is possible and whether further assessment is useful.

Rarely, a pregnancy achieved through IVF can develop outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. That is why an early ultrasound is carried out after a positive test. Pain on one side of the abdomen, bleeding or feeling faint in early pregnancy require prompt consultation. An ectopic pregnancy is treated with medication or surgery; it is an additional ordeal that deserves support.

• Intense or increasing abdominal pain.
• Very swollen abdomen, rapid weight gain.
• Breathlessness, difficulty breathing.
• Fever after egg retrieval or transfer.
• Heavy bleeding.
• Pain on one side of the abdomen in early pregnancy.
• A hot, swollen calf.

Call the centre, or 144 in an emergency.

IVF mainly requires flexibility for two to three weeks per cycle: early-morning check-ups, egg retrieval scheduled with one or two days' notice, and transfer a few days later. Most women continue working, arriving a little later on check-up days and taking one or two days around egg retrieval. The partner also needs to be free on the day of egg retrieval.

Organisation differs depending on the job: an office job with flexible hours makes things easier, whereas shift work, team work or a job involving travel require more planning. Medical certificates do not state the reason for absences.

Journeys to the centre are an often-underestimated aspect of the process. For early-morning check-ups, find out public transport times or parking options, and allow a margin for the unexpected. On egg retrieval day, you will not be able to drive home: arrange for someone to accompany you or a taxi. If the centre is far away, a night nearby before egg retrieval can reduce stress. Some couples share journeys with someone close, which also creates a moment of support.

Working from home makes the IVF journey much easier: an early-morning check-up followed by a day working at home, returning the day after egg retrieval without a commute, a calmer day after transfer. If your job allows, discussing a little more home working with your employer during cycle weeks can be a simple solution, without necessarily explaining why.

Some couples choose to take a few days' leave around egg retrieval and transfer rather than a medical certificate. Others prefer to keep their leave for a real break between two cycles. There is no right solution: the key is to plan ahead. As the exact dates are only known at the last minute, it is useful to let your employer know that you might need a few days within a given period.

Nothing obliges you to reveal your IVF journey to your employer or colleagues. A medical certificate justifies absences. Some people choose to tell their line manager to obtain more flexibility; others prefer to mention medical tests without going into detail. If you do talk about it, you can ask for confidentiality. Employment law protects employees' health and privacy; if difficulties arise, legal or trade union advice can help.

The partner generally needs to be free on egg retrieval day for sperm collection and to accompany the woman, and often wishes to be present at transfer and when the result is announced. These moments can be anticipated by telling his or her employer about a medical appointment. Their presence is an important support, but if it is impossible at certain times, other solutions exist, such as freezing sperm beforehand or being accompanied by someone close.

Thinking in terms of several attempts rather than a single cycle allows you to plan ahead and reduce financial stress. Details are on our page on IVF prices in Switzerland.

These indices are indicative and vary between centres, protocols and options.

As IVF is not covered by basic insurance in Switzerland, many couples must plan how to finance several attempts. A few ideas: check supplementary insurance benefits and their ceilings in detail, compare quotes and packages offered by centres, favour frozen embryo transfers when embryos are available, forgo options of unproven value, and discuss a reasonable number of attempts with the doctor in light of the chances. It is better to avoid taking on heavy debt for a single extra attempt.

If your basic insurance works on a family doctor, health network or telemedicine model, going through your primary care doctor or gynaecologist may be necessary for assessment tests to be reimbursed. Check the conditions of your contract before the first appointments. As IVF itself is not reimbursed by basic insurance, these rules mainly concern the preliminary tests.

Keep all invoices, prescriptions and statements: they are useful for your supplementary insurance, for following your budget and, where applicable, for your tax return. Depending on your canton and situation, some non-reimbursed medical costs may be tax-deductible above a certain threshold. Ask your canton's tax administration or an adviser.

The financial dimension of IVF often weighs on the couple: each attempt represents a significant cost, and failure can be felt as a double loss. Talking openly about the budget, setting a framework together and not letting money become a source of tension help protect the relationship. If the financial question becomes too heavy, do not hesitate to talk to the team, which can sometimes suggest solutions or adapted strategies.

Some centres offer packages including several cycles or several transfers, sometimes with a partial refund in the event of failure. These offers can be worthwhile, but read the conditions carefully: age, number of cycles, what is included or not, refund conditions and time limits. Compare the total cost with cycle-by-cycle billing, taking your real chances into account.

• Which assessment tests are covered by basic insurance?
• Does your insurance model require you to go through your family doctor?
• Does your supplementary insurance contribute to IVF costs or medicines?
• With what ceilings and conditions?
• Is psychological support covered?
• Is a medical prescription needed for certain services?

Ask for the answers in writing and keep them in your file.

Two centres may present quotes that are difficult to compare: overall package or itemised billing, medicines included or not, laboratory and freezing separate, frozen embryo transfers counted separately. To compare, work out the total cost of a full cycle, medicines included, then add a frozen embryo transfer and a year of storage. Also check the conditions in the event of cancellation. The real differences are sometimes smaller than they appear, and the choice of centre should not be based on price alone.

You are entitled to clear information about costs before starting. Do not hesitate to ask precise questions: what exactly does the price include, what additional costs may arise, how are medicines invoiced, what happens if the cycle is cancelled or no embryo is frozen. A centre that answers these questions clearly inspires confidence for the rest of the journey.

Before starting, reread your supplementary insurance contracts: some provide a contribution towards infertility treatment, medicines, psychological consultations or complementary medicine, with annual ceilings. Ask for written confirmation of what will be covered. Keep all invoices and prescriptions. If you are considering changing supplementary insurance, find out about waiting periods and possible exclusions before committing.

Stimulation is often experienced as a period of active hope: you are doing something, moving forward. Each check-up brings its share of emotions: relief if the follicles are growing well, worry if they are few or slow. Hormones can heighten sensitivity. It is useful to remember that the number of follicles does not tell the whole story, and that quality counts as much as quantity. Sharing your feelings with your partner after each check-up helps you not carry these emotions alone.

Egg retrieval day often mixes apprehension about the procedure, relief that the injections are over and waiting for the number of eggs. This figure, announced straight afterwards, can bring great joy or disappointment. The next day, the announcement of the number of fertilised eggs stirs emotions again. It is normal to feel exhausted after these intense days. Allowing yourself rest and gentleness, physically and emotionally, is important.

Result day concentrates all the emotions of the cycle. A positive result often brings intense joy, mixed with disbelief and worry about what lies ahead. A negative result can bring deep sadness, anger, a sense of injustice or emptiness. It is important to allow yourself to feel these emotions, without forcing yourself to be strong. Being together, telling one or two trusted people and planning no obligations that day help you get through this moment.

• Attending important consultations and taking part in decisions.
• Learning to give the injections, or being present at that time.
• Taking on more daily tasks during stimulation.
• Organising his or her diary for egg retrieval and transfer.
• Looking after his or her own health: smoking, alcohol, lifestyle.
• Listening without trying to solve everything.
• Also expressing his or her own emotions and needs.

The partner is not merely an escort: he or she also lives the journey, with its hopes and worries.

During IVF, medical attention focuses on the woman, and the partner may feel like a spectator, or even useless. Some male or female partners then throw themselves into organisation; others withdraw. It is useful for the partner to find their place: taking part in consultations, asking their own questions, expressing their emotions and taking on certain tasks. Teams can also include them more, for example during calls from the laboratory or at transfer. Feeling involved helps experience the journey as a shared project.

On egg retrieval day, the partner is generally asked to provide a sperm sample at the centre, in a room set aside for this purpose, during or just after egg retrieval. The recommended abstinence period, often two to five days, must be respected. This moment can be stressful: fear of not managing, a sense of being under pressure. This is common and teams are used to it. If you are worried about difficulty, mention it in advance: freezing a back-up sample beforehand can be arranged.

When collection at home is allowed, the transport time and temperature indicated by the centre must be respected.

Many partners wish to attend the transfer, a symbolic moment when the embryo is placed in the uterus. Most centres allow it. Some show the embryo on a screen before transfer or give a photo. For many couples, this shared moment marks the start of a wait experienced together. If being present is impossible, nothing prevents you from marking the moment differently, for example by meeting up straight afterwards.

• Preparing the injections or being present at that time.
• Coming to check-ups when possible.
• Taking on more household and family tasks.
• Suggesting enjoyable activities to take your minds off things.
• Avoiding constant questions about sensations or results.
• Accepting hormone-related mood changes.
• Looking after yourself too, to be able to provide lasting support.

During the intense weeks of a cycle, accepting help from those close to you with practical tasks can make a real difference: childcare, shopping, prepared meals, being accompanied on egg retrieval day. Many people hesitate to ask, fearing they will be a nuisance or have to explain. Yet those close to you are often glad to be able to help in practical ways, without necessarily knowing all the details of the journey.

The woman carries most of the physical journey: daily injections, check-ups, egg retrieval, transfer, hormone treatment and sometimes side effects. She may feel tired, have the impression of losing control of her body, or feel a form of loneliness in the face of these treatments. She also often experiences hope and waiting intensely. It is important that she can express her needs, ask for help with daily tasks and allow herself time for herself, without guilt.

Some women also feel guilty when the cause of infertility lies with them, or, conversely, angry when it lies with the partner but it is they who receive the treatment. These feelings are normal and are worth sharing.

The man often experiences the journey with a sense of helplessness: he sees his partner undergoing treatments he cannot share. When infertility has a male cause, he may feel shame or guilt. Sperm collection, sometimes under pressure on egg retrieval day, can be stressful. Many men keep their emotions to themselves so as not to add to their partner's worry. Yet expressing what you feel — to your partner, a friend or a professional — helps the couple go through the journey together.

During an IVF journey, the two partners do not always experience things at the same pace: one may need to talk about it a lot, the other to step back; one may want to carry on at all costs, the other to question it. These differences are normal. Regularly taking time to take stock, expressing feelings without reproach and seeking joint decisions help you stay united. Couples counselling can also be valuable.

• Talking regularly about feelings, without waiting for a crisis.
• Sharing decisions and responsibilities.
• Accepting that each person experiences the journey in their own way.
• Preserving time without IVF: outings, plans, tenderness.
• Setting limits together: number of attempts, budget, breaks.
• Asking for outside help when tension sets in.
• Remembering that the couple exists beyond the plan for a child.

Many couples say the journey brought them closer, provided they managed to talk to and support each other.

Tension is common during an IVF journey: disagreements about the number of attempts, feeling that the other does not understand, fatigue, hormone-related irritability and financial pressure. This tension does not mean the relationship is in danger, but it deserves to be addressed. Taking a calm moment to talk about it, without reproach, expressing your needs rather than blaming, often helps. When dialogue becomes difficult, couples counselling, at the centre or with a therapist, can provide a space to reconnect.

Sometimes one partner wants to continue while the other would like a break or to stop, or they differ on the number of embryos to transfer or an acceptable budget. These disagreements often touch on deep values and emotions. Taking time to understand the other's reasons, without trying to convince them at all costs, is essential. The centre's psychologist can help explore these differences and find a decision both partners can stand by.

During an IVF journey, those around you can be a valuable source of support, but also of clumsiness: repeated questions about results, unsolicited advice, comparisons and pregnancy announcements. It is legitimate to choose whom you tell about your journey and to set limits. Some couples designate one or two trusted people with whom to share the stages, and answer others more vaguely. You can also explain to those close to you what helps you and what hurts you.

Christmas and New Year, children's birthday parties, baby showers or births in the family can be particularly difficult during an IVF journey. It is legitimate to limit your participation, go for a short time, or plan a moment to step away. Telling a trusted person, preparing an answer to intrusive questions and planning a pleasant moment together after the event can help.

Online forums and groups allow you to talk with others going through IVF, which can break isolation. But they can also feed anxiety, through comparing figures, symptoms or protocols, and spread inaccurate information. Keep a critical eye, limit the time spent searching for answers online during the wait, and check information with your medical team.

• Get enough sleep and keep regular hours.
• Keep up gentle physical activity, such as walking or adapted yoga.
• Eat a balanced diet, without a strict regime.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine, stop smoking.
• Keep up enjoyable activities unrelated to IVF.
• Allow yourself breaks and time to switch off.
• Ask for help when the weight becomes too heavy.

Looking after yourself does not necessarily increase the chances of success, but it helps you go through the journey in better conditions.

Some couples choose to experience IVF as one project among others rather than the centre of their lives: they keep up their leisure activities, travel between cycles, and work and social plans. Others need to devote themselves fully to it for a time. Both attitudes are legitimate. The key is to find the approach that allows you to go through the journey while preserving your balance, and to be able to change it if it no longer suits you.

Amid appointments, injections and waiting, it is easy to forget to take time for yourself. Yet preserving personal moments — a book, a walk, a hobby, meeting a friend — helps keep your balance and avoid reducing your life to the IVF journey. These moments are not wasted time: they are a resource for getting through the more difficult stages.

During an IVF journey, it is tempting to withdraw, avoid outings where questions might come up, or organise everything around cycles. Yet keeping social contacts, leisure activities and lighter moments is important for balance. There is no need to talk about IVF at every meeting; you can simply enjoy a meal with friends, a cultural outing or a gentle sporting activity. Some couples choose to plan something enjoyable straight after each difficult stage, such as egg retrieval or the result, to give themselves a positive marker.

If certain social situations become too painful, for example family gatherings centred on children, it is legitimate to limit them temporarily. The key is to find a balance between protection and openness, which can change over the course of the journey.

Sport can be an ally in managing stress and keeping a good balance, provided it is adapted to the stages of the cycle. Between cycles and at the start of stimulation, moderate activity is generally possible. As the ovaries enlarge, running, jumping, contact sports, twisting and intense exertion should be avoided, as they carry a risk of ovarian torsion, a rare but serious complication. After egg retrieval, a few days of relative rest are advised. During the wait, walking, gentle swimming or adapted yoga are often appreciated. Ask the centre what is possible for you.

Sleep is often disrupted during an IVF journey: anxiety, hormones, early mornings for check-ups, and racing thoughts during the wait. A few habits help: regular hours, screens off an hour before bed, a calm activity in the evening and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon. If insomnia sets in, talk to the doctor rather than taking sleeping pills without advice, as some medicines are not advised when trying for a pregnancy.

Many couples turn to approaches such as meditation, relaxation, yoga, sophrology or acupuncture to cope better with the journey. These practices can help manage stress and feel better, even though their effect on pregnancy chances has not been demonstrated. Talk to your doctor if you are considering supplements or practices that might interact with treatment, and be wary of promises of success.

Psychological support can be useful at any point in the journey, not only in a crisis. It is particularly recommended when sadness or anxiety becomes overwhelming, after a failure or miscarriage, when the couple is going through tension, at the time of difficult decisions such as stopping treatment, or when the journey isolates you socially. Most centres offer this support, in line with Swiss law, which provides for counselling for couples.

Talking with other people who are going through or have been through IVF can bring valuable support: feeling understood, sharing practical tips and breaking isolation. Patient associations and support groups exist in Switzerland, in person or online. Your centre can tell you about the resources available in your region and language.

Many people going through IVF feel alone: the impression that no one understands, difficulty talking about it, and a sense of being out of step with those around them, for whom pregnancy seems easy. Breaking this isolation is important. It can mean one or two trusted people, a support group, a patient association, a moderated forum or psychological support. Sharing your experience with others who are living it often helps you feel understood and less alone in the face of hardship.

The partner may also feel isolated, particularly men, who less often find spaces to talk about what they are going through.

Keeping hope is essential to get through an IVF journey, but hope without realism can make failures even more painful. Knowing your real chances, according to age and situation, understanding that a failure is not anyone's fault, and thinking of the journey over several cycles help find a balance. The doctor can give you an honest estimate, and the psychologist can help you live with this tension between hope and clear-sightedness.

Many people feel guilty during an IVF journey: guilty for having waited, smoked, been stressed, done sport or eaten a particular food. After a failure, these thoughts are even more common. Yet the causes of a failure are most often biological, linked to egg or embryo quality, and not to behaviour during the cycle. Talking about it with the team often helps let go of this unjustified guilt.

An IVF journey can shake self-confidence: the feeling that your body is not working as it should, a sense of personal failure, comparison with others. It is important to remember that infertility is a common medical condition, not a personal flaw. Your worth does not depend on the result of a cycle. Looking after yourself, surrounding yourself with caring people and, if needed, seeking professional support help preserve self-esteem throughout the journey, whatever the outcome, and keep intact your ability to look to the future with confidence. The small successes of the journey — a mastered injection, a stage completed or a difficult conversation held together — also deserve to be recognised and celebrated, together, as proof of the ground already covered and of the couple's strength in the face of the journey's trials, day after day, together.

During an IVF journey, it can seem difficult to make plans, as the calendar depends on cycles. Yet keeping plans, holidays and outings helps you avoid putting your life on hold. It is possible to plan a break between two attempts to go away, or to schedule a cycle around a holiday period using a planning treatment. Talk to the centre, which can often adapt.

If your centre is far away, organisation requires more planning: journeys for each check-up, sometimes early in the morning, and for egg retrieval at a precise time, without being able to drive home. Some solutions make things easier: having some check-ups carried out by your gynaecologist in liaison with the centre, planning a night nearby around egg retrieval, or arranging a lift with someone close. Discuss it from the first consultation.

Some centres offer video consultations for information sessions, discussing results or psychological follow-up, which reduces travel. Ultrasounds and egg retrieval, however, require attendance at the centre or with a partner gynaecologist. If you live far away, ask which stages can be done remotely and whether a gynaecologist near you can carry out some check-ups in liaison with the centre.

Understanding instructions perfectly is essential: doses, times, trigger time and consents. If you live in German-speaking Switzerland or Ticino and French is your language, choose a centre where you can be supported in French or English, and ask for written documents in a language you master. If in doubt, have instructions repeated: an error in dose or timing can compromise a cycle.

For couples who already have a child and are trying for another, or for blended families, the IVF journey adds to family life. Childcare must be arranged for early-morning appointments and egg retrieval day, fatigue managed, and sometimes guilt at devoting time and energy to the plan. Children often sense the tension; a simple explanation suited to their age can reassure them. Do not neglect quality family time.

When a couple already has a child, the child often senses that something is going on: frequent appointments, fatigue, emotions. There is no need to explain everything, but a simple, reassuring explanation suited to their age helps them understand: mummy has doctor's appointments, she is a bit tired, it is nothing serious. Avoid sharing the hope of a brother or sister too early, which could be hard for the child to handle in the event of failure. Keeping their routines and quality time with them remains essential.

In a blended family, plans for a shared child may involve IVF, for example because of age or a previous vasectomy. The journey then takes place within a particular family dynamic: children from previous relationships, custody arrangements and each partner's different expectations. Taking time to talk about it together, and sometimes with the children depending on their age, helps integrate this plan into family life.

The couple's parents can be a valuable source of support, but sometimes also of unintentional pressure, through their questions or impatience. If you choose to tell them about the journey, explain what helps you and what weighs on you. Some couples prefer to tell them only once the pregnancy is confirmed. As with everyone around you, it is your decision.

After a birth achieved through IVF, many couples consider a second child. If embryos have been frozen, a transfer can be scheduled without new stimulation, which makes the journey much lighter. The legal storage period and age must be taken into account. It is advisable to wait a reasonable time after delivery and weaning, to be discussed with the doctor. Sometimes a natural pregnancy also occurs.

IVF can turn sexuality into a medical subject: examinations, abstinence instructions and scheduled sample collection. It is important to preserve moments of intimacy and tenderness unrelated to the plan for a child, and not to reduce the relationship to the journey. Some couples set aside reserved times without talking about IVF. If difficulties persist, talking to a professional can help.

Some couples find it useful to create small rituals during the journey: a special meal on the evening of the first injection, a walk after each check-up, an outing on transfer day, a quiet moment on the evening of the result. These markers give a rhythm, remind you that the couple remains at the centre, and help you experience difficult stages as shared moments rather than things endured.

However serious it is, the IVF journey leaves room for lighter moments. Many couples tell amusing stories: injections in unlikely places, appointments at dawn, medical vocabulary that has become everyday language. Humour, shared as a couple or with those close to you, helps take the drama out of things and preserve closeness. It takes nothing away from the seriousness of the plan, but makes the path more bearable.

A single IVF attempt is not always enough, even for couples who will eventually have a child. It is often useful, from the outset, to discuss a plan over several cycles with the doctor: number of stimulations envisaged, use of frozen embryos and when to reassess the strategy. This plan helps put a first failure into perspective, anticipate the budget and keep a sense of perspective. It of course remains adjustable according to results and how the couple is coping.

For a couple starting IVF, the year might be organised as follows, by way of example: one to two months for the assessment and first consultation, a month of preparation, a first full cycle, a possible frozen embryo transfer one or two months later, a break, then a second cycle if needed. In practice, two to three attempts, including frozen embryo transfers, often fit within a year. This calendar depends on age, results and the pace the couple wishes.

The length of an IVF journey varies greatly. Some couples achieve a pregnancy in the first cycle, a few months after the first consultation. Others need several cycles and frozen embryo transfers, over one or two years, or even longer with breaks. Age, the cause of infertility, response to treatment and the pace chosen by the couple influence this duration. It is useful to talk to the doctor to get a realistic idea, while knowing that every journey is unique.

Centres sometimes have closure periods or reduced activity, notably over Christmas and New Year or in summer. Find out in advance if you wish to schedule a cycle during these periods. Conversely, some couples deliberately choose to avoid cycles over the holidays, to enjoy these moments with family without the pressure of treatment, or on the contrary to do them during their time off, to be more available.

When the woman is younger than the man, IVF chances depend mainly on the woman's age and often remain good even if the man is older, provided sperm quality is sufficient. When the woman is older, time becomes an important factor, and the journey must be organised without too many delays. In both cases, expectations and pace may differ between partners; talking about it openly helps make joint decisions.

An IVF journey often coincides with an important period in working life: career progression, a change of job or starting a business. It is tempting to wait for the right moment, but time counts, especially after 35. It is often not necessary to put your career on hold: with a little organisation, both projects can move forward in parallel. If a choice must be made, talking to the doctor to understand the real impact of a delay can help you decide.

For a young couple, IVF chances are generally good, and time is less against them. This allows breaks between attempts, time to recover and several frozen embryo transfers to be considered. That does not stop the journey from being trying: being young and facing infertility, sometimes surrounded by friends who have children without difficulty, can be particularly hard.

After 40, the IVF journey requires tighter organisation: starting quickly, following cycles without long breaks, and receiving honest information about more limited chances. Centres assess ovarian reserve to adapt the protocol and discuss a reasonable number of attempts with the couple. It is often a period of intense emotions, when time seems to count double. Psychological support can help with these decisions.

When embryos have been frozen, one or more transfers can be carried out without new stimulation. The journey is much lighter: preparing the uterus by following the natural cycle or with hormone tablets or patches, one to three ultrasounds, transfer, then waiting and the test. No daily injections or egg retrieval. For many couples, these cycles are physically easier, even though waiting for the result remains trying.

This journey, without daily injections or egg retrieval, is much lighter. It often allows almost normal life to continue during the cycle.

For a frozen embryo transfer in a natural cycle, the date depends on your ovulation and is only known a few days in advance. In a hormone-prepared cycle, it can be scheduled more precisely, which makes work organisation easier. In both cases, plan for a few early-morning appointments and a short absence on transfer day. On the day, the laboratory warms the embryo a few hours beforehand and confirms its survival.

Going from one cycle to the next can be exhausting. A break of a few weeks or months between two attempts allows you to recover physically, rediscover couple life without treatment, go on holiday and step back. Its length is discussed with the doctor, taking age into account, as time counts more after 35. Many couples then resume the journey with renewed energy.

After a stimulation cycle, the ovaries need to return to their normal size. It is often advised to wait at least one menstrual cycle before new stimulation, sometimes more depending on the response and how you are coping. A frozen embryo transfer can often be scheduled from the next cycle. After a miscarriage or hyperstimulation, the interval is adapted. Beyond medical aspects, the interval also depends on your need to recover emotionally, taking age into account.

After several unsuccessful cycles, it is important to carry out an in-depth review with the doctor: response to stimulation, egg and embryo quality, transfer conditions, uterine examinations and any unexplored factors. Depending on the conclusions, they may propose changing the protocol or technique, carrying out further tests, or addressing the question of real chances. A second opinion at another centre can also be useful.

Ending an IVF journey is one of the hardest decisions. It may become necessary when the chances become very low, when the journey weighs too heavily on health, the relationship or finances, or simply when the couple feels the need to move on. There is no universal right moment. The doctor can shed light on the real chances, the psychologist can help you think and go through this grief, and other paths, such as adoption or a chosen life without children, may gradually open up.

When the couple decides to stop treatment, a period of grief, reorganisation and sometimes relief often begins. It takes time to accept that the plan for a child as it was imagined will not come true, or not in that way. Each person goes through this grief at their own pace. Psychological support, support groups and the support of those around you can help. For some couples, other paths gradually open up: adoption, involvement with children around them, new life plans together.

Adoption is a path to parenthood distinct from IVF, with its own procedure, timescales and requirements. In Switzerland, it involves an assessment of suitability to adopt by the cantonal authority and can take several years. Some couples consider it after stopping treatment, others alongside their reflection. It is generally advised to take time to grieve the biological plan before committing to adoption. Cantonal services can provide information.

A life without children, chosen or accepted after a long journey, can also be rich and fulfilling. Couples who have lived it speak of the need to rebuild, redefine their plans and reinvest in their relationship, passions and friendships. This path is often long and deserves to be supported and respected by those around them.

• Distance: a short journey makes early-morning check-ups and egg retrieval easier.
• Hours: early-morning check-ups, weekend opening.
• Language: explanations and documents in a language you master.
• Welcome: clear explanations, team availability.
• Costs: detailed quote, cancellation conditions, possible packages.
• Support: psychologist, coordinating nurses.
• Results: published by age group, with explanations.

A first consultation often lets you sense whether the relationship with the team suits you. This is important for a journey that may last some time.

Sometimes a couple wishes to change centre: moving house, loss of confidence, waiting times too long, or a wish for a fresh perspective after several failures. That is your right. Ask for a complete copy of your file, including cycle and laboratory reports. If embryos or gametes are frozen, their transfer to the new centre can be organised between the two teams, with your consent. Changing centre can restore momentum, but it is not always necessary; a second opinion is sometimes enough.

A second opinion is useful after several failures, when you have doubts about the proposed strategy, or before an important decision such as stopping treatment. Bring your whole file. The second doctor may confirm the strategy, suggest adjustments or further tests. A second opinion is not a lack of trust in your team, but a legitimate step in such an important journey.

• What times are check-ups, and can I have them near home?
• How and when does the centre tell me the doses?
• Whom should I contact in the evening or at the weekend if there is a problem?
• How long does egg retrieval take, and when can I return to work?
• How does the laboratory keep me informed of embryo development?
• What happens if the cycle is cancelled, and what do we pay?
• How long should we wait between two cycles?
• What psychological support do you offer?

Price differences depend more on packages, protocols and medicines than on the city. Compare complete quotes.

Authorised reproductive medicine centres are found in most regions of Switzerland. In French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva and Lausanne have hospital and private centres, and there are also centres in Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Sion, on the Riviera and La Côte. In German-speaking Switzerland, provision is dense in Zurich, Basel and Bern, and present in Lucerne, St. Gallen, Aarau, Zug, Winterthur, Biel/Bienne and Chur. In Ticino, there are centres in Lugano and Locarno. For outlying regions, some check-ups can sometimes be carried out near home.

Since 2022, married female couples can access sperm donation in Switzerland. Their IVF journey follows the same stages, with a few particular features: choosing which partner will carry the pregnancy, using sperm from an authorised bank, and information and counselling on the child's right to know their origins. The legal relationship with the wife is established from birth when the child is conceived through sperm donation under the law. Centres support these couples as they do all others.

For married female couples, organising the journey involves a few extra steps: a counselling consultation on sperm donation and on informing the child, choosing which partner will receive treatment, and sometimes thinking about a future journey for the other partner. The calendar of a cycle is then identical: stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation with donor sperm, transfer and waiting. The partner who does not carry the pregnancy plays an essential supporting role, and may also experience intense emotions, sometimes a sense of being on the sidelines that is worth sharing.

When the journey requires sperm donation, additional delays may arise, depending on the availability of donors in the sperm bank of the centre or its partner. The centre informs you of these timescales at the first consultation. The donor is chosen by the centre according to medical criteria and, in some cases, compatibility of physical characteristics, in accordance with the law. The couple does not choose a donor from a catalogue.

For married couples using sperm donation, the journey includes an information and counselling consultation, notably on how to talk to the child about their origins, then the use of frozen sperm from an authorised bank. The rest of the journey, insemination or IVF, proceeds as for other couples. From the age of 18, the child will be able to know the donor's identity. Many couples find it useful to talk to a psychologist about it.

For the couple, the difference between a hospital and a private centre is felt mainly in organisation: appointment waiting times, flexibility of hours, contact people, and comprehensive care in the case of an associated illness. Techniques, authorisations and controls are the same. Cost may vary according to packages. Choose the centre where you feel listened to and whose organisation fits your life.

• Camille and Yann, 31 and 32: pregnancy in the first cycle, two embryos frozen for a second child.
• Sara and Nicolas, 36 and 38: first cycle negative, pregnancy with a frozen embryo transfer.
• Lucie and Hugo, 39 and 41: three cycles, adapted protocol, pregnancy in the third.
• Inès and Malik, 34 and 35: cycle cancelled for poor response, new protocol, successful egg retrieval in the next cycle.
• Marie and Laura, 33 and 35, married: IVF with donor sperm after inseminations.
• Anne and Paul, 42 and 44: two cycles with no transferable embryo, decision to stop, psychological support.
• Julie and Marc, 30 and 31: risk of hyperstimulation, all embryos frozen, successful delayed transfer.

• "You have to stop working": most women continue working.
• "The injections are very painful": they are generally well tolerated.
• "You have to lie down after transfer": a normal life is advised.
• "A first failure means it will never work": chances accumulate over several cycles.
• "Stress makes IVF fail": nothing proves this.
• "IVF always means twins": a single embryo is generally transferred.

• Day 2 of the cycle: call to the centre, ultrasound, first injection in the evening.
• Days 5 to 10: three early-morning check-ups, doses adjusted.
• Day 11: trigger injection at exactly 9.30 p.m.
• Day 13: egg retrieval, nine eggs; rest in the afternoon.
• Day 14: call from the laboratory, six eggs fertilised.
• Day 18: one blastocyst transferred, two others frozen.
• Day 29: blood test, positive result, tears of joy.

• Negative test after the first cycle; a few days to absorb the news.
• Appointment with the doctor: cycle analysed, frozen embryos available.
• A month's break, a weekend in the mountains.
• Frozen embryo transfer in a natural cycle, no injections.
• Two weeks of waiting, calmer than the first time.
• Positive test.

• Two months after a negative first cycle, call to the centre at the start of the period.
• Cycle prepared with hormone patches, one ultrasound on day 12: favourable lining.
• Progesterone added, transfer scheduled for a Friday morning.
• On the morning of the transfer: call from the laboratory, blastocyst warmed, survival confirmed.
• Transfer in a few minutes, then a quiet weekend together.
• Two weeks later: blood test, positive result.

• Stimulation started with a standard protocol.
• First check-up: few follicles growing, doses increased.
• Second check-up: still only two follicles.
• Discussion with the doctor: cycle cancelled to avoid an egg retrieval with too low a chance.
• Disappointment, then an appointment to adapt the protocol.
• Next cycle with a different protocol: five eggs collected, two blastocysts.

• First appointment: lots of information, I take notes for us both.
• I give the injections every evening; it becomes our little ritual.
• Egg retrieval day: stress about the sample, then relief.
• Calls from the laboratory: we listen together, on speakerphone.
• Waiting: I suggest outings to take our minds off things.
• Negative result: we cry together and decide to take a month's break.
• Second attempt, calmer: we know what to expect.

• Three IVF cycles, few embryos each time.
• Consultation: very low chances with her own eggs, honest explanations.
• Several sessions with the centre's psychologist.
• Joint decision to stop treatment.
• A few months later: thinking about other life plans, as a couple.

• Cycle: all the stages of an attempt, from stimulation to test.
• Stimulation: hormone treatment that grows several follicles.
• Check-up: ultrasound and sometimes a blood test during stimulation.
• Trigger: injection that matures the eggs before retrieval.
• Egg retrieval: collection of the eggs.
• Transfer: placing the embryo in the uterus.
• Hormonal support: treatment after transfer.
• Frozen embryo transfer: use of a stored embryo.
• Cancellation: stopping the cycle before egg retrieval.

• Starting without having understood the calendar and budget.
• Overloading yourself with work during stimulation.
• Missing the time of the trigger injection.
• Doing urine tests too early.
• Comparing your journey with others'.
• Keeping your emotions to yourself.
• Deciding what to do next on the very day of a failure.
• Neglecting couple life.

• An IVF cycle lasts about six weeks.
• Stimulation requires daily injections and early-morning check-ups.
• Egg retrieval takes half a day, transfer a few minutes.
• Most women continue working by organising themselves.
• IVF is at the couple's expense in Switzerland; plan for several attempts.
• Support from the partner, those close to you and a psychologist is valuable.
• A failure is not the end: chances accumulate.

Starting IVF, continuing after a failure, taking a break or stopping: these decisions are yours, as a couple. The medical team informs, advises and supports you, but it is for you to choose the pace and limits of your journey. There is no right or wrong way to go through IVF, only the one that allows you to stay true to yourselves and your relationship.

IVF is a demanding journey, but it can be prepared: understanding the calendar, planning work and family organisation, clarifying the budget, choosing a centre where you feel listened to and protecting couple life. Emotions are part of the path; sharing them and seeking support help you through it. Each cycle is a stage, and chances are often built over several attempts.

If you are about to start IVF, know that you are not alone: many couples, in Switzerland and elsewhere, are going through or have been through this journey. It is demanding, but it can be prepared, and it is better experienced as a couple, surrounded and supported. Take time to understand each stage, ask all your questions, get organised and protect what makes your relationship strong. Whatever the outcome, you will have done what was in your power to give your plan a chance.

To find information and help, several resources exist: your reproductive medicine centre, your gynaecologist, psychologists specialising in perinatal care and infertility, patient associations and support groups, and the Federal Office of Public Health for the legal framework. Be wary of promises of guaranteed success, miracle treatments and unverified advice circulating online.

Whether the journey ends with a birth, a chosen stop or a break, the last appointment at the centre marks a milestone. It is the time to review any stored embryos, collect your file and thank the team that has supported you. Many couples keep in touch with the centre, sending news or a photo of their child, or sharing their story to help other couples.

At the end of an IVF journey, whatever the outcome, many couples highlight three things: the importance of having been well informed, the value of mutual support and that of those close to them, and the quality of the relationship with the care team. These are also the elements you can act on from the outset, by finding out, getting organised and choosing a centre where you feel listened to.

Couples who have been through IVF often speak of an intense interlude in their lives: discovering a new vocabulary, meticulously organising the weeks, the fatigue of injections, the emotion of calls from the laboratory, the seemingly endless wait, then the joy or sadness of the result. Many stress the importance of a caring team, mutual support within the couple and a few trusted people close to them. Some say they came out of it closer; others that the journey put them to a hard test, and that they wish they had asked for help sooner.

IVF centre teams — doctors, nurses, biologists and psychologists — know the difficulties of the journey well. They advise couples to ask all their questions, report anything that is wrong, physically or emotionally, not to hesitate to ask for a break, and to keep realistic expectations. They also point out that a failure does not call the couple's worth into question, and that the journey is built together, patient and team.

Throughout the journey, a team supports you: doctors, coordinating nurses, biologists, psychologists and secretaries. Do not hesitate to rely on them, ask your questions and express your difficulties and needs. An IVF journey is built on a relationship of trust between the couple and the team, in which everyone has their place.

• "Noting all the instructions in a shared notebook."
• "Doing the injections together, like a date for two."
• "Telling just one trusted colleague at work."
• "Planning a relaxing weekend after each result, whatever it is."
• "Stopping searching for answers online during the wait."
• "Seeing the centre's psychologist after the first failure."
• "Setting a number of attempts and a budget from the outset."
• "Continuing to make plans, even during the journey."

Whatever the outcome, an IVF journey leaves its mark. Many couples say they came out of it transformed: more aware of their strength, the solidity of their relationship and the importance of those close to them. Others keep a wound that takes time to heal. Taking time, once the journey is over, to look back on what you went through, alone, as a couple or with a professional, helps integrate it into your story and look to the future.

Over the cycles, it is easy to see only what is missing: a positive result, a pregnancy, a child. Taking time to recognise how far you have come, the trials overcome, the support received and given, and the strength of the couple, helps you keep confidence. Some couples write a few lines at each stage, to keep a record of what they went through together. These words sometimes become, years later, part of the story told to the child.

Medespoir Suisse helps you prepare for your IVF journey, understand the calendar and costs, prepare your questions and find an authorised reproductive medicine centre in your region and language. Describe your situation to us in complete confidence; we will direct you free of charge and without obligation.

If a doctor has suggested IVF, or if you think it may be necessary, the first step is to book an appointment at an authorised reproductive medicine centre. Prepare your file and your questions, and come together if possible. Medespoir Suisse can help you find a centre near you, in your language, and prepare for this first consultation, confidentially, free of charge and without obligation.

Going through IVF means crossing a demanding journey made up of organisation, waiting, hope and sometimes disappointment. Knowing it better, anticipating it and sharing it as a couple helps you experience it more calmly. Each couple traces its own path, at its own pace, with the support of a medical team and those close to them. To find out more, see our page on in vitro fertilisation in the laboratory and our guide to IVF and assisted reproduction.

• Do not stay alone: talk to a few trusted people.
• Write everything down: instructions, doses, questions.
• Organise work arrangements before the cycle.
• Do not read everything circulating online during the wait.
• Plan something enjoyable after each difficult stage.
• Accept help, for tasks as well as emotions.
• Think of the journey over several cycles.
• Keep time for your relationship.

Budget

Price differences between cities and cantons, the quote breakdown and ways to save are detailed on our page IVF: the pathway — prices in Switzerland.

Related procedures

• In vitro fertilisation in Switzerland
• Artificial insemination in Switzerland
• Testicular biopsy in Switzerland

Our guides

• Guide to IVF and assisted reproduction in Switzerland
• Cosmetic surgery in Switzerland

Answers to the most frequent practical questions about how IVF works in Switzerland.

Before starting

How much time should we allow for an IVF cycle? Allow about six weeks between the start of treatment and the pregnancy test: one to two weeks of preparation depending on the protocol, about ten days of injections, egg retrieval, a few days' wait for transfer, then about two weeks before the test.

Do we need to start at a specific point in the cycle? Yes, treatment generally starts at the beginning of the cycle, often on the second or third day of the period, after a check-up ultrasound. Some protocols start earlier, in the previous cycle. The centre tells you when to call.

What needs to be done before the first cycle? Complete the assessment of both partners and serology, sign the consents, attend the information session on injections, order the medicines, organise work and clarify the budget. Stopping smoking and taking folic acid are also advised.

Can we choose the date of our cycle? Partly. The cycle depends on your period, but some centres use a pill or another treatment to schedule the start, which helps take holidays, time off or work constraints into account.

Should contraception be stopped? Yes, according to the centre's instructions. For some protocols, a pill is on the contrary prescribed briefly before stimulation to plan the cycle.

Should I change my diet? A balanced diet is advised, with no particular regime. Limiting alcohol and caffeine, stopping smoking and taking folic acid are the most useful measures.

Can I do sport before IVF? Yes, moderate activity is beneficial. During stimulation, intense sports and those involving twisting or impact should be avoided, as the ovaries enlarge.

Should I tell my employer about IVF? It is not compulsory. Absences can be justified by a medical certificate without a reason. Some people choose to tell their manager to make flexible hours easier.

How many appointments should we plan for? For one cycle, generally a starting ultrasound, three to five check-ups during stimulation, egg retrieval and transfer, then the blood test. Several consultations take place before the first cycle.

Which documents should we keep? The cycle calendar, prescriptions, consents, check-up results, the laboratory report and invoices. A folder or digital file helps keep track.

Is a blood test needed before starting? Often yes, at the start of the cycle, with the ultrasound, to check that the ovaries are at rest and that conditions are right to start stimulation.

Can I start if I have a cold? A minor cold does not generally prevent starting. In the case of fever or a more significant illness, contact the centre, which will decide whether to postpone.

What should I do if my period starts at the weekend? Most centres have an on-call service or instructions for weekends. Note in advance how to reach them.

Injections and stimulation

Are the injections difficult? Most women manage after a short training session at the centre. Injector pens are simple, with a fine needle, and the injection is given under the skin of the abdomen. The partner can also learn to give them.

What time should the injections be given? Generally in the evening, at roughly the same time. The centre tells you the time. The trigger injection, however, must be given at the exact time indicated.

Where should the medicines be stored? Some must be kept in the refrigerator, others at room temperature. Read the leaflets and ask the centre. When travelling, a small insulated pouch can be useful.

What should I do if I forget an injection? Contact the centre as soon as possible. Depending on the medicine and the delay, they will tell you whether to give it immediately or adjust treatment. Do not double the dose without advice.

Do the injections hurt? They generally cause a small prick and sometimes a slight burning sensation or a bruise. Changing the injection site and letting the product reach room temperature for a few minutes, if the leaflet allows, improves comfort.

What side effects occur during stimulation? Bloating, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, tender breasts, fatigue, headaches and mood changes are common. They disappear after the cycle.

How many check-ups during stimulation? Often three to five, every two or three days, combining a vaginal ultrasound and sometimes a blood test. They generally take place early in the morning.

What happens if the response is too weak? The doctor may increase doses, extend stimulation or, if the response remains insufficient, discuss cancelling the cycle to adapt the protocol for the next one.

What happens if the response is too strong? The doctor adjusts doses and the trigger and may suggest freezing all the embryos to avoid hyperstimulation, with transfer in a later cycle.

Can I work during stimulation? Yes, most women continue working. You need flexibility for early-morning check-ups and should avoid intense physical exertion.

Can I do the injections at work? It is possible if needed, but most injections are given in the evening at home. For the trigger injection, plan to be somewhere quiet at the exact time.

Can I travel during stimulation? It is better to avoid it, as check-ups are close together and egg retrieval may be scheduled quickly. If travel is unavoidable, talk to the centre.

Can I have a bath during stimulation? Yes, but avoid long, very hot baths and activities that could cause blows to the abdomen.

Egg retrieval

How should I prepare for egg retrieval? By giving the trigger injection at the exact time, coming fasted according to instructions, arranging someone to take you home and planning one or two days' rest.

How long does egg retrieval take? About twenty minutes, but allow half a day at the centre with preparation and monitoring after sedation.

Can I go home alone after egg retrieval? No, because of the sedation, you must be accompanied and must not drive on the same day.

What do you feel after egg retrieval? Period-like pain, a feeling of bloating and sometimes light bleeding for one or two days. Simple painkillers are generally enough.

When can I return to work after egg retrieval? Often the next day or the day after, depending on comfort and the type of work.

When will we know how many eggs were collected? Generally straight after egg retrieval. The next day, the centre tells you how many eggs have been fertilised.

Does the partner need to be present on the day of egg retrieval? Yes, generally, to provide a sperm sample, unless a frozen sample is used. His presence is also a support.

Can I eat on the morning of egg retrieval? No, you generally need to fast for the sedation, according to the centre's instructions, often from the evening before.

Is time off work needed after egg retrieval? One or two days' rest are often advised; the centre can give you a certificate.

Which signs should prompt a call after egg retrieval? Intense abdominal pain, a very swollen abdomen, rapid weight gain, fever, heavy bleeding or breathlessness.

Transfer and the wait

When does transfer take place? Generally three to five days after egg retrieval, depending on embryo development, or in a later cycle for a frozen embryo.

Do I need to prepare for transfer? You are often asked to have a moderately full bladder to make the ultrasound easier. The centre gives you instructions. The partner can attend the transfer.

Do I need to lie down after transfer? No, prolonged rest does not improve the chances. You can resume normal activity, without strenuous exertion.

Can I work during the wait? Yes, continuing to work often helps keep your mind occupied during this waiting period.

What symptoms occur after transfer? Pulling sensations, tender breasts, fatigue or light bleeding are common and often linked to hormone treatment. They do not show whether pregnancy has started.

Can I do a urine test before the date? It is not advised: it may be falsely positive because of the trigger injection, or falsely negative if too early. Wait for the scheduled blood test.

How can we fill the two-week wait? By keeping life as normal as possible: work, outings, gentle activities, time together. Some people find it useful to plan pleasant activities, others to limit internet searches.

Should medicines continue after transfer? Yes, hormonal support, often progesterone, must continue until the test and beyond if pregnant. Do not stop it without the centre's advice.

Can I fly during the wait? A short trip is not generally contraindicated, but many couples prefer to stay near the centre. Ask the doctor's advice.

Can I do sport during the wait? Gentle activity, such as walking, is possible. Avoid intense sports or those with a risk of falling.

Can the stress of waiting harm implantation? Nothing shows that the stress of waiting prevents implantation. It is normal to feel anxious; looking after yourself mainly helps you cope better with this period.

After the result

What happens if the test is positive? A second blood test checks progress, then an ultrasound at around six to seven weeks confirms the pregnancy in the uterus. Follow-up is then handed over to the gynaecologist or midwife.

What happens if the test is negative? The centre tells you to stop treatment, your period arrives a few days later, and an appointment is offered to review the cycle and next steps.

How long should we wait before a new cycle? Often one to two menstrual cycles after stimulation, sometimes more. A frozen embryo transfer can sometimes be scheduled sooner. The timing is discussed with the doctor.

Should the protocol be changed after a failure? Not necessarily. The doctor analyses the cycle: response to stimulation, eggs, embryos, transfer. They may suggest adjusting doses, the protocol or the technique, or repeating the same scheme.

How can we get over a failure? By giving yourselves time for the disappointment, talking about it as partners, with those close to you or a psychologist, and waiting until you are ready before deciding what to do next.

What happens to frozen embryos after a failure? They can be transferred in a following cycle, without new stimulation. This is often the next step after a failure, if embryos have been frozen.

How many attempts should we make? There is no universal number. It depends on age, cycle results, the number of embryos, budget and how you are coping. The doctor helps you define a realistic plan.

Can we take a break between two attempts? Yes, a break is often beneficial for recovery. Its length takes age into account and is discussed with the doctor.

When should we consider stopping? When the chances become very low, the journey weighs too heavily, or the couple wishes to move on. This decision is made together, with the team's help.

How should we announce a pregnancy after IVF? Like any pregnancy, when the couple wishes. Many wait for the end-of-first-trimester ultrasound; others tell a few people close to them earlier.

Budget and insurance

How much does IVF cost in Switzerland? The cost depends on the centre, protocol, medicines and options. We express it as relative indices on our prices page. Ask for a detailed quote for a full cycle and for a frozen embryo transfer.

Is IVF reimbursed? No, basic insurance does not cover IVF in Switzerland. Some supplementary insurance policies contribute to part of the costs, depending on the contract.

Are the medicines reimbursed? For IVF, medicines are in principle at the couple's expense, but certain situations or supplementary insurance policies may allow partial coverage. Ask your insurer.

How can we finance several attempts? By drawing up a realistic budget, checking supplementary insurance benefits, comparing quotes and discussing a reasonable number of attempts with the centre. Some centres offer packages for several transfers.

Do frozen embryo transfers cost less? Yes, much less than a full cycle, as there is no stimulation or egg retrieval. This is a major advantage of freezing embryos.

Do we need to pay in advance? Arrangements vary between centres: payment by stage, deposit or package. Find out before starting and ask about the conditions if the cycle is cancelled.

What happens if the cycle is cancelled? If the cycle is cancelled before egg retrieval, for example because of an insufficient response, generally only the procedures carried out are invoiced. Check the conditions in the quote.

Does the deductible apply? For tests covered by basic insurance, such as part of the assessment, the deductible (franchise) and co-payment (quote-part) apply. As IVF itself is at the couple's expense, it does not count towards the deductible.

Can a quote change during a cycle? Yes, if medicine doses change, ICSI is decided on or more embryos are frozen. Ask what variations are possible.

Does supplementary insurance cover frozen transfers? It depends on the contract. Check which stages are covered and with what ceilings.

Organisation and daily life

How can IVF and work be combined? By allowing flexibility for early-morning check-ups, anticipating the likely date of egg retrieval, planning one or two days' rest afterwards and, if needed, informing a trusted person. A medical certificate justifies absences.

Can we travel during IVF? During stimulation and around egg retrieval and transfer, it is better to stay near the centre. Between two cycles, nothing prevents travel, taking into account health recommendations for the destination.

Can I drink alcohol during IVF? It is advisable to avoid it during the cycle and while trying for a pregnancy, for both partners.

Is caffeine allowed? Moderate consumption is generally accepted, but it is advisable to limit it.

Can I take supplements? Folic acid is recommended. For other supplements, ask the doctor's advice: some have no proven value, others may interact with treatment.

Can we have intercourse during the cycle? It depends on the stages and the centre's instructions. Around egg retrieval and transfer, abstinence is sometimes advised. Ask for precise instructions.

How do we manage children we already have? Arrange childcare for early-morning appointments and the day of egg retrieval. Children may sense the tension; simply explaining that mummy has medical appointments is often enough.

Can I take painkillers? Some painkillers are allowed, others are not advised during the cycle. Ask the centre which medicines to use.

Can I have IVF with irregular working hours? Yes, but it requires organisation: swapping shifts, arranging cover, informing a trusted person. Centres try to adapt check-up times.

Can we keep up our social activities? Yes, it is even advisable to keep up enjoyable activities and social contacts during the journey.

The couple and emotions

How can the partner help? By attending important appointments, learning to give the injections, taking on some daily tasks, listening and also expressing his own emotions.

Is it normal to feel irritable? Yes, stimulation hormones, fatigue and stress can make you more sensitive or irritable. Talking about it with your partner helps avoid misunderstandings.

How should we talk about IVF with those around us? Each couple decides what it wishes to share. Some talk about it widely, others with only a few people close to them. It is legitimate not to say everything, notably about test dates.

Pregnancy announcements around us are difficult; is that normal? Yes, it is very common. It is legitimate to protect yourself, for example by postponing a visit or sharing your feelings with a trusted person.

Should we see a psychologist? It is not compulsory, but it is often useful, particularly after a failure, when making difficult decisions or if the tension is weighing on the relationship. Centres generally offer support.

How can we protect our relationship? By keeping time free of IVF, talking about other subjects, sharing enjoyable activities and supporting each other.

How can I manage the fear of failure? By acknowledging this fear, talking about it, keeping realistic expectations and planning what to do next. A psychologist can help work on it.

Can the partner feel left out? Yes, it is common, as the woman receives most of the care. Involving him in appointments, injections and decisions helps share the journey.

Choosing your centre in Switzerland

How do we choose an IVF centre? Check the authorisation, the team's experience, results by age group, transparency about costs, availability for check-ups, psychological support, language and proximity.

Is proximity to the centre important? Yes, as check-ups are close together and egg retrieval is scheduled at a precise time. A centre less than an hour away makes organisation much easier.

Can we change centre? Yes, at any time. Ask for a copy of your file and, if needed, the transfer of your frozen embryos to the new centre.

Where can we have IVF in Switzerland? In authorised centres in the main cities: Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Sion, Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Aarau, Lugano and others.

Can we have IVF in French in German-speaking Switzerland? In the major cities, many centres see patients in French or English. Mention it when booking.

Can Medespoir direct me? Yes. Describe your situation, your tests and your questions. We will direct you to an authorised reproductive medicine centre in your region and language. Free, confidential and without obligation.

Should we visit several centres? It is not compulsory, but one or two consultations at different centres allow you to compare the approach, listening, organisation and quotes.

Are hospital and private centres different? They practise the same techniques under the same authorisations. Differences concern waiting times, organisation, opening hours and sometimes costs.

Do we need a lead doctor throughout the journey? It is helpful. Many centres assign a lead doctor to the couple, even if other doctors may carry out certain procedures depending on schedules.

Are centres open at weekends? For check-ups, egg retrievals and transfers, most centres work at weekends according to the needs of cycles.

How can we contact the centre with a question? Centres provide a telephone number or email address, often with dedicated hours, and an on-call service for emergencies.

How long is the wait for a first appointment? From a few weeks to a few months depending on the centre. Start the assessment with your gynaecologist in the meantime.

Can we be partly followed up near home? Some centres accept check-ups being carried out by your gynaecologist, in close liaison with them. Ask.

Should we tell the centre about a change in our situation? Yes, any change of address, family situation or health must be reported, notably if embryos are stored.

Do centres publish their results? Many publish their results by age group. Ask for them and have the method of calculation explained.

Describe your situation, your tests and your questions. We will direct you to an authorised reproductive medicine centre in your region and language. Free, confidential and without obligation.