For international patients considering IVF in China, the most practical questions are usually simple: What is treatment actually like? How long does it take? And how much does it cost?

A recent case from a major public tertiary hospital in Guangzhou provides a useful real-world example.

A European Couple Came to China After Four Failed IVF Cycles

In 2025, a couple living in Europe travelled to Guangzhou for IVF treatment at the Reproductive Medicine Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

The female patient was 39 years old. She had previously undergone four IVF cycles in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, but none resulted in a successful pregnancy.

Her medical history was relatively complex. She had bilateral ovarian endometriomas and obstruction of the right fallopian tube. In previous IVF cycles in Europe, some embryos did not reach the stage required for transfer, while other cycles reached embryo transfer but did not result in pregnancy.

The couple arrived in Guangzhou on November 18, 2025 and planned to stay for approximately three months.

Instead of repeating the previous treatment protocol, the fertility team reviewed her previous IVF history and developed a new individualized plan.

Because of her endometriosis and underlying inflammatory condition, the team used a longer ovarian stimulation strategy and adjusted the medication according to her response.

Egg retrieval was performed on January 6, 2026.

Her previous IVF treatments in Europe had mainly used frozen embryo transfers. This time, after evaluating her response and treatment progress, the Chinese team decided to perform a fresh embryo transfer.

Her pregnancy test was positive on January 23, and on January 28, 2026, ultrasound confirmed an intrauterine pregnancy.

This does not mean that IVF in China will necessarily succeed after IVF elsewhere has failed. What the case demonstrates is that treatment protocols can differ between fertility centers, and patients with previous unsuccessful cycles may receive a new assessment and a different treatment strategy.

How Long Does IVF Treatment in China Take?

The same reproductive medicine center previously published a general IVF treatment pathway:

Initial consultation → examinations → treatment planning → ovarian stimulation → egg retrieval → embryo transfer → pregnancy test

For a relatively straightforward IVF cycle without additional treatment, the hospital estimated approximately:

6–8 weeks from the first consultation to the pregnancy test

During ovarian stimulation, patients normally need to return to the hospital several times for ultrasound and hormone monitoring.

Once the follicles are ready, egg retrieval is arranged. If fresh embryo transfer is suitable, transfer may take place around 3–5 days after egg retrieval.

A pregnancy test is generally performed around 12–14 days after embryo transfer.

The actual timeline can be longer for patients who need additional treatment, frozen embryo transfer, PGT or more complicated fertility management.

The European patient above, for example, spent a little over two months in treatment before an intrauterine pregnancy was confirmed.

For an international patient planning treatment in China, allowing around 6–8 weeks for a standard cycle and potentially 2–3 months for a more complex case is a useful starting point.

How Much Does IVF Cost in China?

IVF does not have one fixed price. Medication, the treatment protocol, ICSI, embryo culture and embryo freezing can all change the final cost.

A patient-shared treatment record from 2024 gives a useful real-world example of a full IVF/ICSI cycle at a major public tertiary hospital.

This was an individual patient case, not a hospital package price. Different patients may require different medication doses and procedures.

As a general reference, patients may encounter approximately:

The final cost can only be estimated after the fertility specialist reviews the patient's situation and treatment plan.

Planning IVF Treatment in China

For international patients, it is usually better to have the case reviewed before making travel arrangements.

China MedCare can help international patients connect with reproductive medicine specialists at major Chinese hospitals, arrange appointments and assist with treatment coordination in China.

If you have already undergone IVF treatment, you can also provide your previous treatment records for specialist review before deciding whether to travel.

Considering IVF treatment in China?
Send us a brief description of your situation and previous fertility treatment history.

A thank-you letter written by the couple