Choosing an IVF centre is an important decision and affects the success of the treatment. Some criteria you may consider when choosing a centre are:
1. Proven Experience: Review the centre's staff experience. This may indicate that the centre has reliable methods and experienced staff.
2. Technology and Equipment: Consider the use of the latest technology and equipment used by the centre as this may affect the results.
3. Quality of Care: Rate the quality of care provided at the centre, including the health staff and support you receive during treatment.
4. Accessibility: Consider the centre’s location and ease of access. Choosing a centre that is easily accessible from your home can make treatment easier and less stressful.
5. Personal Advice: It is important to feel comfortable and trusting with the staff at the centre as you will be working closely with them during treatment.
These criteria can help you choose a fertility centre that will provide the best possible care and support for your needs.
Fertility treatment can affect some women psychologically, but it is different for each person. Some women may experience anxiety, stress, or other emotional issues during the procedure due to the physical and emotional challenges involved. Some factors that may contribute to the development of stress and anxiety include worry about the outcome of treatment, uncertainty surrounding the success of IVF, drug injections, waiting for results, and possible changes in the body during treatment . However, some women may face the procedure with less stress, especially if they have good support from their professional and personal circle, as well as appropriate information and guidance from medical staff. It is important to discuss any concerns or fears you may have with your doctor or a mental health professional, as support and information can help manage stress and anxiety during IVF.
Yes. Your Doctor or our Embryologists inform you about the quality of the embryos intended for transfer before the embryo transfer, and they also provide you with your results in writing.
The IVF cycle essentially consists of 3 steps:
1. Ovarian stimulation
2. Egg retrieval and
3. Embryo transfer.
Ovarian stimulation usually lasts about 10-12 days. Egg retrieval is then performed, and embryo transfer is scheduled 3-5 days after the egg retrieval. The whole process usually takes about 3 weeks in total.
This is the time-lapse incubator system we use in the embryology lab – it's the newest and most advanced thing for developing and selecting the best embryos. They have a built-in camera with time-lapse technology, so embryologists have the ability to constantly monitor the development of embryos without having to move them from the safe environment of the incubator. This system has a built-in camera with time-lapse technology and a microscope. It takes a photo of each embryo every 10 minutes, and a video is created showing the evolution of each embryo for the days it remains in the incubator (3-5 days), i.e. the embryos remain in the stable environment of the incubator and are not disturbed throughout during their development. Embryologists then use specialized software to review the videos of each embryo and decide which embryos should be transferred or frozen with the use of artificial intelligence.
Generally no. The only step of the treatment during which you may experience discomfort or pain is the egg retrieval. Egg retrieval is an invasive procedure in which the Doctor aspirates the follicles from the ovaries with a fine needle. Egg retrieval is done under 'sedation' (mild anaesthesia) in order for the patient to sleep and not feel pain. After egg retrieval, there may be some discomfort or pain. But most of the time a simple pain reliever is enough, and the discomfort is not expected to last long.
If you never need your frozen eggs or embryos, you have several options about what to do with them. Some of the options include:
1. Destruction: In some cases, if you do not express a desire for their further storage or use, the frozen eggs or embryos may be destroyed.
2. Donation: You can consider donating them to another couple that resides overseas who are having reproductive difficulties and wish to use IVF.
It is important to consider your options and discuss the matter with your medical staff that performed the procedure in order to make an informed decision that respects your individual needs and priorities.
The prospect of failure can be unsettling and cause a deep sense of sadness and grief. But it is important to remember that failure is not the end of the road, but an opportunity to learn, grow and evolve. The path to success are unique for each couple or individual, but with dedication, perseverance, and self-belief, we can overcome challenges and achieve our goals. Failures can be the starting point of a new, magical start towards achieving our dreams.
For starters: give yourself time to deal with the consequences of your previous effort. IVF is most often unsuccessful for reasons beyond your control. The in vitro IVF procedure is primarily a diagnostic method rather than a therapeutic one. So, depending on the stage of the process at which there was a problem, the strategy of the next attempt may be modified accordingly, or further diagnostic tests and interventional approaches may be needed.
The Doctor will suggest the plan and the appropriate steps in order to increase the success rate of the effort. But you can also make a decisive contribution to this:
• With good and meaningful communication – our entire team is at your disposal to support your effort and help at every step, answer questions, serve you in practical matters, give clarifications, etc. Good communication facilitates process and contributes to better psychology.
• Adherence to the treatment protocol – make sure you follow our instructions closely. If you have any questions or need clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact us!
• Proper diet and exercise, smoking cessation – take care of your body with good eating habits, proper exercise and less smoking or alcohol. This will help with treatment, but it will also prepare you for pregnancy.
• Stress control – stress is a bad advisor in everything we do. It is not considered a primary factor in infertility, but it acts as an inhibitor to the treatment plan and worsens our psychology. Talk to us about what's stressing you out and ask us to give you simple tips for managing stress.
Of course. This is often called the 'natural cycle'. In this case, the ovaries are not stimulated with medication, but the oocyte that develops is retrieved. There is also the so-called 'modified natural cycle' in which mild treatment is used to help the eggs develop. In this case, two to three eggs may develop instead of just one.
This depends on many factors, which you will discuss with your fertility team. Age, egg supply, previous IVF attempts are important parameters. Certainly, there are pros and cons to this option. The Doctor and fertility team will explain what fits your effort and whether the natural cycle makes sense for you.
The decision to consider freezing your eggs can be different for each woman, depending on her personal circumstances, needs and goals. Some situations where egg freezing may be considered include:
1. Age: A woman's fertility declines over time, so if you plan to delay motherhood for later years, egg freezing may be an option to preserve your chance of having a child in the future.
2. Medical reasons: If you are dealing with conditions that may affect your fertility, such as assisted reproduction or dealing with cancer, egg freezing may be considered as an option to preserve the option of motherhood in the future.
3. Professional or personal circumstances: If your professional or personal circumstances cause you to postpone motherhood, egg freezing may be an option to preserve the option to have a child in the future.
Every woman should discuss egg freezing with her fertility team, who can guide her and offer advice based on her personal situation and needs.
The effectiveness of egg freezing after 40 years of age depends on many factors, including the woman's general health, the quality of her eggs, and the conditions under which the eggs are stored. In general, women's fertility declines over time, with the greatest decline usually seen after age 35. However, this does not necessarily mean that egg freezing is futile after the age of forty.
It is important to note that egg freezing success after 40 may be lower compared to younger women, but even a reduced chance of success can provide additional options for future motherhood. Contact our fertility team for more information and advice about options for later motherhood.
Keeping eggs frozen can last for many years. Modern freezing techniques use liquid nitrogen to keep the eggs at very low temperatures (around -196°C), which allows the eggs to be preserved for many years. Many providers report that frozen eggs can be preserved for decades. However, the effects of long freezing time on oocyte quality and the success of future procedures must be considered. The laws in Cyprus allow storage of eggs for 10 years, with storage beyond this timeframe considered by the council of assisted reproduction.
A woman's ability to cryopreserve her eggs depends on many factors, including her general health, her reproductive history, and her personal goals. In general, egg cryopreservation can be done from puberty onwards, when women are sufficiently mature reproductively. Since egg quality declines over time, many women choose to cryopreserve their eggs at a young age when egg quality is usually highest. However, egg cryopreservation can also be performed at older ages, depending on the woman's condition and her needs.
The egg freezing process involves the following steps:
1. Medical History Review: First, a review of the woman's medical history and reproductive health is done to assess whether she is a suitable candidate for the egg freezing procedure.
2. Harvesting the Ovaries: The woman is subjected to treatment with medications that promote growth of multiple eggs. Eggs are then harvested with a needle by ultrasound-guided intravaginal aspiration under sedation.
3. Processing of Eggs: Collected eggs are subjected laboratory processing.
4. Freezing: The eggs are frozen in liquid nitrogen in special cold chambers at -196°C, in order to preserve the integrity of the cells.
5. Storage: Frozen eggs are stored in special cold rooms, remaining suspended for a long time.
6. Thawing and IVF: When the woman is ready to use her frozen eggs, they are thawed and mixed with sperm to create embryos.
The number of eggs that need to be frozen for future use can vary depending on a woman's health, age, reproductive goals, and other factors. Typically, your Doctor and fertility team will determine this number appropriately for each case. Usually, enough eggs are frozen to ensure the best chance of success in future reproductive attempts.
Egg cryopreservation is a relatively safe method when performed under the supervision of a specialist physician and in an appropriate medical environment. Modern cryopreservation techniques and storage procedures are designed to preserve egg integrity and reduce the risk of complications
The process of egg cryopreservation does not take long but requires a series of specific steps and tests before it can be carried out. Typically, the egg cryopreservation process includes the following steps:
1. Perform initial tests: Before egg cryopreservation, the woman should undergo initial tests, including a complete health evaluation and possibly blood tests and endocrine function tests.
2. Stimulation treatment: The woman receives medication to grow oocytes.
3. Egg retrieval: After the stimulatory treatment, the eggs are extracted through an invasive procedure called oocyte collection.
4. Cryopreservation of eggs: Eggs are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen in special cold storage containers.
The entire process, from the beginning of the tests to the cryopreservation of the eggs, can take about 2-4 weeks, depending on the time required for the preparation and the progress of the treatment.
Yes, you can get pregnant. In these cases, we recommend preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy or structural chromosomal abnormalities.
Usually, we recommend the next attempt to be made after 2-3 months. However, if it involves the transfer of frozen embryos, the attempt can be made as early as the following month.
Yes! Even when transferring 2 embryos, most of the time only 1 is implanted. One high-quality embryo is sufficient for success.
The quality of cryopreserved embryos does not deteriorate over time.
AMH measures the ovarian reserve in the ovaries. It does not affect the quality of the eggs.
No. The assessment of quality is related only to the likelihood of implantation. It is possible for an embryo with chromosomal abnormalities to implant. Genetic testing requires embryo biopsy and genetic testing of the cells. It is recommended in specific cases.
Cases where egg donation is recommended include:
• Women with premature ovarian insufficiency or premature menopause. These are women who have lost the ability to produce a sufficient number (or quality) of eggs for fertilization.
• After surgical removal of the ovaries (ovarian damage following surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy for cancer).
• Women over 45 years old with dysfunctional ovaries.
• In cases of absent or underdeveloped ovaries (Turner's syndrome).
• When there is a reduced response to ovarian stimulation drugs.
• After multiple failed attempts of various assisted reproductive methods (IVF, ICSI).
The procedures undergone by the donor and the medications taken are the same as those used in traditional in vitro fertilization, i.e., in women who become pregnant with their own eggs. Therefore, the risks are equally low compared to those a woman would face if she underwent egg retrieval to conceive her own child.
Sperm can be influenced by various factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, depression, anxiety, infections, excessive heat, testicular injury, chronic illness, strong medication, previous surgery in the area, etc.
Semen analysis is the most important test for assessing male fertility. The test can tell you about your fertility. Results are analysed for sperm shape, movement, pH, volume, liquefaction, sperm count, and appearance.
Sperm is considered subfertile when it does not have normal levels in terms of count, motility, and morphology. (Count: over 20 million/ml, motility: at least 32% forward and progressive movement, normal morphology: at least 4%).
Yes, age does matter in men, but to a lesser extent than in women.
It is a technique for collecting sperm from the testes or epididymis when necessary. In cases of azoospermia (where no spermatozoa are detected at all), or if they are immotile, or even in cases where there is an increased percentage of DNA fragmentation, the method of directly aspirating spermatozoa from the testes or epididymis is used.