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IVF treatment

In vitro fertilisation

IVF is perhaps the “classic” reproductive medical treatment and is often colloquially called ‘artificial insemination’.

What exactly is IVF treatment?

This method is usually used when the fallopian tubes are not functioning normally (in the case of pronounced endometriosis, for example) or when they are blocked. IVF can also be used when the cause of sterility is unexplained. It is important however that the quality of the sperm used be in the range of what is considered normal. The procedure consists of several steps:

  • Stimulating the ovaries by administering hormones so that the ovaries mature several egg cells. The number of egg cells that mature varies greatly from person to person.
  • Follicle puncture: After 10-12 days, when the egg follicles have matured sufficiently, a release injection is administered. The follicle puncture takes place exactly 36 hours later. The follicles are punctured through the vagina using ultrasound vision. The egg cells in the follicular fluid are then identified in the laboratory. Then, after the necessary pre-treatment, they are brought together with the man’s prepared sperm or with donor sperm (in the case of infertile men and same-sex couples).
  • Embryo transfer: After three or five days of cultivation in an incubator, the embryo transfer takes place. In the case of a 5-day cultivation period (known as blastocyst culture), the process is sometimes called blastocyst transfer.
  • Generally, one or two embryos are transferred into the uterus using an embryo-transfer catheter. The procedure is usually completely painless and only takes a few minutes.
  • A pregnancy test can then be carried out approximately two weeks after the embryo transfer.
  • It should be noted that, even if the sperm quality is good, fertilisation of the egg cells may still be unsuccessful. We call this fertilisation failure. That would be a medical justification for performing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

In vitro fertilisation treatment in Erlangen

We look forward to welcoming you to our clinic. Our fertility experts will be happy to advise you on all aspects of the in-vitro-fertilisation process. Contact us now to arrange an appointment for a personal consultation.