IVF treatment
At Cryos IVF Clinic, we offer IVF treatment to women and couples who experience infertility. Learn more about the procedure below.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a commonly used fertility treatment method, where the fertilization takes place in the laboratory. Learn how we can help you create the family you dream of through IVF here.
What is IVF treatment?
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a fertility treatment that helps individuals and couples conceive when natural conception is challenging. Fertility medication stimulates the ovaries to produce mature eggs, which are then retrieved and fertilized in a laboratory. If fertilization is successful, the resulting embryos develop into blastocysts over 5-6 days. The blastocyst is then transferred to the uterus, either immediately or in a later cycle after freezing.
What is ICSI?
In case of male infertility, a special laboratory technique called ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) can be used during IVF treatment. Instead of letting the sperm penetrate the egg without assistance, each egg is individually injected with a single sperm cell, therefore bypassing the stage where the sperm must naturally penetrate the egg. This technique is also used when the treatment requires inseminating eggs that have been previously frozen, either donor eggs or eggs stored by a woman for own use.
Preparing for IVF treatment
Blood tests
If you are undergoing egg retrieval at Cryos IVF Clinic, or your partner provides own sperm sample for the fertilization, the following tests are mandatory for you and/or your partner in accordance with local laws:- HIV (anti-HIV 1/2)
- Hepatitis B (anti-HBc, HBsAg)
- Hepatitis C (anti-HCV)
- Syphilis
Ultrasound scan
An ultrasound scan is necessary to assess normal anatomy and rule out any ovarian cysts, fluid within the fallopian tubes, uterine fibroids, polyps, or other gynecological conditions.Tests and ultrasound scans may be performed at Cryos IVF Clinic or by your own physician or gynecologist in your home country, but the outcome reports must be provided in English to the Cryos IVF Clinic prior to commencing the treatment.
IVF treatment – the process
Here is a step-by-step guide to the process you go through when receiving IVF treatment at Cryos IVF Clinic:
- Initial consultation
Your first step is to contact us and have a free, initial consultation with one of our experienced healthcare professionals, who will evaluate your medical history and fertility to assess whether IVF treatment is the right option for you. Together, we will then plan a course of treatment that suits your needs. - Hormone stimulation
Step 1: Ovarian Suppression
Ovarian suppression involves temporarily turning off your natural hormones using birth control pills. Normally, your ovaries release one egg per month, but with ovarian suppression, we aim to produce multiple eggs. This step lasts for 2-4 weeks and may be skipped in urgent cases.
Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation
After ovarian suppression, the gynecologist or the nurse team will instruct you to begin hormone therapy at home, injecting yourself with hormones to stimulate your ovaries and develop multiple mature eggs. This process may last 10-14 days. - Ultrasound scans
After 8-10 days of hormone injections, you should have another ultrasound scan to see how you respond to the medicine. When the ovarian follicles have reached appropriate maturity, we will trigger your ovulation with a specific medication. At this point, timing is vital for the success of the egg retrieval. - Egg retrieval
The egg retrieval is performed by a fertility doctor at Cryos IVF Clinic, and it is done 35-36 hours after the ovulation induction (trigger). Your eggs are retrieved from the ovarian follicles with a needle. Our highly skilled staff will use an ultrasound device to guide the procedure, and you will be under intravenous sedation (IV). Egg retrieval is generally painless, but some women might be a little sore after the procedure and may experience some bloating. The eggs are collected with the help of the embryology lab and are kept warm in special incubators until fertilization. - Fertilization
After the eggs have been retrieved, the embryologist prepares the eggs for fertilization. In conventional IVF, sperm (from your partner or a donor) is placed together with the eggs, which then need to enter the eggs on their own, hopefully leading to fertilization and embryo development. If using ICSI fertilization, the embryologist will inject a single sperm cell in every mature egg. The embryos are cultured in the laboratory where they hopefully develop into blastocysts around day 5. - Embryo transfer
The embryologist transfers one or more of the developed embryos with a catheter guided by a fertility doctor, hopefully implanting itself into the uterus wall and continuing its growth. Hereafter, a pregnancy occurs, and the treatment is complete. The number of embryos you wish to transfer will typically be decided between you, possibly a partner, and the fertility doctor. If more than one embryo develops sufficiently, the excess embryos can be frozen and stored for another attempt or siblings.
Each time you visit, one of our experienced healthcare professionals will be ready to guide you and answer any questions you might have. Bring your partner, a friend, or a family member to share the journey with you.
After your IVF treatment
Two weeks after the embryo transfer, you should have a pregnancy blood test to see if the treatment was successful.
What does IVF treatment cost?
The price for a full treatment package of IVF using your own eggs and sperm is € 4,500. You can also choose to have only part of your treatment at Cryos IVF Clinic at a lower price. Learn more about our pricing and what is included here.
If you are using donor sperm or donor eggs for your treatment, there is an added expense for this.
Do you need donor sperm or donor eggs for your treatment?
If you need donor sperm or donor eggs for your treatment, you can use donor sperm or eggs from Cryos or other sperm and egg banks. Follow the links below to learn more about your options:
We are here for you
Do you consider having IVF treatment at Cryos IVF Clinic? Please contact us to book a free consultation. Our team is here to answer your questions and help you plan a course of treatment that suits your needs.