IVF Treatments

ART is a general term referring to methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means of which In vitro fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmatic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) are the most prevalent.

In vitro fertilization (IVF):
It is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. This method is suitable for couples with any of the various causes of infertility, including

IVF is a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the body, in vitro. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman's ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a fluid medium. The fertilized egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient's uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy. Some couples also opt to undergo preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to screen for chromosomal abnormalities.

Intracytoplasmatic Sperm Injection (ICSI):
ICSI is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) used to treat sperm-related infertility problems. ICSI is also used to enhance the fertilization phase of in vitro fertilization (IVF). It is a procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. The fertilized egg is then placed in a woman's uterus or fallopian tube.

The primary objective of ICSI is to ensure that spermatozoon goes through the oocyte membrane – i.e. fertilization. For ICSI to be successful it is enough if there are even single alive spermatozoa in ejaculate.
After the ICSI fertilization the embryo quality and pregnancy rates are the same as for the standard in-vitro fertilization.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI):
IUI is also called artificial insemination. It is a process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse. Insemination is the simplest but still efficient method of assisted reproductive techniques.

Insemination may be recommended for treatment of infertility due to: moderate reduction of the sperm quality, cervical factor infertility, anovulation, immune infertility, and "unexplained" (idiopathic) infertility. The prerequisite for insemination is a preserved functioning of uterine tubes.

It is recommended to undergo not more than 3-4 insemination attempts. For, 87% of patients, who conceive from insemination procedure, become pregnant within 3-4 insemination cycles. After 3-4 unsuccessful insemination attempts an IVF treatment should follow.