In Vitro Fertilisation

What is In Vitro Fertilisation

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technique which consists of harvesting the patient’s eggs and fertilising them with her partner’s sperm (or donor sperm) in the lab. This produces one or more embryos which are subsequently transferred to the maternal uterus for implantation and development. The treatment gives patients the option of using donor eggs and sperm banks if required.

Prior fertility testing is necessary for diagnostic purposes and to determine whether IVF is the right treatment.

If desired or medically indicated, preconception genetic testing is also an option which allows to either identify or rule out up to 200 hereditary diseases which may sometimes be silent and could be transmitted to the future offspring. Both the mother-to-be and her partner undergo the test, which is also performed in egg and semen donors in our clinic.

Once these tests have been carried out, the woman starts a hormonal ovarian stimulation treatment to produce eggs which are subsequently fertilised in the lab, and to prepare the uterus for implantation of the embryo.

What are the phases of the treatment

From the start of treatment until embryo transfer. the process takes about one month and consists of the following steps:

1

Visit with your gynaecologist

Our team will review your medical history and tell you what steps to take.

2

Ovarian stimulation treatment

Hormone treatment to induce your ovaries to produce the appropriate number of eggs.

3

Egg retrieval

The eggs are harvested by follicular puncture, performed transvaginally.

4

Semen sample processing

Preparation of the sperm sample collected from the male partner or donor: this is to ensure that the most motile sperm cells are selected.

5

Egg fertilisation and embryo culture

The eggs and processed semen sample are brought into contact in the lab.

6

Transfer of the embryo or embryos

After 2 to 5 days in culture, the embryos are transferred to the uterus using a simple vaginal procedure which does not require anaesthesia.

Who it is for

Is this the right treatment for us? IVF is recommended for couples where:

• The woman has blocked fallopian tubes.
• The woman has cervical abnormalities.
• The woman has abnormal ovulation.
• The woman has endometriosis.
• The man has a low sperm count or low sperm quality.
• Couples with immunological incompatibility problems.
• Couples with unexplained infertility.
• Patients who have had no success with other assisted reproduction techniques.
• Couples in whom one or both partners have undergone a permanent contraception procedure (tubal ligation and/or vasectomy).
• Couples in whom the male partner has a risk of transmitting a disease to his offspring.
• Single women who wish to have a child.
• Women in a homosexual relationship who wish to have a child.

Success rates

1^st Attempt—– 2^nd Attempt—– 3^rd Attempt

Why choose us

We are pioneers in reproductive medicine

We have more than 80 years’ experience behind us and a team of highly qualified and specialised professionals. The first Spanish test-tube baby was born in our clinic (1984) and Spain’s first egg donation treatment was carried out here, which culminated in the birth of twins (1988).

Personalised service
We will guide you through the entire process, offering personalised treatments suited to your needs. You can also contact our medical team directly at any time.

Extensive experience, quality and cutting-edge technology
We have one of the top in vitro fertilisation laboratories in Europe where we perform over 3,000 cycles (assisted reproduction techniques) each year. We offer the latest advances in assisted reproduction, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection and real-time monitoring of embryo development (dynamic monitoring).

High success rate
25% of our patients have a history of treatment failure in other clinics. However, our success rate is around 45-55% at the first attempt, with an overall cumulative rate of around 80%.

Psychological support
We provide psychological support in case of emotional overload, an issue which frequently affects women who undergo assisted reproduction treatments.

Testimony