Fertility treatments

In IVF, mature eggs are retrieved from the woman following hormonal stimulation and brought together with about 50,000 processed sperm from the partner. Fertilisation of the eggs takes place outside the body, but of its own accord. If fertilisation is successful, then usually an embryo (two in some cases) is transferred to the uterus after 2–5 days. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a form of assisted fertilisation and has become one of the most common fertility treatments in Austria.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is usually used when the male semen quality is so severely restricted that the ovum cannot be fertilized independently by the semen. If the quality or number of suitable sperm is too low for a successful IVF procedure, the eggs obtained following hormonal stimulation can be fertilised in the laboratory by means of microinjection using one sperm cell each. The resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus, just as in IVF treatment.

Thinking ahead gives more family planning options. The freezing of eggs increases a woman's chances of having children later in life. The cryopreservation of sperm has already been practised successfully for over 50 years. The fragile egg requires a special kind of treatment however, because of delicate inner structures and a cytoskeleton that is vulnerable to the formation of ice crystals. In Austria, this procedure is only possible under certain conditions.

Egg cell donation has been legal in Austria since 2015 and is offered by TFP fertility clinics. The law states that the recipient of the donor egg cell may not be older than 45 years old at the start of treatment. You can pursue fertility treatment using eggs from an anonymous donor or, of course, also bring your own donor with you (for example, your sister, niece or friend).

The modern "Time Lapse" technology enables a close observation of the continuous development of the embryo around the clock. We also offer this innovative procedure in our fertility clinics in Austria.

Polar Body Diagnostics is an investigation into the genetic material of the female egg cells. In particular, this helps women who suffer from recurrent miscarriages very early on in the pregnancy for no clear reason. Polar Body Diagnostics can identify (with high probability) problems with chromosomes and highlight specific hereditary diseases.

Psychological factors may negatively influence the possibility of having a successful pregnancy and the birth of a longed-for child. That is why psychological support is so important during fertility treatment. It helps to detect and reduce detrimental stress factors. Just talk to us – we would be happy to advise you.

New studies in reproductive medicine have shown that, when a “mild endometrium irritation” occurs in a cycle prior to an IVF (e.g. in the course of a hysteroscopy which is sometimes carried out before an IVF in order to determine the uterine cavity), the chances of implantation in the two following cycles are increased.

Many women who are planning to undergo fertility treatment worry about the high hormone doses and the related high costs. Ultra-light stimulation (mini IVF) is a new method of stimulation that has been developed in order to avoid many problems before they arise.

Women of childbearing age have the possibility of freezing their own unfertilised eggs to increase the chances of pregnancy in later years. Originally developed for cancer patients, many younger women make use of this technology today to postpone their family planning. While social freezing has been recognized as a regular treatment method in the context of fertility treatment for several years, for example in the USA or in Germany, the freezing of egg cells (so-called cryopreservation) has so far only been carried out in Austria if it is medically necessary.