IVF is one of the most effective fertility treatment methods and can significantly increase the likelihood of pregnancy even if previous treatment attempts have been unsuccessful.
IVF and ICSI are fertility treatments in which the egg is fertilized outside the body in a laboratory. This is the most effective fertility treatment method. It is used when the likelihood of pregnancy with other treatment options is low. This method is suitable for most causes of infertility and offers many couples and single women a good chance of having a child.
At Ovumia clinics, you can start fertility treatment without a referral or waiting period.
During IVF treatment, the egg is fertilized in a laboratory. The fertilized egg then develops into an embryo, which is cultured in an incubator for 2–5 days. The embryo is then transferred to the uterus to initiate pregnancy.
Although IVF was developed in the 1970s primarily to treat infertility caused by blocked fallopian tubes, it has since become a widely used and effective treatment method for endometriosis, poor sperm quality, and unexplained infertility as well.
In a natural cycle, a woman typically matures one egg. As part of IVF treatment, controlled ovarian stimulation is used to promote the simultaneous development of multiple mature eggs during a single treatment cycle.
Treatment is individualized and lasts about two weeks. Medications are administered as subcutaneous injections in the abdominal area; these injections are safe and easy to use. The treatment course is monitored using ultrasound scans and, if necessary, blood tests. In most cases, you can continue your normal daily routine during treatment. As the egg collection approaches, you may experience bloating or discomfort in the lower abdomen, along with mild cramping. We recommend avoiding strenuous physical activity and exercise during this time.
Short-term anesthesia is usually used to retrieve eggs from the ovaries. During the procedure, the doctor punctures the ovaries with a special needle. The embryologist uses a microscope to search for eggs in the retrieved follicular fluid and places them in an incubator to await fertilization.
On average, 7–10 eggs are retrieved during a single procedure, but the exact number depends on the woman’s age and how her body has responded to prior stimulation treatment.
After the eggs are retrieved, the woman remains at the clinic for approximately one hour for observation, and pain relief is provided if necessary.
Since strong medications are used during the procedure, you must not drive for 24 hours afterward.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is performed at Ovumia under strictly controlled and sterile laboratory conditions. Eggs collected from the woman and sperm cells separated from the man’s semen are placed on a common culture medium. The embryos are grown in a special incubator in the laboratory, where temperature, humidity, and gas levels are precisely regulated to mimic the natural conditions of the woman’s reproductive organs.
Fertilization and embryo development are monitored at each stage. On average, approximately 70% of the eggs are fertilized. Of the fertilized eggs, about 30–50% develop into high-quality embryos.
The best fresh embryo is selected from these and transferred to the uterus 2–5 days after fertilization. The remaining high-quality embryos are frozen and can be used later for frozen embryo transfers if desired. Clinical pregnancy is achieved in an average of 30–40% of fresh embryo transfers.
In some cases, the most effective treatment is ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)—a method in which a single sperm cell is injected directly into the cytoplasm of the egg under microscopic control.
ICSI is particularly effective when the cause of infertility is male-factor, i.e., when sperm count or quality is reduced.
ICSI is also used when fertilization has not been achieved through standard IVF. The steps of the process before and after fertilization are the same, but fertilization is performed via microinjection. The fertilized cells are closely monitored, and the results are comparable to those of standard IVF treatment.
We check for fertilization 16–20 hours after the eggs and sperm have been brought together.
We typically culture embryos in the lab for up to 5 days, during which the embryo develops to the blastocyst stage. If necessary, it is also possible to transfer the embryo at an earlier stage of development.
We always determine the duration of embryo culture on an individual basis, considering your medical history and previous experience, to select the approach that is best suited for you.
Embryo transfer is a procedure during which we place a 2–5-day-old embryo into the uterine cavity.
The procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance using a special soft transfer catheter. To reduce the risk of multiple pregnancies, we generally transfer one embryo at a time. After transfer, hormone therapy continues with medications administered vaginally to support the uterine lining and embryo implantation.
A pregnancy test is performed approximately two weeks after embryo transfer. If the pregnancy test is positive, the first ultrasound examination takes place approximately three weeks later. This can be done either at Ovumia or at a medical facility near your home. If the pregnancy is progressing normally, further monitoring will continue as usual at the women’s clinic.
Often, more than one high-quality embryo develops during treatment. In such cases, we freeze the remaining embryos for future transfers. Frozen embryos can be thawed and transferred later if pregnancy does not result from a fresh transfer or if you wish to have another child after the birth of your first.
If you are considering IVF treatment, the first step is an initial consultation. Book an appointment conveniently online or by phone.
During your initial appointment, we will thoroughly review your medical history, schedule the necessary tests, and create a personalized treatment plan.
The outcomes of fertility treatments and the health of children born through them are monitored worldwide. Studies have shown that children conceived through fertility treatments have certain structural abnormalities more frequently than those conceived naturally. The greatest risks are associated with severe male infertility, which may increase the risk of undescended testicles or structural abnormalities of the urethra in sons.
However, when comparing these data with couples who have been trying to conceive naturally for a long time, such differences do not appear. Therefore, the slightly increased risk is more likely related to the causes of infertility rather than the treatment itself.
If pregnancy has not occurred after six months of regular attempts, it is advisable to schedule fertility testing.
The duration of treatment depends on several factors and the patient’s prognosis. During the initial consultation, the fertility specialist will provide a realistic estimate of how many treatment cycles may be necessary. With less invasive methods (such as ovulation induction or insemination), treatment is often repeated. Even with IVF treatment, pregnancy may not be achieved until after several cycles or embryo transfers.
At the Ovumia Clinic in Tallinn, up to age 51.
Up to 80–85% of patients benefit from Ovumia’s fertility treatment methods. Success depends primarily on the woman’s age. Our doctors select the treatment method on an individual basis to maximize the chances of conceiving a child.
The appropriate treatment method is determined after a thorough medical consultation. During the initial visit, an assessment of the causes of infertility, a medical examination, and an ultrasound are performed. Men are advised to undergo a semen analysis if one has not been performed within the past year.
