Egg fertilisation — the core of assisted reproduction — is the process of combining an egg (oocyte) with sperm in a highly controlled laboratory environment. The result is an embryo, which can then be transferred into the uterus to achieve pregnancy.
At Ovumia, we apply internationally recognized best practices to ensure the highest standard of care and maximize your chances of success.
In conventional IVF, sperm and eggs are placed together in a laboratory dish. Sperm naturally fertilize the eggs — a process that closely resembles natural conception, but under optimized lab conditions.
This method is typically recommended when both sperm and egg quality are good — for example, in cases of unexplained infertility, mild ovulation issues, or blocked fallopian tubes (with good sperm parameters).
After microinjection (ICSI), the eggs are placed in an incubator, where they are cultured under carefully controlled conditions. On the day following egg collection, embryologists assess how many eggs have fertilised and continue culturing them into embryos.
When sperm quality is reduced — e.g. low sperm count, poor motility or abnormal morphology — when sperm are surgically retrieved (for instance after vasectomy or with testicular biopsy), we use ICSI.
ICSI involves the direct microinjection of a single carefully selected sperm into the cytoplasm of a mature egg. This gives fertilisation the best chance, regardless of sperm concentration or mobility.
After microinjection, eggs are cultured in an incubator under strictly controlled conditions. About 15–18 hours later embryologists check for fertilisation and, if successful, continue to culture the embryos.
Ovumia’s specialists will guide you in choosing the treatment option that best suits your individual needs. The choice of treatment is influenced by factors such as sperm quality and your previous treatment history. When fertilising frozen eggs, microinjection (ICSI) is always used.
Egg fertilisation (IVF / ICSI) may be recommended when:
Thanks to modern lab techniques (IVF + ICSI) and individualised treatment planning, majority of couples achieve pregnancy even when facing significant fertility challenges.
The development of fertilized eggs into embryos is closely monitored in the laboratory. Using modern technology, our highly experienced laboratory staff ensure optimal culture conditions for embryo development.
Embryos are cultured in specialized cell culture cabinets known as incubators. The conditions inside the incubators are carefully controlled, with temperature and gas concentrations continuously monitored to maintain the ideal environment.
Embryo development is observed over several days, typically for 3–6 days depending on the treatment plan. During culture, the development of some embryos may naturally stop. Only high-quality embryos are selected for transfer or cryopreservation for future use. Throughout the entire culture period, your embryos are cared for with the utmost attention by our highly skilled and experienced embryologists.
