DEFINITION:  

Artificial insemination consists of placing the selected sperm in the uterus. Sperm can be provided by the husband or a sperm donor. 

Artificial insemination is recommended for those cases in which women and man are fertile but cannot get pregnant because the sperm cannot reach the uterus because of impotence problems or anatomical defects.

DESCRIPTION:

The process includes a pretreatment period, an endocrinology test, the sperm capacitation, either from the husband or a donor, and the insemination itself.

Artificial insemination is performed in the doctor's office and it does not require anesthesia. The doctor introduce the sperm into the uterine cavity using a catheter. Patients should remain lying down for 15 minutes after insemination.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

The weeks before the insemination, it is conducted an ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. When the eggs are ready, the insemination is programmed.

The semen also undergoes a improve process to maximise the quality and the chances of success.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Two weeks after insemination, patients may undergo a pregnancy test to check if she is pregnant.

DEFINITION:  

There are two different techniques to achieve  an In Vitro Fertilisation, the Traditional In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

In traditional IVF the egg and sperm are placed in a fertilisation medium in order to get a very similar process to natural fertilization.

ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm into the egg.

Choosing one over the other depends on each particular case. Both techniques can be performed with own eggs and sperm or donor support.

In Spain it is possible to transfer up to 3 embryos at each time.

DESCRIPTION:

The eggs are subjected to a culture period and after the fertilisation, whether traditional or ICSI. Then the embryos are grown a few days until the right moment to transfer them.

The embryos are charged into a transfer catheter and are introduced into the uterus without anesthesia in a simple procedure that takes about 15 minutes.

Embryos that have not been used are cryopreserved because it could be necessary to repeat the transfer process.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

If patients are using their own sperm and egg cells, they must undergo an extraction process. For egg retrieval women should follow a previous hormone treatment.

The sperm is selected and improved to increase the chances of success.

If patients need an eggs or sperm donor, they should inform the medical centre.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Two weeks after insemination, patients may undergo a pregnancy test to check if she is pregnant.

DEFINITION:  

There are two different techniques to achieve  an In Vitro Fertilisation, the Traditional In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

In traditional IVF the egg and sperm are placed in a fertilisation medium in order to get a very similar process to natural fertilization.

ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm into the egg.

Choosing one over the other depends on each particular case. Both techniques can be performed with own eggs and sperm or donor support.

In Spain it is possible to transfer up to 3 embryos at each time.

DESCRIPTION:

The eggs are subjected to a culture period and after the fertilisation, whether traditional or ICSI. Then the embryos are grown a few days until the right moment to transfer them.

The embryos are charged into a transfer catheter and are introduced into the uterus without anesthesia in a simple procedure that takes about 15 minutes.

Embryos that have not been used are cryopreserved because it could be necessary to repeat the transfer process.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

If patients are using their own sperm and egg cells, they must undergo an extraction process. For egg retrieval women should follow a previous hormone treatment.

The sperm is selected and improved to increase the chances of success.

If patients need an eggs or sperm donor, they should inform the medical centre.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Two weeks after insemination, patients may undergo a pregnancy test to check if she is pregnant.

DEFINITION:

This is a technique that preserves oocytes and eggs with the same properties as when they were removed, for subsequent use.

For this purpose, cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at very low temperatures is used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS:

For 10 to 12 days before treatment, the woman undergoes hormone treatment with injections to induce the growth of the egg-containing follicles found in the ovaries.

During this stimulation phase ultrasound scans must be performed every two or three days to see how the follicles are growing. When they reach the right size another medication is administered to accelerate the maturation of the eggs and allow them to be extracted in 36 hours. They are extracted by ovarian puncture, a very simple procedure performed vaginally and under sedation. After obtaining the oocytes, their number, quality and morphology are analysed and they a subjected to cryopreservation.

BEFORE TREATMENT:

The patient must undergo a preliminary assessment, usually involving a gynaecological examination and a blood test, to evaluate their case.

AFTER TREATMENT:

The patient may feel slight discomfort similar to period pains, swelling in the belly or mood changes, caused by the action of the medication.

The patient must go for a check-up a few days later as directed by the doctor. 

DEFINITION:  

The transfer of cryopreserved embryos consists of the implantation of embryos that were previously frozen. They may be leftover embryos from previous IVF treatments or with donated embryos.

DESCRIPTION:

 The process includes a previous endocrine control, embryos defrosting and their transfer.

The transfer is done in an operating theatre and under ultrasound guidance. It does not require anesthesia and only takes about 15 minutes. The embryos are placed in the uterus with a cannula.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients must undergo a previous hormone treatment to improve the reception of the embryo after the implantation.

Patients should drink plenty of water in the moments before the intervention to allow visibility with the ultrasound machine.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients should take the prescribed medication and rest for the first few days after transfer. After a few days they should return to the centre to see if the procedure has been successful