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Articles on infertility, assisted reproduction, fertility testing, and cryopreservation.
Congratulations! You have decided to get pregnant. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, it is almost impossible to predict how long it will take to conceive. Fortunately,...
What does smoking really do to women? The effects of smoking on the ovaries are well known. The chemicals in cigarette smoke can enter immature...
It has been a hot topic of debate for years - are fresh eggs more likely to lead to pregnancy than frozen eggs? If you search the internet for evidence on fresh and...
If you are trying to conceive, how long should you wait before having a semen test? If you are under 35, you can wait a year, but over 35 you should...
Many women are born with all the immature follicles they will ever have - about 1 to 2 million. Only about 400,000 of these eggs remain at the onset of menstruation, which...
For some women, trying to get pregnant may take longer than expected. It is important to look after yourself when you are trying to conceive. Adopt a...
Most people know that our fertility declines as we get older. But there are many other factors to consider too. If you are planning a family in the future, it is...
At some point in your life, you have surely heard the old saying "You are what you eat". This means that eating foods that are universally accepted as good for you - such as green vegetables –...
As you prepare for transfer day, it is important to ask your doctor all your questions, no matter how silly any of them may sound. If you are not sure about the...
Did you know that about 15% of couples worldwide have difficulty conceiving? If you have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months, your doctor may refer you to a specialist...
When you are told that IVF is a viable option for achieving your dream of parenthood, your mind starts racing with questions and you want the answers to be...
The first step on your fertility journey should be a full assessment by a qualified specialist. A Reproductive Medicine specialist is a specially trained gynaecologist who has...
THE NEXT STEP
At the first appointment, we discuss your medical history and any concerns you may have, so that together we can review the options available.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve conception after one year (or 6 months in the case of a woman over the age of 35) of normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year has passed without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their treating physician, so that the cause preventing pregnancy can be identified and subsequently addressed. However, we should all be aware and not forget that age is the most critical factor for female fertility, and that an individualized approach to each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.
Of course not. In approximately one third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in another third of cases it is due to the man (male factor). In the remaining third, it is due to both partners (both the man and the woman) or even to unknown factors.
• alcohol • narcotic substances • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead • smoking • health problems • medications • radiotherapy and chemotherapy • age
In general, specialists agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child may be considered evidence that, at least initially, there is no infertility problem. It is like a small test that has been carried out and shows that they “succeeded” at least once. On the other hand, however, we should be aware that circumstances may have changed in the meantime and that a problem may have developed (e.g., the man may have had an inflammation affecting the quality of his sperm, or something may have occurred that affects female fertility: an inflammation, gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.). In any case, therefore, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple is unable to achieve a pregnancy, then, with the help of their doctor, they should investigate whether a problem causing infertility has arisen.
Success rates vary at each IVF center. Very important factors also include the woman’s age, her hormone levels, and, of course, her husband’s sperm. In general, rates are around 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years of age.
The number of treatment cycles a woman may undergo is not fixed. It is certain that in our country there are highly qualified obstetrician-gynecologists and well-organized infertility treatment centers that provide excellent medical services in this field. Provided that the appropriate indications are present (e.g., ovaries that respond to stimulation treatment, a good-quality endometrium, etc.), the success rate—particularly with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological medicines, which demonstrate increased bioactivity compared with conventional urine-derived medicines—reaches a cumulative rate of approximately 65%–70% after 4 treatment cycles.
Egg retrieval takes 10–15 minutes, is not painful, is performed under sedation, and after the procedure is completed you can return to your activities.
The association between IVF medications and the risk of developing cancer is the greatest concern for women participating in these programs. However, numerous literature references gathered from reliable scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.
At Dr. Traianos' Reproductive Medicine Center, we offer egg and sperm cryopreservation services for individuals who have a personal or medical reason and require this service. We use the most advanced vitrification technique for the freezing of sperm and eggs.