Assisted fertilization
Assisted fertilization is a collective term for several medical methods used to help couples, two women or single women become pregnant and have children. At Medicus, we offer all types of assisted fertilization that are permitted in Norway.
What is assisted fertilization?
In assisted reproduction, or artificial insemination, the fertilization of the woman's eggs occurs either outside the body through in vitro fertilization (IVF), or by insemination (IUI) directly into the woman's uterus. The two most common methods of assisted reproduction are:
- Insemination (IUI), where the woman has sperm from her partner or donor inserted into her uterus.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF), where the egg is fertilized outside the body with sperm from a partner or donor.
During in vitro fertilization (IVF), additional treatments are sometimes performed, such as: microinjection (ICSI), where one sperm is injected directly into each egg. Sometimes it may also be necessary to retrieve the sperm directly from the man's testicles through a operative sperm extraction (TESA/TESE)Whether ICSI and TESA/TESE are necessary is related to the quality of the sperm, as well as whether there are sperm in the semen sample.
If you get several good embryos from an IVF attempt, these can be frozen and used at a later date in a freezing experiment (FER)Frozen embryos from previous attempts are thawed and placed back into the woman's uterus, without her having to go through a new stimulation period and egg retrieval.
Treatment with donor
Assisted fertilization is performed with donor sperm through sperm donation if one is two women or single woman who are going to be treated. It is also relevant for heterosexual couple where the man has no sperm or where the sperm have been shown to be unable to fertilize the egg.
Heterosexual couples where the woman, for various reasons, does not have good enough quality eggs or the ovaries do not produce eggs, can receive treatment with donor eggs through egg donationTwo women who want children can donate eggs to each other through partner donation.
Egg donation is according to biotechnology law not allowed for single women, as double donation (both sperm donor and egg donor) is not allowed.
When is assisted fertilization appropriate?
according to WHO 1 in 6 couples experience challenges getting pregnant, and around 6 percent of all children born in Norway today have been conceived through assisted fertilization.
Assisted fertilization may be appropriate for couples who have been trying to get pregnant for a long time without success, or for single women and two women who want children.
Heterosexual couples who have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months are advised to take a fertility check to identify reasons why you are not getting pregnant. If you are over 35 years old or have a known infertility factor, you may want to contact us earlier.
What are the reasons for needing assisted reproduction?
There are a number of different reasons why one needs assisted fertilization, and the reasons can often be complex. For two women and single women, assisted fertilization is necessary if one wants to have children. For heterosexual couples, there can be various reasons why one may need assisted fertilization, because one cannot get pregnant on one's own. This can be due to problems with the woman, the man or both partners:
Advanced age of the woman
Age is normally the most important factor when it comes to fertility in women. Over time, genetic changes occur in the eggs, so that the proportion of normal eggs decreases. It can then be more difficult to get pregnant, and several of the pregnancies will stop due to genetic defects. Fertility decreases significantly from the age of 35, and further from the age of 40.
Reduced sperm quality
Reduced sperm quality in men is one of the most common reasons why a couple cannot get pregnant. It may be that the number of sperm cells is too low, the swimming ability is too poor, the shape is abnormal or it is genetically abnormal. The age of the man also plays a role here, after the age of 45 the proportion of genetically abnormal sperm cells increases. Body weight and lifestyle factors can also affect it male fertility.
Missing or infrequent ovulation
Some women have infrequent or no ovulation. This may be due to being overweight, underweight, stress or a genetic cause such as in women with PCOSPCOS is a condition characterized by many small egg sacs (follicles) in the ovaries, irregular and infrequent menstruation, and increased levels of male sex hormones.
To check if you are ovulating, you can take blood samples throughout your cycle or use ovulation tests. Ovulation usually occurs 12 days before your next period starts. For many people with ovulation problems The solution may be simple stimulation with tablets to get pregnant.
Blocked fallopian tubes or fallopian tube damage
Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes are another possible reason why couples may experience difficulty getting pregnant. This can be due to infectious diseases such as chlamydia. The challenge here is that the egg released during ovulation will not meet the sperm. The fallopian tubes' job is to guide the egg down to the place where the egg meets the sperm. The gynecologist can check if the fallopian tubes are open using a ultrasound examination with contrast agentFor some, this will be part of a fertility check.
Premature menopause
Some women are genetically predisposed to early menopause. They will often have shorter cycles and heavier bleeding in the period before menopause. This has an impact on the capacity and function of the ovaries, and thus the ability to become pregnant. It is possible to find out about this through hormone tests on cycle days 1 – 2 and measuring the hormone AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone), which measures egg reserve.
Muscle knots and polyps
Muscle knots and polyps can occur in the uterus and uterine cavity. Sometimes this can affect the chance of getting pregnant. The gynecologist can examine the uterus using ultrasound and the uterine cavity using water scanning.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition in which the same type of cells as those in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow outside the uterus, in the peritoneum, on the ovaries, fallopian tubes or elsewhere. Endometriosis in the ovaries is often linked to poor egg quality. It can also lead to adhesions and blocked fallopian tubes, making it difficult to get pregnant. If endometriosis is found in the uterus, it can lead to implantation difficulties, meaning the fertilized egg has trouble attaching.
How does assisted fertilization take place?
No two treatment processes will be exactly the same, as this depends on the treatment you or you will undergo and how it is adapted to your or your needs. However, there are some fixed points that apply to everyone:
Step 1: Fertility check
The course of treatment for assisted reproduction always starts with a thorough fertility check , also referred to as a fertility test, to check your fertility or that of you as a couple. The fertility check provides answers about your chances of getting pregnant.
Based on the results of the fertility check and previous history, our experienced fertility specialists tailor a course of treatment that is tailored to you, so that you have the best chance of success.
Step 2: Before starting treatment
Before you can start treatment, there are a few things that need to be in place:
- You or you must have applied for a child care certificate from the police and sent this to us. The reason for this is that the law requires us to assess the caregiving capacity of those who are offered treatment. The child care certificate is part of this assessment.
- You or you must sign the treatment agreement you receive from us.
After we have received the childcare certificate and the signed agreement, we are ready to start the treatment. When we start depends on the woman's next menstrual period.
Step 3: Treatment
The actual course of treatment depends on the type of treatment you are going through. Below we have listed the different treatment methods we offer for heterosexual couples, two women and single women. On each of these pages you will find an explanation of how a treatment process can typically proceed.
We are a large and experienced player, with a solid professional environment with cutting-edge expertise that you as a patient can benefit from. The patient journey can be a roller coaster, but we are with you every step of the way – both medically and emotionally.
At Medicus, we know that the path to the child of your dreams involves so much more than medication and injections. That's why we also focus on the psychosocial aspect of treatment, and also offer our own consultations at our clinics. fertility coach as needed.
Treatments we offer within assisted reproduction
Treatment methods for men and women
We help couples from all over the country.
Read more about the different treatment methods we offer:
Treatment methods for two women
We have helped two women since 2011. Read more about the different treatment methods we offer:
Treatment methods for single women
Read more about the different treatment methods we offer:
