Dr. Fulvia Mancini, medical director of Cataluña at Eva Fertility Clinics answers some common questions about fertility treatments.
Why can’t I get pregnant?
The main infertility cause for women is the age while the essential problems for men are the alternations in sperm characteristics.
Why don’t I produce enough eggs?
A low production of eggs can depend on several factors but the most common are: age, genetic factors, endometriosis, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as smoking habits.
How can I improve the quality of my eggs?
There is no common indication to improve the quality of eggs even if it is true that leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle as well as avoiding bad habits can be very helpful when you are trying to have a baby.
How long do fertility treatments last?
It depends on the kind of treatment but in the case of applying more complex techniques such as IVF, it will take approximately two months even if every patient’s case requires a specific time.
Does fertility treatments improve the risk of healthy issues for the baby?
Not at all. Children born thanks to assisted reproduction have the same risks of having health problems as the children who are born naturally.
Does my husband need to have any kind of treatment?
Rarely. He only needs to have fertility tests since the impossibility to conceive can depend on the male as well.
Which studies do I need to do?
The fertility study can vary according to each patient, their specific case and need. The main required fertility tests are the following:
For women: comprehensive study of the medical history of the patient, ultrasound scan, smear test, general and hormone blood test.
For men: spermiogram (semen analysis) is the most important test to assess the male fertility.
When should I do the hormone blood test?
The hormone test should be performed between day 3 and 5 of the menstrual cycle.
What are the guarantees for donors in IVF with egg or sperm donor treatments?
The selection of donors is a very rigorous process and it is totally regulated by law. The donors are subjected to different physical and psychological tests and a complete medical screening to rule out any disease which may affect the future baby.
In Egg donation treatment, will the baby look like me?
The Egg donation program at Eva ensures the maximum phenotypic (physical) and immunology similarity between the donor and the patient.
In Egg donation treatment, can we choose the physical features of the donor?
No, it is strictly forbidden by Assisted Reproduction Law.
Are the frozen embryos the same as the fresh ones? What about the eggs?
Yes, the quality of embryos and gametes is not endangered when they are frozen through the Vitrification technique.
If I freeze my eggs, are they going to survive to the thawing process?
Yes, the rate after the thawing procedure is very high.
When do I start taking the conceptive pill/medication?
The patient is usually required to start with the conceptive pill between day one and five of the menstrual period according to the gynaecologist’s recommendation and supervision.
If I’m still bleeding, can I start with the medication?
Yes.
Is it possible finding out the donor’s fertility used in the Egg donation treatment in the future?
The Assisted Reproduction law establishes the anonymity in donation but if there is a health problem in the baby who was born through this technique, for example a transplant it is possible discover this information.
What are the possibilities or the pregnancy percentage after a fertility treatment?
The percentage rate can vary according to the treatments or several factors related to the patient and her partner such as the age or the quality of gametes. The pregnancy rate decreases in older women or for some sperm problems of the partner. The result is usually better in treatments with sperm and/or egg donation because the gametes’ quality is guaranteed.
