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Frozen embryo transfer

• Frozen embryo transfer is considerably less complicated than the classic IVF program. It consists of three stages: getting the endometrium ready, transferring the embryos and maintaining the luteal phase. 

  Frozen embryo transfer is one of ART techniques.

  Basically, it is an in-vitro fertilization program minus the stimulation stage. This technique is advisable when the IVF protocol for some reason was unsuccessful. By preserving the embryos, the parents receive a kind of moral support boost, because even if the first try fails, there is always a second chance. Besides, it will be easier and a lot cheaper.

  Many couples choose to tray frozen embryo transfer program after a successful IVF attempt to have a second baby. 

  The end result of this technique depends on various factors which include:

  • The quality of the frozen embryo
  • The endometrial thickness and if it is ready for the embryo transfer
  • The hormonal therapy strategy.

  Some scientists claim that the high dosage of hormones that women are injected with during the stimulation can alter the qualities of their endometrium and may have negative effect on its ability to accept and nourish the embryo. 

  If the patients use the frozen embryo transfer program, there is no need to do take hormones in such high doses, which makes this program closer to the natural way of things. Consequently, the pregnancy is likely to go more smoothly from the physiological point of view. 

  Is it necessary for the father to do a medical check-up with this protocol? Yes, it is. Even though he is not actually involved in the process of the transfer and has done the required tests during the first cycle, the frozen embryo transfer recommendations list does contain several obligatory examinations. As for the mother, out of all the usual hormone level exams she only has to do the progesterone blood test, because this hormone is prescribed to ensure a healthy pregnancy. 

  Sometimes, though fairly rarely, the usual superovulation stimulation protocol is still required to prepare the endometrium for the transfer. This happens when there is no natural ovulation and if the standard preparatory procedures yielded no results. 
  Regardless of their education level, many people still consider embryo cryopreservation a dangerous procedure that has the potential to harm their future baby. Sometimes, it may be hard for the parents to understand this process. These couples would rather dispose of their spare embryos, which is completely unnecessary and unfounded, just because they are afraid to freeze it. 

  However, it is essential to realize the difference between a common freezing and cryopreservation. When you freeze something the usual way, the water in the issues crystalizes under the influence of low temperatures and destroys the cell membranes. Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen happens at the ultra-low temperature of -196 С°. Under these conditions, the ice simply does not have enough time to form. After they are defrosted, more than a half of all embryos can be successfully implanted into the womb tissue and start developing there. Out of 100 frozen embryos, only 5 or 6 of them are lost. Studies have proved that in those cases the cause of death is not related to cryopreservation, but is normally of genetic origin. Large-scale case studies have also demonstrated, that children born from frozen embryos are not any different from other children in terms of general health and course of development, and the pregnancy is usually less problematic. It might be connected to lower amount emotional stress for the parents. 

  Frozen embryos can be preserved for a very long time. An additional prove to that is the birth of a girl named Emma in 2017. Her embryo has been cryopreserved for 25 years, since 1992. The only condition is to strictly abide by the rules of cryopreservation and defrosting procedures. 

  In Altravita we use various ART techniques. Thanks to high-level equipment and the skills of our doctors, we keep our statistic results up to the highest standards. You can get more information about cryopreservation from our gynecologists. Call the clinic using the phone number on our website and make an appointment.

  Call the clinic using the phone number on our website and make an appointment.

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT)

• NIPT helps to learn a lot about the baby during the first trimester. This is the most progressive way to diagnose chromosomal disorders and other abnormalities, utilized in all developed countries in the world.

  The testing analyzes small fragments of DNA that are circulating in a pregnant woman’s blood.

  The testing is recommended when:

  • The woman is older than 35 years old;
  • Possible genetic abnormalities suspicions after the ultrasound;
  • The pregnancy achieved with the use of IVF or other VRT 
  • The risk of genetic abnormalities detected during the biochemical screening;
  • Genetic abnormalities detected in other children’s DNA;
  • A history of stillbirth;
  • Premature labor or recurrent miscarriage;
  • Unexplained infertility.

  The key advantages of NIPT include its high accuracy and safety. The possibility of diagnostic mistake is only 0.01%. 

  For this testing, the mother’s venous blood is used. The blood taking procedure is completely safe for both the baby, and the mother.

  One more advantage is that the testing can be performed very early in the pregnancy – in the 9th week. 

  Diagnostic capabilities of the testing

  The testing can detect the following diseases and abnormalities:

  • Down syndrome;
  • Edwards syndrome;
  • Patau syndrome;
  • Turner syndrome;
  • Klinefelter syndrome;
  • Triple X syndrome;
  • Double Y syndrome.

  While analyzing the fetus’ DNA, it is possible to identify its sex.

  Even though NIPT is a high-accuracy method of diagnosis, it is, nevertheless, a screening test. Which means that should any abnormalities be detected during the testing, they still must be confirmed by an invasive test, such as fetal karyotyping. 

  The testing is not performed:

  • Earlier then the 9th week of pregnancy;
  • If selective (multifetal) reduction has been performed;
  • In cases of multifetal pregnancies with three or more fetuses;
  • When the baby is carried by a surrogate mother;
  • When the pregnancy is achieved by means of IVF with the use of donor oocytes.

  If you would like to get more information about this method of diagnosis, please, contact the clinic by phone or via the online inquiry form.

IVF after 40 years

• IVF after 40 years

  Pregnancy after 40 is a fairly rare occurrence even if you try to conceive naturally. IVF can be a possible solution to this problem for women over 40.

  The ability to get pregnant, gestate and give birth to a child is determined by the age of woman planning to become a mother.

  How to get pregnant over 40?

  For a woman after 40 years a possibility of the natural conception and normal pregnancy decreases year after year. 

  Modern ART and IVF come to help patients over 40. Such methods are actively used in AltraVita center. Such methods are actively used in AltraVita center. To determine the possibility of getting pregnant with her own eggs for a woman over 40, ovarian reserve assessment is required.

  For this reason the following options are used:

  • Determination of AMH (anti mullerian hormone) - allows you to predict the chances of conception, although it does not affect fertility itself and decreases with age;;
  • FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) - the ovarian reserve means sufficient if there is a value of 10 mIU / ml and below;;
  • Antral follicles count — the follicles are counted during ultrasound examination.

  At this age IVF is often performed in natural cycle, because a large number of eggs cannot be obtained during a stimulation.

IVF with anonymous donor

• Included services

  • Screening, stimulation of ovulation, compensation for anonymous egg donor
  • Scheme of patient’s endometrium preparation for embryo transfer
  • Ovarian puncture with general anesthesia for the egg donor
  • Consultations of reproductive endocrinologist for the patient and the donor
  • Ultrasonic monitor of endometrium for embryo transfer
  • Preparation of sperm for fertilization using two samples of ejaculate
  • ICSI/IMSI
  • Cultivation of embryos until 5-6 day of development
  • Freezing of embryos
  • Fresh embryo transfer to the patient

  Excluded services

  • Additional medication
  • IMSI – if indicated
  • Assisted hatching
  • Embryo biopsy
  • Any type of PGD/PGS
  • Frozen embryo transfer
  • Storage of frozen material
  • Additional consultations of specialists 

Male infertility diagnosis

Donation

• We work only with clinics conducting IUI or IVF. It allows us to concentrate on understanding what the clinics need for their quality work, representatives of the clinics, especially the embryologists in their desire to get a positive outcome of the procedures. In one year, our partners, IVF clinics, conduct about 2,000 IUI or IVF procedures with our donor material.

  Our constant striving for quality and continuous improvement of work helps our partners - IVF clinics to have significant results when working with donor material.

  Frozen reproductive biomaterial is used during in-vitro fertilization in the treatment of infertility. Material is stored in a specially equipped room - cryo-storage.

  The bank stores

  • eggs (oocytes);
  • seminal fluid;
  • embryos.

  Who needs cryopreserved cells

  You can use frozen cells not only in donor programs. Any woman or man can give his healthy gametes for preservation and storage when deciding to postpone parenthood until a later date or before treating a serious illness. Customers can be sure that their eggs or sperm will maintain fertility and high quality.

  The AltraVita cryobank has one of the largest Russian cryobanks, which has a license that meets the requirements of legislation and international standards.

  Methods of cryopreservation

  There are two methods of cryopreservation:

  1. Slow dehydration - elimination of fluid from the cell with replacement with a cryoprotective substance.
  2. Vitrification - ultra-fast freezing with the exception of the crystallization stage. This is the most reliable way in which cells can be stored for years (up to 10 or more) and not lose their characteristics after defrosting.

  The main aim of reproductive cryopreservation is to increase the chances of pregnancy if it is not possible to become pregnant in a natural way.

  What cryobank consists of

  • Donor Bank - provides medical services to infertile couples. Also separately for women and men with infertility. Women without a partner.
  • Personal Bank - provides storage of ejaculate and oocytes of people who decide to postpone the birth of children. Storage of customers biomaterial with a high risk of premature loss or decreased fertility.
  • Well-equipped laboratory - provides verification of material intended for storage. Carries out the procedures for freezing and defrosting of gametes or embryos.

  AltraVita cryobank provides transportation services for reproductive material samples to other reproduction centers.

  Storage conditions

  Cryostorage is a separate room with high-tech equipment that controls environmental parameters. Climatic equipment maintains constant physical conditions. Signal sensors control humidity, temperature, air pressure.

  For storage of biopsy, special tubes, containers, test tubes are provided. Separate storage allows to defrost only one container to use a certain amount of material. All containers are labeled and placed in liquid nitrogen to maintain at constant temperature.

  Medical staff is not permanently staying in the cryostorage. They go in there only in special suits. The signal system of sensors is displayed in the office of permanent stay of the medical staff.

Sperm Donation

• Indications to insemination / in-vitro fertilization (IVF) using the donor sperm:

  For men

  • a malefactor of infertility,
  • sexual (ejaculation) dysfunctions,
  • unfavorable medico-genetic forecast.

  For women

  • absence of sex partner.

  All sperm donors undergo the medical and psychological examination according to the Order of the RF Ministry of Healthcare № 107n:

  • General practitioner’s examination and diagnosis;
  • Urologist’s examination and diagnosis;
  • Psychiatrist’s examination and diagnosis;
  • Geneticist’s consultation;
  • Blood test for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C;
  • Determination of blood group and rhesus-factor;
  • Examination for sexually-transmitted infections (herpes, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, chlamydiosis);
  • Spermogram;
  • Karyotyping.

  Usage of cryopreserved donor sperm is possible only for the samples that have been tested repeatedly for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C. The usage of donor sperm enables to exclude the risk of transmission of different infectious diseases and avoid the encounter between donor and recipient.

  The clinic provides the following information about the donor:

  • Nationality
  • Age
  • Height / weight
  • Education
  • Profession
  • Blood group and Rhesus factor
  • Color of hair/eyes
  • Form of face / nose / ears

  Sperm donation is absolutely anonymous! Donor sperm is the property of the clinic and the donors have no access to the information about recipients of their material.

Intrauterine Insemination

IVF with vitrified oocytes

• Included services

  • Scheme of patient’s endometrium preparation for embryo transfer
  • Consultations of reproductive endocrinologist
  • Ultrasonic monitor of endometrium for embryo transfer
  • 6 frozen donor eggs
  • Thawing of oocytes
  • Identification and evaluation of oocytes’ maturity
  • Preparation of sperm for fertilization using two samples of ejaculate
  • ICSI/IMSI
  • Cultivation of embryos until 5-6 day of development
  • Freezing of embryos
  • Fresh embryo transfer to the patient

  Excluded services

  • Additional medication
  • Additional donor eggs, starting from 7^th
  • IMSI – if indicated
  • Assisted hatching
  • Embryo biopsy
  • Any type of PGD/PGS
  • Frozen embryo transfer