IVF and ICSI in Munich

Why Choose a Fertility Specialist in Munich?

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We understand the importance of making your fertility treatment as comfortable as possible for you, especially considering that the journey to parenthood can be emotionally challenging. That's why we offer a range of services tailored to your needs.

As our patient, you will …
→ receive continuous care from the same fertility doctor, from the initial consultation to diagnostics in our fertility clinic. Currently, for IVF/ICSI treatment, you are referred to another fertility center. However, starting in Spring 2024, we will be able to perform these procedures entirely in our fertility clinic in munich.
→ experience a personalized atmosphere in a small, specialized fertility clinic.
→ have access to natural IVF and supportive holistic treatments depending on your diagnosis.
→ receive state-of-the-art treatment, including individualized hormonal stimulation if necessary.
→ save time and enjoy flexibility, as our centrally located fertility clinic offers early morning and evening appointments and has its own hormone laboratory for rapid results.
→ have the opportunity to discuss all your concerns with a fellow woman at any time

It's important to note that we only recommend IVF when other treatments offer no realistic chance of success. We exhaust all gentle methods first and discuss the process step by step together. If IVF or ICSI treatment becomes necessary, you are currently referred to another fertility center. However, starting in Spring 2024, we will be able to perform these procedures entirely in our fertility center. Rest assured, we will continue to support you before, during, and after treatment. Single women are also welcome to undergo artificial insemination. We invite you to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your options.

How does the traditional in vitro fertilizsation procedure work?

In traditional in vitro fertilization, ovarian follicles are stimulated to grow through hormonal stimulation of the ovaries. The hormone dosage is determined individually based on factors such as ovarian reserve, age, and previous stimulations. Additionally, the administration of a GnRH agonist or antagonist allows the follicles to mature until they reach an adequate size without premature ovulation.

The continuous growth of the follicles is monitored through ultrasound scans and blood tests from around the 7th day of stimulation. Typically, the stimulation phase lasts 8 to 12 days. Once the follicles reach the desired size, the date and time for egg retrieval are determined. A trigger shot induces the final maturation of the follicles. Shortly before the follicles ovulate, the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries in a minor surgical procedure called follicular aspiration. Patients usually receive brief anesthesia for this procedure. If only a few eggs are maturing, retrieval may be performed without anesthesia.

Under ultrasound guidance, the eggs are aspirated from the follicles using a fine needle and further processed in the embryology laboratory. Depending on factors such as ovarian reserve, age, and stimulation protocol, around 5 to 18 eggs are typically retrieved.

On the day of egg retrieval, your partner provides a semen sample. In the embryology laboratory, the eggs and sperm are then combined. The following day, fertilization of the egg is assessed. Depending on development, the embryo is transferred into the uterus on the third or fifth day after egg retrieval.

Summary of the artificial fertilization process:

Cryopreservation: Freezing eggs for later and shortening treatment

During IVF or ICSI treatment, about 5 - 15 eggs are typically retrieved. However, for embryo transfer, only 1 - 2 embryos are selected, depending on the woman's age. The remaining fertilized eggs can be cryopreserved at the pronuclear stage in liquid nitrogen at -196°C (cryopreservation). These pronuclear stage embryos can be stored for the next cycle, eliminating the need for further egg retrieval. Alternatively, eggs can be frozen for several years for future use, a process known as social freezing.

Several days before embryo transfer, the fertilized eggs are thawed and allowed to develop into embryos before being transferred into the uterus. This process only requires pretreatment with a low-dose hormone therapy in tablet form, eliminating the need for hormone injections.

What are the risks?

One risk associated with IVF is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which depends on factors such as age, ovarian reserve, and hormone dosage. OHSS occurs in 1 - 10% of women undergoing IVF, but the severity varies. Severe OHSS (OHSS III) is fortunately rare, occurring in only 0.2% of all stimulations.

The risk of multiple pregnancies depends on the number of embryos transferred. Historically, multiple embryos were often transferred into the uterine cavity. The transfer of two embryos carries an average risk of about 24% for multiple pregnancies (according to the German IVF Register). This increased risk can be reduced to about 1% by transferring only one embryo, which is comparable to the risk in natural conception.

Current scientific evidence suggests that IVF treatments do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Large studies have found no increased risk even after multiple stimulations. However, these findings are preliminary, as most women involved in these studies are still under 60 years old.

The potential impact of IVF on the risk of birth defects is a topic of ongoing debate. According to current research, all babies have a risk of birth defects of about 2 - 3%. Depending on the study and definition, children born after IVF or ICSI treatment have a risk of birth defects of about 4 - 6%. This slightly elevated risk seems to be associated not with the treatment itself, but with the infertility of the couple. Further studies are underway to investigate the influences of different culture media and techniques used in assisted reproduction. We are happy to discuss any questions you may have about your individual risks at our fertility clinic in munich.

If you wish, you can also receive naturopathic treatment to support your fertility. We offer traditional Chinese medicine, nutritional counseling, and psychological support, and are always here for you.