Infertility Treatment

Infertility is not a verdict. Thanks to properly selected treatment, individual approach and the latest technology, it is possible to overcome the disease with the first cycles of treatment. The following methods of infertility diagnosis and treatment are available at iVF Riga clinic:

• IUI (intrauterine insemination, which is used in the case of minor sperm abnormalities) 
• IVF (in vitro fertilization, which is used in the case of endometriosis, minor deviations in the semen or unexplained infertility)
• ISCI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection into an egg, which is used in severe cases of male infertility) 

Infertility may be caused by very different factors. Traditionally, the inability to conceive a child is associated with problems related to the woman’s reproductive health, but this is not really true. According to the latest data, the share of male infertility accounts for 40% of infertile marriages, and this figure is growing steadily. iVF Riga clinic offers male patients to undergo a complete check-up and consult a physician specializing in urology and andrology. The treatment of male infertility includes:

• Consultation by a urologist/andrologist
• PICSI (injection of a selective potential sperm cell into an egg)  
• TESA (invasive testicular sperm aspiration, which is indicated in case of severe male infertility – azoospermia)
• Semen analysis/spermogram
• Test for sperm DNA fragmentation
• OxiSperm test (helps determine the reason for sperm DNA fragmentation)
• Sperm function test (is used to determine sperm maturity and its ability to fertilize an egg)
• Molecular testing of AZF regions of Y-chromosome (is indicated in case of severe male infertility – oligospermia and azoospermia)

In case of impaired reproductive function, increased attention is currently paid to genetic testing, which can shed light on the question why pregnancy does not occur despite favourable conditions. Genetic examinations include consultations by a medical geneticist who can provide an opinion on the risk of transmission of genetic abnormalities to the next generations, explain the possible causes of infertility and offer recommendations. The services of the centre for reproductive genetics include the following ones:

• Karyotyping (a special test that checks for the presence of abnormalities in all chromosomes, based on which a medical geneticist makes a conclusion and determines the next steps).
• PGS (in some situations where a visually good embryo is implanted and the parents have a normal karyotype, pregnancy does not occur. To find out the reason, the embryos are tested for abnormalities in the chromosome set. Prior to implanting them into the uterus, PGS (preimplantation genetic screening) is performed).
• PGD (in case of abnormal parents’ karyotype, the embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization are checked using PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) to eliminate the pathology detected in the parents).
• Non-invasive determination of fetal Rh factor (it is mandatory for an Rh negative woman to know the Rh factor of her partner. If the partner is Rh positive, there is a risk of maternal-fetal Rh incompatibility. If the fetus has inherited the Rh factor from the father, anti-Rhesus globulin must be administered in good time as prevention to avoid complications. iVF Riga clinic offers a test for determining the fetal Rh factor by a non-invasive method using the mother’s blood. This method has the accuracy of 99% and is harmless for both the woman and the child. If the test shows that the fetus is Rh negative, it means that the pregnancy proceeds normally and there is no danger).
• Molecular testing for thrombophilia (blood clotting disorders may become an obstacle on the way to the desired childbirth. Molecular testing for thrombophilia can help choose the right tactics for treatment and prevent spontaneous abortion, miscarriage and complications with placentation).
• Molecular testing of AZF locus microdeletions of Y-chromosome (this genetic testing provides an answer to the question whether there is a chance for a man with azoospermia or oligospermia to have his own children).

Cryopreservation is also considered a breakthrough in ART, as it provides an opportunity to take care of one’s future now. Cryopreservation of reproductive cells and tissues is relevant for the following groups of patients:

• oncologic patients. Before treatment, the genetic material is frozen and stored in the cryobank. After the disease retreats, the patient who has undergone cancer treatment has the opportunity to have his or her own children.
• persons who wish to postpone motherhood or fatherhood for social reasons – career development or family status. By freezing his or her genetic material, the patient retains the ability to have children in the future, as well as to preserve his or her youth, because the quality of the cells is known to deteriorate with age and due to various factors.
• persons who still have embryos left after a treatment cycle. Thus, the patient has the opportunity to repeat the treatment of infertility.

Pursuant to the law of the Republic of Latvia, one’s own genetic material can be stored for up to 10 years. 

If infertility is caused by the quality of reproductive cells, it is possible to experience the joy of childbirth by choosing a donation programme:

• egg donation 
• sperm donation
• embryo donation

The bank of reproductive cells of iVF Riga clinic offers a wide choice of healthy and young donors. A donor can be selected by phenotypic criteria, blood type and Rh factor, education and interests. All personal data will not be accessible under the law of the Republic of Latvia on the anonymity of donors.

When the challenges of the infertility treatment are over, the most exciting time – the pregnancy period – sets in, and it is very important to do everything possible to preserve it. Prenatal care is provided by experienced OB/GYNs who observe the well-being of the future mother and the development of the fetus from conception to the birth.

• High-risk pregnancy (a pregnancy with an increased risk of complications or a risk of death of the fetus, the newborn or the mother before or after delivery) 
• 2D/3D/4D USG
• Cerclage pessaries (a non-invasive alternative to the cervical cerclage procedure. It is indicated if there is risk of miscarriage and premature birth)

iVF Riga is a state-of-the-art clinic for treatment of infertility, where you can live out your dream of becoming happy parents!