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FAQ

  • 1. When a couple is considered subfertile?

    Infertility is defined the inability of a couple in reproductive age to conceive after one year (or 6 months for women over 35 years old or serious medical history) of normal, regular and unprotected sexual intercourse. In other words, if a year passes without the woman being pregnant, the couple should turn to their attending physician with a view to find the reason this happens and treat it. However, we should all sensitive and not to forget that age is the most significant factor for female fertility and that the personalised approach of every couple is a key-factor for the resolution of the problem. Infertility is a problem of both partners, not only the person from whom the problem probably begin, since having children is certain that affects the life of both partners.

  • 2. How safe are assisted reproduction techniques both for mother and the children to be born?

    The safety of assisted reproduction techniques both for the mother and the foetus has been in depth studied and concerned all physicians working in the field of subfertility at global level. Therefore, as far I can tell, many studies have been carried out to certify the safety of these techniques. Until now no substantial risk and damages on health of subfertile women and their babies have been recorded following attempts of in vitro fertilisation and there is no threat due to the treatment techniques. It is actually noteworthy that 40 years have passed since 1978 from the birth of Louise Brown, the first IVF baby, and so there was enough time to investigate the development of these children. So, we can talk about techniques and therapeutic interventions with the desirable result in a safe way.

    This has been otherwise confirmed in practice: the last 10 years, 2-4% of children born in countries actively supporting access of subfertile couples to modern assisted reproduction techniques are the result of the implementation of such a method.

  • 3. How frequent sexual intercourses are required during the period it is attempted to achieve pregnancy?

    Sperm may survive 48 to 72 hours in the female vagina. So it can fertilise an ovum at any moment during this period of time. Therefore, the appropriate frequency of sexual intercourse is at least every two days during the fertile days of the genetic cycle, that is to say 3 days before and 3 days after ovulation. If partners have strong desire for more frequent intercourse, they of course can follow their libido.

  • 4. What makes a sperm unable to fertilise an ovum?

    The quality and quantity of sperm in the final seminal fluid may affect its ability to successfully fertilise an ovum. Sperm motility is another significant factor that contributes to successful fertilisation. So, men with low sperm count but with high sperm motility may be equally fertile with others with normal sperm count and motility

  • 5. For how long should be administered the treatment with clomiphene citrate?

    The majority of women corresponding to clomiphene citrate treatment have positive results from the first month of treatment. Thus, two-three cycles with this preparation are enough for a complete treatment approach. If within this period of time ovulation is not achieved, the treatment with clomiphene citrate does not seem appropriate or safe to be continued. In such a case, alternative and more efficient treatment methods should be sought.

  • 6. Do all subfertility treatments include complex invasive procedures?

    No. Many infertile couples achieve gestation with the use of simple treatment approaches. A small percentage of couples looking for treatment are finally submitted to specialised Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART). Most treatments classified as ART techniques, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), are no longer at research or experimental stage but they are perfectly documented on scientific data and so they have been established as standard medical treatment methods.

  • 7. What are the success rates of fertility treatments?

    Evolutions in pharmacotherapy, microsurgery and Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) make reality the hopes of more and more couples seeking the help of science in their effort to have a child. So, today, the success rates of infertile couples following ART treatment have increased significantly. Actually the pregnancy rates after a cycle of ART often exceed monthly pregnancy rates of most couples that have no fertility problems. The success rates of course vary between patients, while they differentiate according to the reason of infertility, the general medical history of the couple etc.

  • 8. Are ART techniques considered experimental methods?

    Evolutions in pharmacotherapy, microsurgery and Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) make reality the hopes of more and more couples seeking the help of science in their effort to have a child. So, today, the success rates of infertile couples following ART treatment have increased significantly. Actually the pregnancy rates after a cycle of ART often exceed monthly pregnancy rates of most couples that have no fertility problems. The success rates of course vary between patients, while they differentiate according to the reason of infertility, the general medical history of the couple etc.