At the practice of Ioannis Raptis, infertility issues are managed in accordance with the guidelines of the “Frankfurt Hormone School” (Frankfurter Hormonschule) and the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE).
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In vitro fertilization (IVF) provides a solution for women and couples who wish to have a child but are unable to do so due to infertility issues.
During the procedure, eggs are retrieved from the woman and fertilized in the laboratory with the man’s sperm. The fertilized eggs (embryos) are then transferred to the woman’s uterus with the aim of achieving implantation.
It is of utmost importance to note that the success of the procedure depends on various factors, most notably the woman’s age, sperm quality, the underlying cause of infertility, and the expertise of the responsible gynecologist and embryologist.
The most common reasons that lead specialists to recommend assisted reproduction through IVF include the following:
Blocked fallopian tubes
Qualitative or quantitative sperm abnormalities
Qualitative or quantitative egg abnormalities (most commonly in women over the age of 37)
Failure of other assisted reproduction techniques (e.g., ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, etc.)
Unexplained infertility
The IVF Procedure in Athens
In vitro fertilization consists of the following stages:
Depending on the protocol followed, the woman receives injectable medication for 10–14 days. This treatment stimulates the development of multiple eggs (follicles) simultaneously. During this period, consecutive ultrasound scans are performed to monitor follicular growth and maturation. Once the follicles have developed adequately, ovulation is triggered at a specific time in order to schedule egg retrieval (oocyte retrieval).
Using a fine needle guided by ultrasound, the doctor collects the eggs from the ovaries through the vagina. This is a short, painless, and completely safe procedure performed under light anesthesia. About one hour after the egg retrieval, the woman can return to her normal daily activities.
On the same day, the man provides a semen sample, which will be used for fertilization.
After appropriate preparation, embryologists combine the eggs and sperm in order to achieve fertilization. The following day, the number of successfully fertilized eggs is assessed. Four days later, the number of embryos (blastocysts) suitable for embryo transfer is evaluated.
After five days of monitoring, the blastocysts are placed into a special catheter and transferred into the woman’s uterus. This is a simple procedure that does not require anesthesia. After the embryo transfer, the patient remains lying down for about half an hour and then returns home. Ten to fourteen days later, a simple pregnancy test confirms whether conception has been successful.
For women who do not wish to undergo or are medically unable to follow ovarian stimulation treatment, there is the option of IVF in a natural cycle.
The only difference from conventional IVF is that, with this method, one or two eggs can be retrieved without prior injectable hormonal stimulation of the ovaries.
Natural cycle IVF is mainly suitable for women who:
Have low ovarian response even when high doses of hormonal stimulation are administered.
Have had unsuccessful IVF attempts in the past.
Are not allowed to receive hormonal ovarian stimulation therapy.
Mini IVF is an innovative form of assisted reproduction that follows the standard IVF procedure but uses a minimal amount of medication, administered either orally or through only a few injections.
This method is primarily intended for women who:
Wish to proceed with IVF using the least possible amount of medication.
Are expected, based on their hormonal profile, to have a low response to conventional IVF stimulation protocols.
Have a high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation with standard IVF treatment.
After completing the IVF procedure, a waiting period of approximately 10 days follows. A blood test measuring beta-hCG levels will then determine whether pregnancy has been achieved.
During this time, oral hormonal medication is administered to support the endometrium, which has received the embryo.
Symptoms such as breast swelling, abdominal bloating, and fluid retention during these days are not reliable indicators of pregnancy but are usually side effects of the medication.
In vitro fertilization is a safe procedure, and the likelihood of complications is extremely low.
One potential complication worth mentioning is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This is essentially an excessive response of the ovaries to hormonal stimulation therapy, leading to an overproduction of estrogen.
It may be accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and blood abnormalities, while in rare cases hospitalization may be required.
Embryos resulting from the IVF process show a slightly increased risk of certain genetic abnormalities; however, in absolute numbers, this risk remains extremely low.
Diagnostic tests performed during pregnancy can, with high accuracy, rule out potential genetic disorders and confirm the healthy development of the embryo.
Infertility issues are managed in accordance with the guidelines of the “Frankfurt Hormone School” (Frankfurter Hormonschule).
The success rates of our practice (pregnancy with confirmed positive fetal heartbeat), officially reported to the Hygeia IVF Embryogenesis Clinic, are significantly higher than both the international and Greek averages.
In women with intermediate ovarian reserves, a long stimulation protocol is applied, ensuring the maximum possible number of mature eggs.
We exclusively perform transfers of day 5 or day 6 embryos (blastocysts). This approach allows for the natural selection of embryos, reducing the likelihood of transferring embryos with genetic abnormalities and low implantation potential.
In women with a less favorable prognosis (over 35 years old, previous unsuccessful attempts, etc.), the EmbryoGlue culture medium is used during embryo transfer, which has been documented to increase the likelihood of success by 25–40%.
The cost of in vitro fertilization varies depending on the protocol followed, the medications selected, the IVF center where the procedure is performed, and the requirements of the responsible physician.
Your doctor, based on your medical history and in coordination with the IVF center, will inform you about the exact cost.
The likelihood of success in an IVF cycle is primarily determined by the patient’s age and medical history, as well as the scientific expertise of the responsible physician.
Other important factors include:
Sperm quality.
The underlying cause of infertility.
The equipment and scientific expertise of the embryologists at the assisted reproduction center.
Indicatively, the statistical probability of a 38-year-old woman achieving pregnancy on her first IVF attempt is approximately 35%. In contrast, for a 42-year-old woman, the corresponding probability is around 15%.
Infertility is defined as a couple’s inability to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of regular sexual intercourse (2–3 times per week). After this period, the likelihood of an underlying medical issue is relatively high, and couples are advised to consult a specialist.
When the woman is of advanced reproductive age (over 37 years old), fertility evaluation may begin earlier in order to save valuable time.
IVF treatments are a relatively recent achievement in medicine, with the first successful case recorded just 45 years ago.
To date, no association has been established between IVF medications and long-term health problems in patients (such as malignancies, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular conditions, etc.), although research is still ongoing.
The egg retrieval procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance and involves collecting eggs from the ovaries through the vagina using a fine needle. The woman receives light anesthesia, and the entire process lasts only a few minutes. It is a safe procedure, after which the patient can promptly return to her normal activities.
The blastocyst stage is crucial for the success of IVF, as embryos that reach this stage of development have a higher likelihood of implanting in the uterus. Transferring blastocysts allows for the natural selection of embryos with better developmental potential, excluding those with limited capacity for growth.
A woman is considered ready for embryo transfer when the inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium, has the appropriate thickness and specific morphology to allow embryo implantation. This assessment is performed using ultrasound.
After the procedure, bed rest is not necessary, and the woman can return to her normal activities. At the same time, psychological well-being and a healthy lifestyle can increase the chances of success. Strict adherence to the prescribed medication protocol until the time of the pregnancy test is considered essential.
Yes, under certain conditions, preimplantation genetic testing techniques can be applied to identify potential genetic disorders in embryos before embryo transfer. In this way, embryos with the highest likelihood of healthy development and a successful pregnancy are selected for transfer.
