Investigation – Treatment regimens
Insemination – IVF Planning

Embryoiatriki – Genetiki specialists in fetal-maternal medicine and fertility care have shared with countless couples their family-building journey over the years. To make a difference in people’s lives, we are not just providing pioneering research and the treatment plan that’s the right fit for you, but also a different approach in fetal and maternal care. A holistic approach for those struggling with infertility and compassionate care for maternal well-being throughout pregnancy.

What is Infertility?

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Infertility is the inability of the male or female reproductive system to conceive after 12 months of frequent, unprotected sex. Infertility can be primary or secondary. Primary infertility is defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy, and secondary infertility is when it is hard to conceive after having previously been pregnant.

Causes of Infertility

1. Female reproductive system

  • Ovulation disorders, primary ovarian insufficiency, condition of the uterus
  • Fallopian tube damage or blockage
  • Endometriosis

 

2. Male reproductive system

  • Problems in the ejection of semen
  • Absence or low levels of sperm
  • Damage related to cancer and its treatment

 

Diagnosis of Infertility

1. Tests for women

  • Hormone testing: FSH, LH, E2 and AMH examine ovarian reserve and egg quality. Progesterone proves whether there was ovulation. Prolactin and thyroid hormones are necessary for women with irregular menstrual periods.
  • Transvaginal ultrasound of the uterus & ovaries: It may detect the existence of fibroids or polyps, hydrosalpinx, ovarian cysts, or polycystic ovaries.
  • Hysterosalpingography: It is an imaging test used to detect whether the uterine cavity is normal.

 

2. Tests for men

  • Semen analysis: assesses sperm count, motility and morphology.
  • DNA fragmentation assay: when there is oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, a more specialized semen test examines the rate of sperm heads with fragmented DNA. When the rate of sperm with fragmented DNA exceeds 25%, reproductive prognosis is poor.

Treatment of Infertility

1. Treatment for women

  • Fertility medicines.
  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Healthy sperm are placed directly in the uterus around the time that the ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized.
  • Surgery to restore fertility.

 

2. Treatment for men

  • Medicines
  • Sperm retrieval procedures.
  • Surgery

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART)

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is any fertility treatment in which the egg and sperm are handled. The most common ART technique it’s called In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and the first baby in the world conceived via IVF was Louise Brown, born on July 25, 1978. Since then, more than 8 million IVF babies have been born worldwide, transforming reproductive medicine and giving hope to countless couples struggling with infertility.

There are also other techniques of Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as:

  • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when a single healthy sperm is injected right into each mature egg.
  • Donor eggs or sperm
  • Gestational carrier.

Today, in Greece, after almost 40 years of assisted reproduction and 150,000 babies born via this method, more and more women (up to 52 years old) have the opportunity to overcome the obstacles that hinder their desire to become mothers. After the age of 43, this is only possible through the egg donation method. For each maternal age group, the Greek National Authority of Assisted Reproduction sets limits on the maximum number of embryos allowed to be transferred.

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF)

Step-by-step

1. Ovarian Stimulation: We use daily gonadotropin injections to help the ovaries to make more than the single egg that develops each month, performing at the same time Ultrasound imaging and bloodwork to be sure that follicles obtain the appropriate size. Then, with a trigger injection final egg maturation is completed.

2. Egg Retrieval: 34 or 36 hours after the injection, using transvaginal ultrasound guidance, the fluid in the follicles in each ovary is aspirated and examined by an embryologist to identify, collect the mature eggs and place them in a liquid that helps them develop.

3. Fertilization and Embryo Culture: there are two methods to fertilize eggs with sperm.
A. Mature eggs and healthy sperm are mixed and incubated in a carefully controlled environment until fertilization.
B. A single healthy sperm is injected right into each mature egg. That’s called Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and is often used when semen quality or number is an issue.

4. Embryo Transfer: 2 to 6 days after eggs are collected, one or more fertilized embryos, also called embryos, are gently loaded into a soft catheter, are transferred under ultrasound guidance into the uterine cavity, or can be frozen for future use.
The number of embryos that can be transferred is based on embryo quality, patient age, treatment history and the Greek National Authority of Assisted Reproduction.

5. Results: 10 to 12 days after egg retrieval, with a blood test you can find out whether you’re pregnant.

Our team

Our team is made up of Dr. Petros Nikolaidis, M.D., PhD., Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Genetics at the University of West Attica in Athens, Greece, and Dr. Athanasios Diamantopoulos, MRCOG, CCT (UK), Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Fertility Consultant, as well as psychologists, nutritionists, and midwives dedicated to advancing fertility care. Our individualized approach to improve outcomes and optimize reproductive health and emotional well-being means that every couple will vary in how their treatment is planned and managed, in accordance with all IVF protocols, safely, with quality, and ethically. Specialized obstetric monitoring is provided throughout the pregnancy and labor for both the fetus and the mother to bring a new life into the world.