IVF & ICSI

About 15% of couples fail to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. IVF is indicated when other treatments have failed, when there is a severe male factor (low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology), blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis affecting fertility, or unexplained infertility after adequate attempts.

IVF is also the appropriate path when genetic testing (PGT-A) is desired before transfer — allowing chromosomally normal embryos to be selected prior to implantation.

Every cycle follows several carefully coordinated stages:

• Comprehensive screening — hormonal panel (AMH, FSH, LH, estradiol, TSH, prolactin), baseline ultrasound, uterine evaluation, semen analysis
• Cycle preparation — tailored medication protocol designed around your individual response
• Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation — injectable gonadotropins with close ultrasound and hormone monitoring throughout
• Egg retrieval — transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration under sedation, approximately 20 minutes
• Fertilization — typically with ICSI
• Embryo culture and selection — culture to blastocyst (day 5–6), graded using the Gardner classification system and, eventually, using time lapse (Embryoscope)
• Embryo biopsy — embryos are biopsied at the blastocyst stage to assess their chromosomal status through PGT-A. They are then frozen.
• Embryo transfer — soft catheter transfer under ultrasound guidance, single embryo policy applied in most cases

Transferring multiple embryos increases the risk of twins and triplets — which are not a success, they are a complication. Twin pregnancies carry higher rates of premature birth, low birth weight, and maternal complications.

Dr. Glujovsky follows an elective single embryo transfer (eSET) policy in most cases, consistent with major international guidelines including those from ASRM and ESHRE. The goal is one healthy baby, not the fastest path to a positive test.

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) involves injecting a single sperm directly into the egg under high magnification. It is indicated in cases of severe male factor infertility, previous fertilization failure with conventional IVF, use of surgically retrieved sperm, or when PGT-A is planned.

ICSI is performed routinely at CEGYR for most IVF cycles, as it provides consistent fertilization rates and is the standard of care at high-volume fertility centers worldwide.