Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
At our division of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, we provide state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for all infertile couples. We offer the whole range of modern reproductive therapies like in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) and testicular sperm-Injection (TESE-ICSI) with excellent pregnancy rates. Together with the Centrum für Gynäkologische Endokrinologie und Reproduktionsmedizin Freiburg (CERF) we also work in the field of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. We provide expert counselling in the field of fertility preservation, gynecological endocrinology, contraception, hormone replacement therapy, diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome, menstruation disorders and much more.
Methods of artificial fertilization for female and male infertility:
- IVF: ‘In-vitro’ fertilization starts with the taking of a female ovum and male sperm. The female ovum is spermatized in special laboratory conditions outside the woman’s body (so-called extra-corporal fertilization, or in-vitro fertilization or “IVF”), and is then returned to the uterus where it must develop
- ICSI: The “ICSI” method is a variation of IVF, where an intracytoplasmic sperm injection is performed, meaning that an individual sperm cell is injected into the cytoplasm of the ovum and then transferred into the woman’s uterus. This fertilization method provides men with a low sperm count the opportunity to be fathers
- IFIPC: Intrafallopian injection of the pairing cell (IFIPC fertilization) is performed via the taking of the ovum and sperm which are then placed in a narrow tube where they are separated by an air bubble. The tube is then placed in the fallopian tube of the woman and then the content is released, thus providing for natural fertilization of the ovum
- TESE-ICSI: Another method of fertilization is a variation of ICSI: the aspiration of sperm from the epididymis (ASE) and ‘TESE’
Artificial fertilization programs are always preceded by a course of hormonal therapy, after which the blood is tested for its level of estradiol and an ultrasound examination is performed. Thereafter, the ovum is examined and the sperm analyzed, followed by in-vitro fertilization, analysis and injection of the embryo into the lumen of the uterus after 17-21 hours.