Frequently Asked Questions

Nicosia IVF Centre

What is the embryo freezing?
This is the process of freezing one or more embryos to save them for future use. It involves removing the egg(s) from a woman’s ovary and combining with sperm in the laboratory to form embryo(s). The embryo(s) is then frozen. It can later be thawed and placed in a woman’s uterus.
What is IVF and when should it be considered?

In vitro fertilization (IVF), is a common treatment for infertility that involves using fertility drugs to stimulate the development of eggs. The eggs are retrieved from the ovaries using a small needle. They are then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Once the embryos have sufficiently grown, they are placed into the uterus.
Those with the following conditions are good candidates for IVF:

  • - Fallopian tube damage/ obstruction
  • - Poor semen quality
  • - Prolonged infertility
  • - Ovulation problems
  • - Endometriosis
  • - Unexplained infertility
  • - Immunological problems
I am in menopause, may I still have children?
As long as one has a healthy uterus, even when in menopause, one may still have children through egg donation.
Can we have our follow-up appointments back in my own country?
This is possible as long as there are no communication problems between us and your obstetrician in your home country.
How long does the collection process take?
It varies depending on the number of follicles in the ovaries. In most cases, the collection itself takes between 5 to 10 minutes. The whole process, including the preparation needed before and after the collection, is expected to take about 2 hours.
Is egg collection a painful procedure?
Egg collection is not a painful process. The process can be easily completed with IV sedatives and pain medication, and rarely requires the use of heavy sedation.
My husband’s semen contains no sperm, can we still have children?
The medical condition where a man’s semen contains no sperm is called azoospermia. Thanks to the advanced medical treatments avaiable, men with azoospermia do not have to give up their hopes of having children.

If the azoospermia is obstructive in nature, then an IVF treatment is recommended. We would fertilize the egg with sperm cells previously obtained with the help of a testicular puncture or a testicular biopsy (TESA or TESE).

If the azoospermia is of non-obstructive kind, further investigation to figure out the cause will be needed. In some cases, this can be hormonal and with the provision of hormones externally production of spermatozoids would be expected to resume. In many cases, however, we may have to opt for using donated sperm.
What is PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)?
PGD is a test in which IVF embryos are screened for chromosome number abnormalities or genetic disorders prior to transfer and subsequent implantation.

PGD can also be used to detect the gender of embryos. The desired embryos (baby girl or baby boy) can then be placed into the female's uterus to achieve pregnancy.
I am travelling from abroad. How long do I have to stay in Cyprus for treatment?
Following embryo transfer after a short rest, you will be able to return to your home country.
How long does the egg donation take?
For those who have already been screened, completed all legal paperwork and started the medical cycle, the stay in Cyprus will typically be for 5 to 7 days but can vary depending on the treatment and patient’s condition.