Ebendorferstraße 6/4, 1010 Vienna, phone +43 (0)1 402 53 41

IVF (Artificial insemination)

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IVF, ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION IN VIENNA - ICSI, PICSI

With the help of modern assisted reproductive technologies (ART), we’ve supported countless couples on their journey to parenthood. Unlike natural conception, assisted reproduction takes place outside the woman’s body, in the state-of-the-art laboratory at our Wunschkind Clinic in Vienna. These procedures are available to both heterosexual and lesbian couples.

Dr. Brunbauer, your IVF Specialist in Vienna

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in Vienna IVF could be your path to having a child. This long-established technique has enabled many couples to achieve pregnancy. Known as “test-tube fertilisation”, IVF has been used since 1978 and remains one of the most recognised fertility treatments available. It is suitable for both heterosexual and lesbian couples.

IVF is often recommended in cases of:

  • hormonal imbalance
  • anatomical conditions
  • or when other treatments have proven unsuccessful.

 

WHAT DOES IVF INVOLVE?

During IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and combined with sperm in the laboratory. Fertilisation occurs naturally in a petri dish, without direct medical intervention. If successful, the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus two to five days later.

IVF is typically advised when fertility issues are present in either partner or when other treatments have not produced results. It may be suitable if:

  • You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • You have endometriosis
  • Your fallopian tubes are blocked, damaged, or scarred (e.g. due to infection)
  • There are structural abnormalities in the reproductive organs
  • The male partner’s sperm quality prevents natural fertilisation
  • Male infertility is caused by previous illness, such as mumps
  • Lesbian couples wish to conceive with a sperm donor
Arztzitat - Dr. Mathias Brunbauer

Dr. Mathias Brunbauer

Medical director | SPC for gynecology and obstetrics | IVF-specialist

"The chance of achieving pregnancy through IVF is around 50% per cycle. We’re here to support you on this journey."

AT A GLANCE: IVF TREATMENT PROCESS

1. INITIAL CONSULTATION & DIAGNOSTICS

Diagnosis and tailored treatment planning at our clinic in Vienna.

Treatment starts on day 2 of the menstrual cycle.

2. EGG MATURATION

Ovarian stimulation with daily hormone injections.

End of stimulation: Usually completed between Days 10 and 12.

3. EGG COLLECTION

Retrieval of mature eggs under light sedation.

Puncture/preparation/IVF

4. SPERM PREPARATION

Sperm assessment and selection.

5.  IN VITRO FERTILISATION (IVF/ICSI/P-ICSI)

Eggs and sperm are combined in the lab.

6. EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

Fertilised eggs develop into embryos.

Transfer occurs on Day 3 or 5.

7. EMBRYO TRANSFER

One (occasionally two) embryos are placed in the uterus.

(7. CRYOPRESERVATION)

Freezing and storage of any remaining embryos for future treatment.

8. PREGNANCY CONFIRMATION

14 days post-transfer: blood test to detect pregnancy. 3 weeks later: ultrasound scan.

A full IVF cycle is carried out in stages over several weeks. The process begins with a consultation and detailed assessment of both partners. If IVF is recommended based on your diagnosis and you decide to proceed, we move forward with treatment. Financial support may be available through Austria’s IVF Fund.

Diagnose, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

INITIAL CONSULTATION

Our initial meeting is the foundation of your fertility journey. We’ll review your medical history, assess your current situation, and explain the IVF process in detail. Your questions, hopes and concerns are central to this discussion.

Therefore, we focus on your questions and wishes during this appointment.

COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS

Before starting treatment, we conduct thorough tests to understand the cause of infertility.

For women:

  • Ultrasound
  • Cycle monitoring
  • Hormone tests
  • If necessary: hysteroscopy or laparoscopy

For men:

  • Semen analysis
  • Testicular ultrasound
  • Hormone testing
  • If needed, testicular tissue biopsy

If IVF is deemed the best option, we’ll create a personalised treatment plan and walk you through each step. You’ll have plenty of time to consider everything carefully. Don’t hesitate to raise questions or voice concerns – we’re here for you.

Heranreifen der Eizellen, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

HORMONE STIMULATION

Most women start with hormone therapy to stimulate the ovaries and encourage multiple eggs to mature. Natural hormone production is first suppressed with medication, followed by stimulation. Injections are given daily at the same time, often by the patient or their partner. We’ll show you how to do this correctly and monitor your progress with regular ultrasound scans.

Triggering ovulation

If the hormone stimulation has been running for a week already, we check the size and maturation of your eggs by means of an ultrasound examination. Once the eggs are mature (usually after 12 days), ovulation is triggered with medication. Just before ovulation, the eggs are collected.

IVF Punktion, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

egg Collection

Eggs are retrieved using a fine needle via the vaginal wall. This procedure is called follicle puncture. It is performed through the vagina and is painless in almost all cases. For the procedure you will receive a sleep aid that has an analgesic, anxiolytic and calming effect (sedoanalgesia). The procedure takes around 10 minutes and is performed under light sedation. The collected eggs are then taken to our lab. Afterwards you will stay in our recovery rooms for a while, until the effect of the sleeping aid has completely subsided.

Aufbereitung der Spermien, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

PREPARATION OF THE SPERMS

IVF, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

SPERM PREPARATION & FERTILISATION

On the day of egg retrieval, your partner provides a fresh sperm sample – or we thaw frozen sperm if available. For this there is a private and comfortable room available.  The sperm is processed in our lab and combined with the eggs in a petri dish. Fertilisation takes place naturally in the incubator. Any unused eggs can be frozen for future cycles, avoiding the need for another retrieval.

Embryo-Reifung, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

EMBRYO MATURATION

Transfer von Embryos, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT & TRANSFER

The fertilised eggs develop into embryos over several days. Depending on your age and medical history, one or two embryos are transferred into the uterus using a thin catheter. Any surplus embryos can be frozen for future treatment cycles.

CONFIRMING PREGNANCY

About two weeks after embryo transfer, we conduct a blood test to check for the pregnancy hormone HCG. If positive, a scan is performed three weeks later to confirm the pregnancy.

There are two criteria to be considered in the success of artificial insemination or IVF:

     

    Cumulative pregnancy rates (i.e. pregnancies resulting from several embryo transfers) are around 65%. Success depends not only on the procedure itself but also on age, hormone levels and lifestyle. Factors like obesity, stress, smoking and heavy alcohol use can reduce success rates.

    ICSI - intracytoplasmic sperm injection

    is the most common assisted reproduction method and is especially effective in cases of male infertility.

    When is ICSI recommended?

    • Missing or blocked vas deferens
    • Obstructive or non-obstructive azoospermia
    • Antibodies in semen hindering fertilisation
    • Only frozen sperm available (e.g. after cancer treatment)

    HOW ICSI WORKs?

    The procedure follows the same steps as IVF, except that a single sperm cell is injected directly into an egg using a fine needle. This increases the chance of fertilisation. If the fertilization is successful, the resulting embryo is transferred to the woman's uterus between day 2 and 6 after taking the egg cells. The further procedure corresponds to that of a classic IVF treatment.

    ICSI SUCCESS RATES

    • 50% chance of pregnancy per cycle
    • 35% live birth rate per treatment

     

    P-ICSI (physiological ICSI)

    P-ICSI, involves selecting mature sperm cells using a hyaluronic acid binding test. Mature sperm are more likely to have intact DNA, increasing the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy.

     

    COMPARISON: IVF, ICSI & P-ICSI IVF

     

    IVF Überblick, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

    IVF

    Egg and sperm are combined in a dish; fertilisation occurs naturally.

    ICSI, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

    ICSI

    A single sperm is injected directly into an egg.

    PICSI, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

    P-ICSI

    Same as ICSI, but sperm is selected for maturity first.

    A SENSITIVE, INDIVIDUALISED APPROACH

    Fertility treatment is deeply personal.

    We provide sensitive, expert support from your first consultation through to a potential pregnancy. Your concerns are valid, and we’re here to listen.

     

    If treatment leads to pregnancy, it’s a shared success.

    Join us for an information evening or book a consultation to find out how we can support you.

    WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

    CONSULTATIONs & APPOINTMENTs

    WUNSCHKIND Klinik Dr. Brunbauer
    Ebendorferstraße 6/4, 1010 Wien
    Tel.: +43 (0)1 402 53 41

    Opening hours
    Mo - Fr: 08:00 - 16:00
    Appointments outside these hours are available by prior arrangement.

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    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Just ask us.

    We have compiled the most common questions for you. For further information, please visit our comprehensive FAQ section. If you have additional questions or need personalised advice, feel free to contact us by phone at +43 (0)1 402 53 41. Our team is always happy to assist you.

    We offer you these types of artificial insemination:

    • IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)
    • ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
    • P-ICSI (Physiological ICSI)

    In vitro fertilization involves removing the egg from the ovary and then placing it in the test tube with the man's sperm. Fertilization in the test tube takes place naturally, without medical intervention. If the fertilization works, we put the resulting embryo into the uterus two to five days later.

    In detail, an IVF usually runs according to this scheme:

    1. Hormone treatment
    2. Initiation of ovulation
    3. Taking the egg
    4. Fertilization in the laboratory
    5. Transfer of embryos to the uterus
    6. Success control

    The chance of getting pregnant through IVF treatment is 50% per cycle. The birth rate is 35% per treatment course.

    The success depends not only on the fact that the treatment itself is uncomplicated. The probability of pregnancy is also influenced by the age of the couple, the hormonal situation and the lifestyle. Obesity, stress, nicotine and excessive consumption of alcohol can reduce the chance of success.

    ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is the most common fertility treatment. It helps especially couples, in which the fertility of the man is severely limited.

    The course of an ICSI corresponds for the most part to that of in vitro fertilization. However, in an ICSI, a single spermatozoa is injected directly into one of the ova with a needle. This increases the probability of fertilization. If the fertilization is successful, the resulting embryo is transferred to the woman's uterus on the second to sixth day after taking the egg. The further procedure corresponds to that with an IVF treatment.

    The prospects of ICSI are similar to those of IVF. The pregnancy rate is 50% per cycle. The birth rate is 35% per treatment course.

    In a P-ICSI (Physiological ICSI) the spermatozoa are selected for the ICSI.

    Mature sperm are separated from immature by a hyaluronic acid pre-test. In mature sperm hyaluron is a fixed component of their shell. Immature sperm do not have this component. Using this procedure we select a mature sperm cell under the microscope for ICSI treatment.

    Apart from the selection of sperm used, a P-ICSI works the same way as an ICSI.

    Yes. Fertility declines with age. The best age range for a first child is 25–35, when the body is most resilient. The younger you are, the higher the chances of success.

    If more embryos are created than needed, they can be frozen (cryopreserved) for future cycles.

    This often eliminates the need for another round of hormone stimulation.

    If you are unwanted childless, it is essential to clarify the causes. We carry out detailed examinations and recommend the appropriate treatment based on your diagnostic results. This may include IVF. In some cases, however, simpler therapies are sufficient to achieve pregnancy.

    Austrian health insurance does not cover IVF. However, the IVF Fund covers 70% of the cost if eligibility criteria are met.

    The IVF Fund covers up to four cycles per couple. If you’re self-funding, there’s no set limit.

    Yes. You must either be in a registered partnership or provide a notarised declaration confirming your consent and understanding of the legal implications.

    A typical IVF cycle lasts several weeks, depending on your cycle. It’s carefully timed to optimise your chances of success.