Different Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Techniques

Different Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Techniques

Different ART or IVF Techniques

Several ART or IVF techniques exist. Based on the results of the diagnosis and investigations of the infertile couple, the infertility treatment specialist will recommend one of the following ART techniques: IUI, IVF, ICSI or IMSI. Tunisia is a renowned destination for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Many Algerians, West Africans, Libyans, Mauritanians, and Europeans choose Tunisia, home to the largest IVF center in North Africa.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) encompasses several techniques designed to help infertile couples conceive a child. Among these techniques, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most commonly used. It involves stimulating the woman’s ovulation with medication, then retrieving the mature oocytes and fertilizing them in the laboratory with the partner’s or a donor’s sperm. Once fertilization is successful, the resulting embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus to continue their development.

Other ART techniques also exist, such as artificial insemination, which involves depositing sperm directly into the uterus, or in-vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves injecting a single sperm directly into the oocyte. The choice of IVF technique depends on the couple’s infertility problems. It is the role of the fertility specialist to assess on a case-by-case basis the legitimacy of resorting to ART. ART techniques are often expensive and may require several cycles to achieve pregnancy.

IUI: Intrauterine Insemination with Partner’s Sperm

Intrauterine insemination is the oldest ART technique. The principle is to deposit previously prepared sperm into the female genital tract (cervix or uterine cavity). With ovarian stimulation and sperm preparation before insemination, the goal is to facilitate the meeting of oocytes/spermatozoa while selecting a sufficient number of progressively motile sperm and slightly increasing the number of follicles. The success rate of this ART technique is 10-15%. The pre-ART diagnosis of the couple remains crucial for the choice of this technique.

You can fill out the online IVF form and, upon receipt of your medical file, the infertility treatment specialist at Tunisia Destination Santé Dr Mahmoud KHAROUF will review your file. We will then inform you of the appropriate procedure to follow for your couple.

Classic IVF In-Vitro Fertilization

Classic In-Vitro Fertilization allows monitoring of fertilization in the laboratory, unlike intrauterine insemination. It significantly increases the chances of success compared to IUI. The IVF cycle begins with ovarian stimulation followed by ovulation triggering. The ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval is performed 36 hours later. In parallel, sperm collection and preparation is done on the day of the retrieval. Incubation of oocytes and sperm takes place the same day at the ART Center to produce several embryos. Embryo selection will be performed and the best ones (maximum two) will be transferred to the uterus 2 to 5 days after oocyte retrieval. Embryo transfer is the final step of the IVF cycle.

You can fill out the online IVF form and, upon receipt of your medical file, the infertility treatment specialist at Tunisia Destination Santé will review your file. We will then inform you of the appropriate procedure to follow for your couple.

ICSI (IMSI): Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

The different stages of the ICSI cycle are the same as for a classic IVF cycle, except for the fertilization technique in the laboratory. Indeed, during ICSI, the doctor carefully selects the sperm to be injected into the oocyte. This is not the case for classic IVF, where sperm penetrate the oocyte on their own. This selection significantly increases the chances of success compared to classic IVF.

The ICSI cycle begins with ovarian stimulation followed by ovulation triggering. The ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval is performed 36 hours later. Sperm collection and preparation is done on the day of or before the retrieval. Incubation of oocytes and sperm takes place the same day at the ART Center in Tunis. With the ICSI technique, the selected sperm is placed directly into the oocyte. The sperm can be chosen at high magnification in some cases. In this case, we speak of the IMSI technique. The doctor selects embryos and schedules their transfer 2 to 5 days after oocyte retrieval into the uterus. This is the final step of the ICSI cycle. The success rate of this IVF technique is 30-70%. The pre-ART diagnosis of the couple remains crucial for the choice of this technique.

You can fill out the online ART form and, upon receipt of your medical file, the infertility treatment specialist at Tunisia Destination Santé will review your file. We will then inform you of the appropriate procedure to follow for your couple.

ART or IVF: What are the differences?

ART, or assisted reproductive technology, is a broader term encompassing various techniques aimed at helping couples or individuals facing difficulties conceiving naturally. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a specific ART technique involving fertilizing an egg in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman’s uterus. Thus, IVF is considered a specific procedure of ART. But not all ART procedures are IVF. The ART protocol may include other procedures such as intrauterine insemination, which involves placing sperm directly into the uterus. Specialists may also use other techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves injecting a single sperm directly into the egg.

IVF is one of the most commonly used procedures to help couples or individuals with fertility problems conceive a child. Doctors often opt for this option in cases of infertility due to factors such as sperm abnormalities, fallopian tube issues, or ovulation problems.

In summary, IVF is a specific ART technique that involves fertilizing an egg in a laboratory before transferring the resulting embryo to the woman’s uterus. The specific ART procedure used will depend on the individual needs and fertility factors of each person or couple.

Embryo Freezing

For IVF, ICSI, and IMCI techniques, if the couple develops a high number of embryos, they can choose to freeze the untransferred embryos for several years. This allows the couple to try again for “IVF” without undergoing oocyte retrieval or sperm collection. This offers the couple a second chance at a lower cost. Scientific studies show that there is no difference in the outcome of the ART attempt or on the child conceived from a fresh embryo or a frozen embryo.

Testicular Biopsy

If the husband encounters difficulties with natural ejaculation, we can resort to a testicular biopsy. Testicular biopsy is performed by urologists. This technique allows extraction of sperm directly from the man’s testicles and is performed on an outpatient basis. It can be performed on the day of oocyte retrieval or beforehand, in which case the extracted sperm will be frozen.

Length of Stay for ART or IVF in Tunisia

For the different ART or IVF techniques, the average stay in Tunisia for an IVF cycle is 18-20 days. This duration can be much longer if the couple ventures alone and arrives in Tunisia without prior review of the medical file by a specialist. In most cases, the IVF protocol adapted to the couple begins with the start of the patient’s cycle. Thus, it is important to prepare your medical file before departure. It is good to schedule your arrival date in Tunisia for an ART cycle. In some cases, and if the couple is followed by a gynecologist familiar with IVF techniques, the couple can begin treatment at home. The length of stay for the ART cycle in Tunisia is thus reduced to 10 days.

Price for ART or IVF In-Vitro Fertilization in Tunisia

The price for in-vitro fertilization in Tunisia can vary from 1000 to 2800 EUR depending on the technique chosen, the stimulation chosen, the investigations to be carried out and the specific treatments. Many couples choose to live in furnished studios near ART centers. It is important to organize your medical stay before arrival because, unfortunately, the logistical costs, airfare, accommodation, transport, and food are often higher than the cost of medical treatment. Tunisia Destination Santé can facilitate your stay in Tunisia and offer options tailored to your budget.

You can fill out the online ART form. Upon receipt of your medical file, the infertility treatment specialist at Tunisia Destination Santé will review your file. We will then inform you of the appropriate procedure to follow for your couple.

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