The combined IVF cycle is broadly the same as the IVF process using your own eggs. We also, however, fertilise the eggs of the selected donor at the time of collection and fertilisation of your eggs. This gives us a better chance of obtaining promising embryos for transfer.
You will be guided through the entire process by a personal IVF coordinator and your treatment will be led by a dedicated doctor. For more information on the treatment process, please see our FAQ section.
Preparatory phase
Before
Consultation with a doctor
At the inital consultation with your doctor, you will discuss your personal medical history and plan the necessary examinations (or review the examinations that have already been conducted). This is necessary to determine an individual treatment plan. You can complete the examinations in your home country and send us the results securely via our patient portal.
The woman’s examination in this case consists of a gynaecological examination, ultrasound examination and blood sampling to examine the thyroid gland, sexually transmitted diseases and to determine the hormonal profile. The male examination includes a spermogram and a blood test for sexually transmitted diseases.
During the consultation, the doctor will also explain everything you need to know about the fertilisation process of the donated egg. We always prefer, to transfer your own embryos rather than embryos from donated eggs. However, the decision is always an individual one and it is entirely up to you which option you choose. You can rest assured that in every case we will provide you with personalised care with the absolute maximum support and information.
Donor selection
Based on your phenotype (hair, eye, skin colour, height, etc.), blood type and other possible preferences you may have, we will select a suitable egg donor from our extensive database. All donors are screened medically, genetically and psychologically.
Hormonal stimulation
Day 2 – 3 of the cycle
Hormonal stimulation
After analysing the results obtained from the initial examinations, the doctor will design an individual stimulation protocol. This will allow the development and retrieval of more eggs which are usable for fertilisation. During conventional hormonal stimulation, you will apply the medication for 8 to 10 days.
Egg retrieval and fertilisation
Day 10 – 15 of the cycle
Egg retrieval (oocyte pick-up, OPU)
On the basis of an ultrasound examination, which can take place either at your gynaecologist or at Prague Fertility Centre, approximately after one week of stimulation, the doctor will determine the appropriate date for egg retrieval. The procedure will take place at our clinic and under a short anaesthetic, the doctor will retrieve the eggs that have been created. You can then go home after a short bed rest.
Fertilisation and cultivation of eggs
Our embryologists will fertilise your own eggs and donor eggs on the day of collection with your partner’s most viable sperm. The embryooligists use the ICSI method, which involves injecting the selected sperm directly into the egg.
To increase the chances of successful treatment, you may choose to use other laboratory methods.
With the MICHSS method, for example, we can better select the most suitable sperm for fertilisation. This is done using a microfluidic chip, which mimics the environment inside the fallopian tubes and allows only the best quality sperm to pass through the membrane.
Even for couples where 100% of the sperm in the sample is immobile, we have a solution in the form of the LAISS method (laser-assisted immotile sperm selection). Using a laser, the embryologist searches for immobile but viable sperm, which are then used for fertilisation.
After fertilisation, the embryos develop, cultivating in our laboratory for several days. We can also use an innovative method to monitor embryos, time-lapse monitoring (EmbryoScope). This allows continuous monitoring of the embryos by a camera, without the need for unnecessary manipulation.
Embryo Transfer
5 Days after retrieval
Embryo Transfer
During cultivation, we monitor how the embryos, both from your own and donated eggs, develop. Based on the quality and growth of the embryos, the embryologist determines the date of the transfer of the embryo into your uterus. Before the transfer, the embryologist will give you information about the embryo development process and also answer all your questions so that you can decide which embryo, either one of your own or a donated one, to use for the transfer.
The transfer itself is a quick and painless procedure under ultrasound control. After a short rest you can leave the clinic.
We freeze other high-quality embryos using the vitrification method and you can use them for future treatment if necessary.
After the embryo transfer
14 Days after transfer
After the embryo transfer
After the egg transfer, follow the recommended resting regime. Avoid major physical activity, sexual intercourse and staying in hot environments such as baths or saunas.
You can take a pregnancy test 14 days after the transfer, and you should contact us, whatever the result. If the test is positive, you and your doctor will schedule an ultrasound appointment at our clinic.
If the urine pregancy test is negative, your doctor will recommend a blood test to verify the result. If the blood test is also negative, your doctor will arrange to stop the medication and schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor to plan your next course of action together.
Thanks to our individual approach and the combination of assisted reproduction methods, we can help up to 90% of couples within 4 cycles. However, patience, openness and mutual trust are needed. The success rate of a single cycle decreases with age, but can be increased, for example, with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos. The graph shows our average success rate of pregnancy per cycle.
Thanks to our individual approach and the combination of assisted reproduction methods, we can help up to 90% of couples within 4 cycles. However, patience, openness and mutual trust are needed. The graph shows our average success rate per cycle.
Every couple is unique. That’s why we provide a personalised approach. You will be guided through your treatment by a dedicated doctor and an English-speaking IVF coordinator.
We can help up to 90% of couples due to a personalised plan, experienced embryologists, own donor programme and continuous improvement of procedures.
You will be treated by experienced professionals who work with the latest technology and modern procedures. We are constantly striving to improve your chances of conception.
We can start your treatment immediately. You don’t have to be on any waiting list.
We run our own donor programme
At PFC Clinic, we have our own donor programme with a large database of anonymous, vetted donors. Egg donation in the Czech Republic is strictly anonymous. Couples can only find out basic information about the donor regarding biological characteristics. As this is a very sensitive issue, we carefully select the donor for the couple based on basic physical features, blood type and possibly other specific preferences of the couple. We have many years of experience in selecting egg donors and have matched them to help thousands of couples.
Who are our donors
Every woman interested in donating
After an initial meeting with a lovely coordinator in a comfortable environment, we were clear that we would undergo IVF at PFC. I appreciated the professional and helpful attitude of the doctors and the entire staff. Even when complications arose, they helped us achieve our dream, our daughter Laura.
Every time we look at our son, we are reminded of how grateful we are to all the team at Prague Fertility Centre for helping us.
My husband is in the military and so we found ourselves on a base in Europe while trying to have a baby. We were looking for a top-notch fertility clinic and did detailed research. We made our choice due to the comprehensive services at PFC, and due to the great feedback from other couples, and today we have beloved little guys! We recommend PFC to all our friends and anyone with fertility issues.
How do the mother’s genes affect the donated egg?
One of your questions when deciding whether to choose egg donation is, how and if the mother’s genes can affect the donated egg? New studies show that you, as the recipient, can affect the gene expression of the baby from the donated egg in two ways. The first is epigenetics, which studies changes caused by molecules in the womb other than DNA help. These can affect the embryo before implantation. The second way is lifestyle, which affects every pregnancy, and a responsible attitude will positively affect your baby, ensuring an optimal environment for development.
How much does IVF with donor eggs cost?
The price of IVF with donated eggs is higher than methods with your own eggs because it covers the costs associated with the donor, including her selection, examination, hormonal stimulation and egg retrieval. You are, however, guaranteed 2 embryos suitable for transfer included in the price.
An expert team including an experienced doctor, embryologist and a personal IVF Coordinator has your health as its first priority and works to ensure the best possible results.
