Infertility

Infertility is defined as a pathological condition in which a couple is unable to conceive a child within 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility affects more than 50 million couples worldwide. This means that 15% of couples of reproductive age face the inability to conceive.

Infertility can be primary or secondary.

• In primary infertility, pregnancy has never occurred in the couple.
• In secondary infertility, one or both partners already have children from previous marriages, or the woman has had at least one pregnancy.

Symptoms indicating the need for diagnosis and treatment

Infertility develops under the influence of a number of factors related to both the male and female reproductive systems. When the causes of infertility cannot be identified, it is referred to as idiopathic infertility.

Disruptions arise due to immune and genetic disorders, adverse environmental effects, unhealthy habits, and infections.

In women, the most common diagnoses are:

• genital organ defects (uterine anomalies, septa)
• hormonal disorders (thyroid and gonadal dysfunction)
• inflammatory diseases or surgical interventions leading to fallopian tube obstruction
• tumors of the reproductive organs

In men, leading causes include:

• testicular developmental anomalies (hypoplasia)
• varicocele
• infectious and inflammatory diseases of the reproductive glands

The main symptom of infertility is the absence of pregnancy. Additionally, women may experience:

• menstrual irregularities (scanty or heavy bleeding, pain, irregular cycles)
• excessive body hair growth (male-pattern hirsutism)
• acne
• pain during sexual intercourse

Men may experience:

• reduced sexual activity
• erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction
• discomfort in the scrotal area

Diagnostic and treatment methods for infertility in European clinics

Diagnostics

Leading international clinics perform comprehensive diagnostics for both partners, which is the cornerstone of successful infertility treatment. The primary steps for both men and women are a medical examination and laboratory testing.

For female infertility, modern diagnostic methods include:

• Hysteroscopy (endoscopic examination of the uterus)
• Ultrasound monitoring (the “gold standard” for non-invasive diagnostics of many pathologies)
• Laparoscopy (minimally invasive pelvic surgery)
• Hysterosalpingography (assessment of fallopian tube patency)

For male infertility, the most significant test is a comprehensive semen analysis (spermogram), which evaluates sperm motility, concentration, and ejaculate volume.

In laboratories of leading European clinics, an advanced test known as the Hyaluronan Binding Assay (HBA-test) is also performed. This test assesses the ability of sperm to bind to hyaluronic acid, and subsequently to the oocyte, which is crucial for successful fertilization.

Treatment

The treatment strategy for infertility is determined by a reproductive specialist, based on the results of an extended diagnostic evaluation. The main approaches that promote the onset of pregnancy include:

• pharmacological (medication-based) therapy
  
• surgical interventions
  
• assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
  

The quality of infertility treatment in Western clinics is given paramount importance: physicians are highly qualified professionals with extensive experience, ensuring accurate diagnosis and effective therapy selection.

Innovations in global clinics

In cases of immunological infertility, which is diagnosed in about 15% of all infertile couples, top clinics employ a progressive method known as immunization with the husband’s lymphocytes.
The procedure involves intradermal injection of a suspension of fresh lymphocytes isolated from the father-to-be’s blood.
This method, called lymphocyte immunotherapy, ensures proper immune functioning in the woman before conception and during pregnancy, reducing the risk of miscarriage.