It is a low-complexity treatment performed on an outpatient basis at the office. It consists in placing the sperm (previously prepared in the lab) inside the uterus (in the uterine fundus, near the Fallopian tubes) to facilitate their path through the uterine tubes and enable them to reach the egg and fertilize it.

The aim is to increase the number and quality of sperm that reach the Fallopian tubes, which increases the chances of fertilization.

This treatment may be appropriate in the following cases:

• Ovulatory disorders (problems with menstrual cycles)
• Sperm disorders (mild or moderate)
• A blocked Fallopian tube
• More than a year without achieving pregnancy without any other cause for infertility
• Alterations or problems in the cervix or cervical mucus
• Sexual dysfunction in ejaculation
• Same-sex female couples
• Women without a male partner with donor sample

The chances of success depend on several factors, but in general, they range between 20 and 25% per attempt.

It is necessary for the specialist to make an assessment of the couple to determine whether they are eligible for this treatment and, if so, what are their chances of success.

High complexity assisted reproduction techniques are adapted to the particular diagnosis of each couple, but the main techniques and procedures we use at IECH are the following:

Conventional Fertilization

It consists in putting more than 100,000 sperm in contact with the egg so that fertilization takes place. In this technique, widely qualified biologists use advanced infrastructure to join the egg with the sperm and form an embryo in the laboratory.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

This is a method in which a single sperm cell is injected into each egg through microinjection. Sperm selection is performed through a 400x enlargement.

This in vitro fertilization technique is used for most cases, particularly the following:

• Women over 40
• Sperm disorders (low sperm count, low motility, or abnormalities in normal forms)
• Failures in previous cycles of in vitro fertilization
• Other egg alterations

Time lapse

This is an innovative incubator that contains a camera capable of capturing images of embryos in time intervals, which makes it possible to monitor embryonic development without removing embryos from the incubator. The large amount of information this system offers allows us to select with greater accuracy the embryos that will be transferred to the uterus, thus increasing the chances of pregnancy.

Each embryo has an individual space. In other words, it does not share the culture medium with other embryos. Since there are no variations in culture conditions, embryos obtained through this process are of better quality and, as a result, pregnancy is more likely.

Blastocyst Embryo Culture

In this method, embryos are cultured in the laboratory until the fifth day of development. To successfully carry out the culture of the embryo up until the blastocyst stage, there are three main requirements: a state-of-the-art laboratory, excellent infrastructure, and a team of qualified biologists with experience who make sure that embryos develop without any difficulties.

Although blastocyst culture gives us fewer embryos to freeze, they will be of higher quality. The survival rate of frozen embryos in the blastocyst stage is very high, which greatly increases chances of pregnancy.

Vitrification

This is an ultrafast freezing technique in which the eggs or embryos are immersed in liquid nitrogen at -196˚C. This allows avoiding cellular damage, thus increasing the survival rate during defrosting. At IECH, freezing is always carried out using the vitrification technique, since it is currently one of the most effective procedures. Vitrification has made the freezing of eggs and embryos in the blastocyst stage possible and has proved to deliver good results.

Sperm Selection Techniques

These techniques are used before choosing the sperm that will be used to perform ICSI. The selection process makes it possible to obtain a sperm with a greater capacity to fertilize the egg. This feature is mainly identified through sperm alterations.

IECH Laboratory

The coordinator of the IECH gamete laboratory is a pioneer in assisted reproduction treatments in Mexico and has more than 30 years’ experience in gamete management. He contributed to the first birth in Mexico achieved through in vitro fertilization, which took place at IECH.

Our embryology laboratory is accredited by the Latin American Network of Assisted Reproduction (LARA Network). Moreover, IECH is licensed by the Mexican Ministry of Health to perform these procedures. Both the accreditation and the sanitary license stand for the superior quality, experience, and professionalism that characterize us and make us proud.

The sperm bank is made up of a broad catalog of strictly selected donors. The selection process is based on the protocols and guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

The main objective of the bank is to give those who have not been able to start a family the opportunity to do so. Therefore, our donors’ sperm has the best values in terms of quality, count, and motility—both before and after defrosting. Each sample ensures there are at least 20 million sperm in the total motile count.

Our donors have the following characteristics:

• Male, 18 to 35 years old
• Professional
• Physically and mentally healthy
• Proven fertility
• Normal medical exams

Medical Assessment

• Spermogram with above-average parameters
• Sperm defrosting test with parameters that remain within normal limits
• Sperm DNA fragmentation test with values below 15%
• Normal karyotype
• Negative genetic screening tests (including cystic fibrosis, thalassemias, galactosemia, and Hungtinton's disease)
• Normal general tests (blood count, blood chemistry, blood group and HR-test, general urine test, hemoglobinopathies, and sperm culture)
• Negative doping test
• Negative STD tests
• Negative infectious profile
• Full psychological evaluation in addition to clinical studies

In many cases, infertility is related to genetic problems. If these alterations are diagnosed in time, the probability of pregnancy can be greater than 60% and the chances of a healthy birth can be more than 80%.

Given these circumstances, before implantation it is necessary to identify the appropriate number of chromosomes. Having this information will increase the chances of success of said procedure and the fertility treatment.

At IECH Fertility Center we have the necessary infrastructure to perform all genetic tests in the reproductive field.

1. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS)

PGD and PGS are genetic analyses of the embryos that are obtained in the blastocyst stage (day 5) of an assisted reproduction treatment (in vitro fertilization). They are carried out to improve the chances of a healthy birth.

• A biopsy of the embryo cells is performed.
• Genetic alterations in the embryo may be identified before the transfer.
• The process significantly increases the rate of pregnancy and healthy babies at birth.

The main situations in which it is recommended to carry out this test are the following:

• Implantation failures: Two or more transfers of good quality embryos have been made, but the implantation has failed. The endometrial factor and chromosomal abnormalities affect the embryo’s implantation capacity
• Advanced maternal age: The risk of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos and the likelihood of miscarriages during the first trimester increase with age, especially after 40 years.
• Repeated miscarriages: Patients who have suffered two or more miscarriages during the first trimester.
• Failed in vitro fertilization cycles: Cases in which there is no pregnancy despite a good embryonic and endometrial quality.
• Male infertility: Alterations in sperm quality can condition the formation of abnormal embryos in chromosomes.
• Previous pregnancies with chromosomal abnormalities, genetically abnormal babies, or previous malformations

2. Carrier Genetic Test to determine the risk of having a child with an incurable genetic disease

This test determines whether parents carry one or more recessive genetic mutations. If both parents share a mutation in the same gene, their offspring may be affected.

3. Endometrial Receptivity Analysis

This analysis determines the moment in which the endometrium is receptive, and the embryo should be transferred. As a result, chances of success increase in patients who have had problems with implantation.

In some of these cases, infectious endometrial alterations (bacteria) that prevent implantation have been identified. Thus, this analysis also allows us to determine the presence or absence of said bacteria.

Surgery for the reversal of salpingoclasia – tubal reanastomosis

This surgery is mainly performed on women who underwent salpingoclasia in their last delivery/C-section and want to get pregnant again for whatever reason.

It is important for a fertility doctor to previously determine whether the patient is a candidate for uterine tube surgery, give her a prognosis, and calculate the likelihood of pregnancy after the procedure.

Diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy

It is an outpatient procedure that allows us to evaluate the uterine cavity through direct observation. An endoscope, inserted through the cervix, is used to do this.

Mainly, the procedure is carried out when certain alterations prevent implanting the embryos or put the pregnancy at risk. These alterations include endometrial polyps, intrauterine fibroids, synechiae or uterine adhesions, abnormal uterine bleeding, or previous implantation failures. Hysteroscopy may also be performed before starting an in vitro fertilization procedure.

Operative laparoscopy

It is one of the main surgeries performed to correct infertility problems. With a minimum incision (1 cm or less), most of these procedures are done on an outpatient basis. They should be carried out by a doctor specialized in reproductive biology with training in such surgeries.

The main indications of laparoscopy are:

1. Endometriosis: One of the main causes of pain and infertility.
2. Fibroids: When fibroids are large or distort the uterine cavity, they cause infertility and embryo implantation problems.
3. Ovarian cysts or tumors: They cause infertility especially when they are the result of endometriosis (endometriomas). Other large or complex ovarian cysts, such as teratomas, should be removed.
4. Ectopic pregnancy: The embryo is implanted outside the uterus, mainly in the uterine tubes.
5. Alterations of the uterine tubes: Adhesions between the tubes, ovaries, and intestines alter the functioning of the tubes. There may also be alterations when the tubes are infected or filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx).
6. Other pelvic problems
7. In many cases, laparoscopy is combined with hysteroscopy, because when there is a combination of infertility problems, these are often fixed at the same time. This way, second surgeries and exposure at the operating room are avoided.

To find out whether you need a laparoscopy and why, seek the advice of your specialist doctor.

Testicular biopsy

Testicular sperm extraction is a minimally invasive technique. A small incision (approx. 1 cm) is required at the level of the scrotum to directly observe the testicle. Another small incision is made in the protective cover of the testis. Small fragments of its interior (seminiferous tubule, where the sperm are formed) are extracted.

This technique is used in highly complex treatments to extract sperm and use them to perform ICSI during in vitro fertilization procedures. It is useful in the following cases: male infertility without response to medical treatment, vasectomy, failure in recanalization of vasectomy, absence of vas deferens (ejaculators), and other alterations that prevent the sperm from being ejaculated or make it of poor quality.

Preservation of Female Fertility

What should I do if I am diagnosed with cancer and I am not yet a mother?

What should I do if I am a young woman but still do not want to get pregnant?

If you find yourself in either of these situations, we can help you at IECH Fertility Center.

Cryopreservation of eggs and ovarian tissue is a new option to preserve fertility in women. This means that in the future, when you decide to get pregnant, you will have the same chances you had when you decided to preserve the eggs.

There are two techniques for cryopreservation: egg vitrification and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. In the vitrification technique, eggs are aspirated from the follicles of the ovary to be quickly frozen. This minimizes the formation of ice crystals in the eggs, keeping the cell structure intact, giving it excellent integrity, and ensuring a better egg development.

This technique can be used in women of childbearing age—from 18 to 38 years old—with good results. A medical evaluation and a treatment cycle that lasts for about two weeks are required before obtaining the ovules.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, egg vitrification is the ideal non-experimental technique for patients who wish to preserve fertility.

Ovarian tissue freezing, on the other hand, is an experimental technique in which healthy ovarian tissue is obtained through microsurgery to be cryopreserved. One of the main advantages of this technique—in addition to achieving pregnancy—is that it resumes the previous ovarian function.

At IECH Fertility Center we have a special program for patients diagnosed with cancer or other fertility-damaging diseases.

If you want more information, you can make a fertility preservation appointment. Your current fertility status will be assessed, and our specialists will explain in detail the different options you have.

Preservation of Male Fertility

Storing sperm is the best way to protect your reproductive chances in the future. Storage allows you to preserve your fertility when you are about to start medical treatments or find yourself in certain special circumstances. Common cases include:

1. The person will undergo cancer-related treatments.
2. The patient will undergo testicular or prostate surgery.
3. The individual wishes to store a sperm backup before having a vasectomy.
4. The male has oligospermia (low sperm count) and requires backup for fertility treatment.
5. The person has a high-risk occupation.

Samples are stored in a semen bank specifically designed for the cryopreservation of human sperm. Samples are frozen and stored in tanks with liquid nitrogen at -196˚C. A safe and widely proven procedure is used for cryopreservation. This method allows samples to be stored for an indefinite period and ensures the survival of a good percentage of sperm after defrosting.

Through our semen bank, we at IECH Fertility Center offer you a high-quality service with cutting-edge technology. We have more than 20 years’ experience in semen storage.

An in vitro fertilization treatment can generate anxiety and stress in the couple. At least 60% of those who to decide to abandon fertility treatment cite these emotions as the main cause. Moreover, anxiety and stress tend to decrease the success rate.

At IECH we want couples who are undergoing an assisted reproduction treatment to know that we share their goal of procreating and are committed to achieving this dream together.

For this reason, we offer an emotional support program to help reduce stress and anxiety. We stand by the couples so that they enjoy emotional balance and feel greater tranquility and confidence. This is a great way of making sure they obtain the best possible result in their fertility treatment.

The Institute for the Study of Human Conception (IECH) is a pioneer in assisted reproduction in Mexico. It was one of the first institutions to educate medical specialists in the country and, to date, has trained more than 30 generations of Mexican and foreign doctors.

IECH has a subspecialty program in Biology of Human Reproduction endorsed by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). All of IECH’s physicians and teachers have completed this subspecialty and hold different graduate degrees and research positions in the field of reproductive medicine.

Moreover, IECH constantly conducts research protocols in reproductive medicine that are presented at the main national and international conferences on reproductive biology.

In addition to UNAM, the program is endorsed by major organizations in the field reproductive medicine, such as the Mexican Association of Reproductive Medicine (AMMR), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Latin American Network of Assisted Reproduction (LARA Network), and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

We have more than 30 years’ experience in education, research, and teaching.