Fertility Centre:
infertility treatment

It is recommended to see an obstetrician/gynecologist, a specialist in infertility treatment, if you have been unable to conceive for 12 months without any obvious issues and without using any contraception.

In case of risk factors such as the partner being over 35 years old, diagnosed reproductive organ dysfunctions or diseases, previous miscarriages, and other known fertility issues (e.g., changes in male sperm), it is recommended to seek consultation after six months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive.

A woman should have her first consultation, which usually includes an ultrasound examination, right after her period.

You don’t need to prepare for your first consultation. You should come in as soon as your menstrual period is over, which is about a week after the start of your cycle.

An infertility treatment specialist is someone you can trust to guide you through a difficult journey. They will look after you and answer all of your questions. You get to choose your doctor.

Northway Fertility Centres are located in all major Lithuanian cities, i.e. Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda. We also have a branch in Riga, Latvia.

It’s not required but various sources report that 40% of infertility in couples is caused by women’s health problems, 40% by men’s health problems, 10% by immunological incompatibility, and 10% by a cause that remains unclear. This means the problem is likely to be related to both female and male factors. Men should have a spermogram (known as semen analysis), a simple but important test. This approach saves time and allows us to identify the root of the problem.

The fertility tests will be carried out in line with the couple’s situation. During the first consultation, the woman undergoes an examination and has an ultrasound, while the man is recommended to have a spermogram. Blood tests may be recommended, as well as referrals to other specialists (such as a urologist or an andrologist).

Yes. A fertility specialist is a clinician who should not necessarily be associated solely with IVF procedures. Fertility specialists provide consultations, conduct examinations, and carry out necessary tests. They often collaborate with other specialists when potential issues are identified through testing, which, once addressed, can enable the couple to conceive successfully through natural means.

Yes, for your convenience, you can choose between a face-to-face or remote consultation with an infertility specialist.

The woman should have an ultrasound exam, hormonal tests and a tubal patency test. The man should have a semen analysis.

While there is no obligation to take this test, we strongly advise doing so to eliminate any potential infertility issues in the man and to focus on a more comprehensive examination of the woman.

Ejaculate (semen) is obtained through masturbation and collected in a wide-necked, sterile, and warm glass or plastic jar with a wide neck. You need to cleanse your penis before masturbation. It is recommended to collect the ejaculate at least 48 hours and no more than seven days after the last sexual intercourse. In the 2-3 days prior to providing the ejaculate, it is advisable to avoid hot baths, alcohol consumption, and if you smoke, it is suggested to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.

Of course, but you should contact the case manager, who will provide you with a list of the tests you need to carry out.

IUI, or intrauterine insemination, is the process of collecting sperm (from a male partner or a donor) and injecting it into a woman’s uterus. This procedure is often recommended when there are abnormalities detected in the male’s sperm or due to changes in the woman’s physiology that prevent natural conception. On the other hand, IVF involves collecting reproductive cells from both partners (or using donor cells), fertilizing them, culturing the blastocyst, and subsequently transferring it into the woman’s uterus.

ICSI is an intracytoplasmic sperm injection. During the ICSI procedure, the strongest sperm is selected and injected into the egg. This method is used when there is poor sperm quality, slow sperm motility, or abnormal morphology.

A fresh embryo is transferred during the same cycle, meaning immediately after the blastocysts have developed. Another option is to freeze the embryo and plan the transfer for a later date.

On the third day, the embryo consists of about 8 cells, while the blastocyst on the fifth day has over 100 cells and is further along in its development. It is transferred into the fallopian tubes and over the next few days, it travels through the typical pathway of the egg in the woman’s body toward the uterus. During the development of the embryo between these two days (day 3 and day 5), natural selection occurs, and only the strongest embryos survive.

The topic is quite controversial, and there are situations where the decision is made to implant a day 3 embryo. For example, this may occur when the woman is older, there are very few embryos obtained from previous cycles, it is known that embryos have not developed by the fifth day, or stimulation lasted longer than usual. In such cases, the transfer of a day 3 embryo may also be performed.

The current regulations in Lithuania stipulate that tests for sexually transmitted diseases remain valid for up to six months, while clinical blood tests are valid for up to ten days before the procedure.

Yes, it is. In some cases, it may take several cycles to achieve a successful result.

There is no age limit. With assisted reproductive techniques, the probability of conception increases to 50% for women under 35 years old, 18% for women over 40, and 5–6% for those over 43.

You can apply because the procedure can be performed in Latvia. In Lithuania, only married couples can have the procedure according to the legislation.

One of the most typical reasons for using an egg donation program is a low ovarian reserve. It is not uncommon for young women to go through early menopause or have a low egg count for a variety of reasons, including diseases, operations, and so on. If your AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) levels are extremely low, it means that your eggs are not forming, and you will most likely be unable to conceive on your own. Under normal conditions, this hormone level begins to decline at the age of 43.

The egg donation program is also considered for treatment-resistant ovarian failure, recurrent unsuccessful IVF cycles (more than three), when the patient has undergone radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or has a diagnosed genetic disorder.

The sperm donation program is used in cases of severe sperm pathology, ejaculation disorders, a high risk of transmitting a serious condition that can cause severe disability, or when the male is a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease.

Yes, when choosing a sperm donor or an egg donor, you select individuals based on external traits similar to your couple’s.

In the case of sperm donation, the genetics of the partner contributes to determining the external characteristics of the future child. In the case of egg donation, the genetics of the partner also influences the external traits of the future child.

First of all, they take tests for sexually transmitted illnesses. If the results are negative, the next step is a karyotype test. A psychiatrist evaluates donors and tests them for medications.

• Sperm testing (to check fertility);
• Screening for sexually transmittable diseases (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrheae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum);
• Drugs,
• Infectious diseases (hepatitis B virus surface antigen, hepatitis B virus anti-HBc antibodies, hepatitis B virus amplification method, hepatitis C virus antibodies, hepatitis C virus amplification method, antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type I and type II, amplification of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) method, and syphilis by TPHA and RPR methods).

Specialist doctors carefully evaluate the results. The donor’s family is checked for the absence of any known genetic disorders.

Age, height, weight, hair and eye colour, and blood type.

We guarantee you will receive at least two blastocysts in good condition.

There are no age limits for IVF using donor eggs or embryo adoption.

Yes. Our fertility centre in Riga, Latvia, welcomes single women.

Latvian legislation forbids gender selection.

The reasons can be numerous and may include lifestyle, diet, harmful environmental factors, heat, vibration, radiation, chemical factors such as endocrine disruptors (various solvents, herbicides, etc.), chronic stress, the use of alcohol, cannabinoids, smoking, being overweight, and the use of steroidal hormones during sports can all negatively impact sperm quality.

Quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and avoid hot baths, saunas, and long hot showers. Try to prevent stress, relax more frequently, engage in greater physical activity, and lose the extra weight if you are overweight. It is also recommended that you drink less coffee and more water. A regular sex life, i.e. having sex several times per week, helps to improve sperm quality, but having sex too frequently is also unhealthy. Lubricant should be avoided.

Increase the amount of oily fish you consume, such as salmon, sardines, and pike. Eat more vegetables and fruits, which are high in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that can boost sperm count. Include foods containing zinc and folic acid in your diet. Zinc-rich foods include beef, fish, and eggs, whereas folic acid is found in green vegetables, aubergines, and whole meal bread. A zinc shortage in the body can reduce sperm count by up to 90%.

A high consumption of vegetables, fruit, high-fiber foods, omega-3s (fish and other seafood), chicken, antioxidant-rich meals (vitamins E, C, and D, B-carotene, selenium), and low-fat or skim milk all boost sperm quality.

Caffeine-rich foods, alcohol, sweets and sweetened beverages, trans fats (margarine, spreadable fats, biscuits, cakes, pies, pastries, baked goods, fried products), proteins (processed meats such as fried meats), soya products, and potatoes, cheese and dairy products all reduce sperm quality.

If no spermatozoa are detected in the ejaculate, a TESA procedure (testicular sperm aspiration) is required. During this procedure, samples are taken directly from the testicles using a needle, and spermatozoa are searched for in those samples. If sperm are found, an ICSI procedure can be performed. However, if no sperm are found, ICSI is not possible, and in such cases, donor sperm is needed.

It is likely, but not always the case. In all cases, both spouses are examined, and after a significant period of changes that could affect conception, there may be changes in the woman’s body too. In this instance, it may be fair to begin by evaluating the partner (by sperm analysis), but a thorough check of the woman is also recommended.