If pregnancy does not occur despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse for six to twelve months, a medical examination is advisable. Women over the age of 35 are recommended to contact us after six months, as fertility decreases significantly with age.

The initial consultation involves a detailed assessment of your medical history. We will discuss your previous fertility history, any previous findings, previous pregnancies or miscarriages, your cycle, lifestyle and frequency of sexual intercourse. On the basis of this discussion, we plan further clarifications or therapies on an individual basis.

"My first appointment with fertisuisse"

At the beginning, a gynecological examination, hormone analyses, an ultrasound check of the ovaries and uterus and a sperm analysis in men are usually carried out. Depending on the findings, further specific investigations may follow.

We offer all common forms of assisted reproduction, including innovative hormonal stimulation treatments, insemination (IUI), insemination with donor sperm, in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. We also carry out surgical treatments such as hysteroscopies and laparoscopies. The choice of treatment depends on the diagnosis and situation.

Yes, since the introduction of "marriage for all", lesbian couples in Switzerland are allowed to make use of sperm donation. We provide same-sex couples with comprehensive advice on legal and medical aspects and accompany them through the entire treatment process.

Under current Swiss law, sperm donation is only permitted for married couples. Single women can therefore not currently be treated in Switzerland, but we are happy to advise on serious options abroad and provide support with medical diagnostics.

In around 20 percent of cases, no clear cause for the inability to conceive can be found despite extensive diagnostics. In such situations, we speak of idiopathic or unexplained infertility. Various treatment strategies are also available here.

Age, especially of the woman, is a decisive factor. Egg quality and the number of eggs decrease significantly from the mid-30s. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, alcohol, stress and lack of sleep can also have a negative impact on fertility in both partners.

At our fertility center in Olten and Basel, we place the utmost importance on safety. Hormone treatments and invasive procedures such as egg retrieval are carefully monitored. Nevertheless, side effects such as overstimulation can occur in rare cases - we will provide you with comprehensive information before starting treatment.

In Switzerland, basic insurance covers the costs of certain basic investigations. Reproductive medical treatments such as IVF or ICSI, on the other hand, are generally not covered by health insurance and must be paid for by the couple themselves. We will provide you with a transparent cost plan before the start of treatment.

The duration depends on the chosen procedure and the individual situation. IVF treatment usually lasts several weeks, including hormonal stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo transfer. In some cases, several cycles are necessary before pregnancy occurs.

A negative test result is emotionally very stressful. We offer you psychological support at all times and discuss the next steps together - be it a new attempt at treatment, an alternative approach or, if necessary, coming to terms with the decision to stop having children.

Yes, unfertilized eggs may be frozen in Switzerland and used for a later attempt within the framework of legal requirements. Storage takes place in our center under strictly controlled conditions.

Surplus embryos can be used for further treatment cycles within the framework of the legal provisions or - after consultation with the couple - discarded. Use for research or donation is not permitted in Switzerland.

Please bring any existing medical documents (e.g. hormone values, operation reports, previous diagnoses) with you. It helps if you write down your cycle data and any questions you have in advance. If possible, come as a couple - that way we can take a holistic view of your situation.

"My first appointment with fertisuisse"

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a proteohormone or glycoprotein that plays a role in sexual differentiation during embryonic development. Mutations in the AMH gene are responsible for sexual differentiation disorders. AMH is also produced by the ovaries. Determining AMH concentration is also important for evaluating ovarian reserve.

Anovulation refers to the absence of ovulation in the female cycle. In this case, we speak of an anovulatory cycle. Anovulatory cycles typically occur in PCOS, but also in hyperprolactinemia (excessive prolactin concentration in the blood). Disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis also frequently lead to anovulatory cycles. Chronic anovulation is a common cause of female infertility.

Medical advances have made it possible to cultivate embryos to the blastocyst stage. In most cases, an embryo reaches the blastocyst stage within 5-6 days. The pregnancy rate is higher when an embryo is transferred at the blastocyst stage.

Endometriosis is a common, benign, often painful chronic condition affecting women, in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterine cavity (ectopic).

Like normal uterine lining, endometriosis tissue changes during the menstrual cycle and can cause tissue bleeding, scarring and pain. Endometriosis usually occurs in the lower abdomen or pelvic area, for example on the uterus or fallopian tubes. The ovaries are also often affected. When the uterine muscle is affected, it's called adenomyosis (adenomyosis uteri). It can spread to the vaginal wall and the bowel (large intestine). In rare cases, endometriosis has been described in the lungs, other internal organs and the brain. Endometriosis can be a cause of infertility in women. The causes of endometriosis have not yet been fully clarified, and there is no causal treatment or prevention available. Treatment of the disease includes surgical removal or destruction of the lesions and hormonal inhibition of the cycle to reduce the likelihood of endometriosis recurring. Complete removal of widespread, diffuse endometriosis in the uterine wall (adenomyosis) can only be achieved by removing the uterus.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is the most common method of artificial insemination. With its help, even men with severe fertility problems have the chance to fulfil their desire to have children.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, infertility (Latin: infertilitas) is when pregnancy does not occur within one year despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

In vitro fertilisation

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a method of artificial insemination. In vitro fertilisation in a test tube was first successfully performed in 1978. However, simply mixing egg cells and sperm cells together is not enough. IVF treatment consists of carefully coordinated steps.

OAT syndrome (oligoasthenozoospermia syndrome) is a pathological change in sperm. It is characterised by too few (oligo), insufficiently motile (astheno) and an increased number of malformed (terato) sperm. It is often associated with male infertility.

Preimplantation genetic testing

Preimplantation genetic testing refers to the examination of an embryo before it is transferred to the uterine cavity. In PGS or, more correctly, PGT-A, the number and distribution of the embryo's chromosomes are examined. In PGT-M, specific altered genes that lead to serious hereditary diseases are sought.

Artificial insemination must be performed for preimplantation genetic testing. After the eggs have been retrieved and fertilised, the fertilised eggs are cultured in an incubator. When the embryo begins to hatch (usually after 5-6 days), some cells are removed from the embryo's shell (trophectoderm biopsy). The shell later becomes the placenta. These cells are genetically tested. In women over the age of 37, this can reduce the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and the time to birth. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is also used for couples whose children are at risk of life-threatening hereditary diseases (monogenic diseases).

The time-lapse incubator can be used to assess the dynamics of embryo growth. Until the blastocyst stage (five to six days), each individual embryo is photographed every five minutes. This creates a time-lapse film that provides valuable information about embryonic development. Optimal development can increase the chances of pregnancy. Time-lapse incubation is also an important prerequisite for pre-implantation diagnostics. When the embryo begins to hatch, some cells are removed from the embryo's shell (trophectoderm biopsy). The shell later becomes the placenta. These cells are genetically tested. In women over the age of 37, this can reduce the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and the time to birth. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is also used for couples whose children are at risk of life-threatening hereditary diseases (monogenic diseases).