Insemination (IUI)
Prepared sperm are placed directly in the uterus at ovulation. Useful for slightly reduced sperm quality, cycle problems or as a first step. Gentle, quick, no anaesthesia. More about insemination →
Assisted reproduction: methods, process and chances.
“Assisted reproduction” is the umbrella term for treatments in which we give nature targeted support – from insemination to IVF and ICSI. Here you will learn which method makes sense when, how a treatment proceeds and what it costs. Explained by the institute that accompanied Austria's first IVF baby in 1982.
3 in 4
women become pregnant with the Wunschbaby Method
30,000+
births since 1982
1st
IVF baby in Austria was ours
The term sounds more technical than the treatment is: in assisted reproduction, we support the natural process of fertilisation exactly where it falters for you. Depending on the cause, this ranges from gentle cycle support to fertilising the egg in the laboratory.
Broadly speaking, there are two routes: with insemination, fertilisation takes place inside the body – prepared sperm are placed in the uterus at the optimal time. With IVF and ICSI, fertilisation happens outside the body in the laboratory, and the resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus.
The three methods compared
IUI, IVF or ICSI – which fits when?
Which method is right depends on the cause, your age and your history. The rule of thumb: as gentle as possible, as effective as necessary.
IVF (in vitro fertilisation)
After hormonal stimulation, eggs are retrieved and brought together with the sperm in the laboratory – fertilisation happens “by itself” in the dish. The classic since 1978, continuously refined at our institute since 1982. More about IVF →
ICSI
A single sperm is injected directly into the egg – the method of choice when sperm quality is reduced. We introduced ICSI to Austria in 1993. Refinements such as PICSI and CHIPSI select the best sperm. More about ICSI →
The process
How assisted reproduction proceeds.
Using an IVF/ICSI treatment as an example – one cycle usually takes four to six weeks.
1
Work-up & plan
First consultation with ultrasound, hormone status and semen analysis. From this, your individual treatment plan is created – tailored to cause, age and history.
2
Hormonal stimulation
Over around 10 to 12 days, several follicles mature. We monitor this phase closely with ultrasound and hormone checks from our in-house laboratory.
3
Egg retrieval
The ultrasound-guided puncture – co-developed at our institute in 1984 and the worldwide standard today – takes only a few minutes and is performed under brief sedation.
4
Fertilisation in the laboratory
IVF or ICSI: our embryologists accompany the development of the embryos in state-of-the-art incubators, complemented where needed by assisted hatching or preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
5
Embryo transfer
The transfer of the embryo into the uterus is painless and takes only a few minutes. Surplus embryos can be cryopreserved – for later attempts without renewed stimulation.
6
Pregnancy test
Around two weeks after the transfer you will know. We continue to accompany you until the pregnancy is safely confirmed – and we are also there if it has not worked out this time.
Costs & the IVF Fund
What does assisted reproduction cost?
With the IVF Fund (IVF-Fonds), Austria has one of the most patient-friendly arrangements in Europe: if the requirements are met – including a medical indication, the woman under 40, the man under 50 – the Fund covers around 70 percent of the costs of IVF and ICSI treatments. The WIF has been a contract institute since 2000.
What this means for your situation in concrete terms is something we calculate transparently in the first consultation. All details: Costs & funding and Requirements.
The legal situation in Austria – in brief
Assisted reproduction in Austria is governed by the Reproductive Medicine Act. Permitted are, among others, IVF, ICSI, sperm donation and – since 2015 – egg donation (with age limits). Lesbian couples can also be treated with donor sperm. Surrogacy is not permitted. What this means for your path is something we clarify together – our page on the legal framework gives an overview.
„Nachdem wir schon andere Institute ausprobiert hatten, sind wir beim Wif gelandet. Wir waren in besten Händen. Trotz Misserfolgen waren die Mitarbeiter immer sehr um uns bemüht und nach einigen Monaten stellte sich endlich ein Erfolg ein. Vielen Dank!“
FAQ
Assisted reproduction: the key answers.
How high are the success rates of assisted reproduction?
The chances depend above all on the woman's age, the cause and the chosen method – blanket figures are therefore misleading. Important to know: the chances add up over several cycles. In the first consultation we give you an honest assessment based on your situation.
Is assisted reproduction painful?
Most steps involve little pain: insemination is comparable to a smear test, the embryo transfer is painless. Egg retrieval is performed under brief sedation – you sleep through it. After brief instruction, most patients administer the hormone injections themselves without any problems.
How often can you undergo assisted reproduction?
Medically there is no rigid upper limit – the IVF Fund supports up to four attempts per intended pregnancy. After each cycle we analyse the results and adjust the strategy instead of simply doing “more of the same”.
Does assisted reproduction increase the risk of birth defects?
Millions of children worldwide have been born after IVF and ICSI – the procedures are considered safe, the risk of birth defects is only minimally increased and is linked more to the causes of infertility than to the method. Where hereditary risks exist, our genetics laboratory offers additional reassurance.
Are twins more common with assisted reproduction?
In the past, yes – today the single embryo transfer is the standard, precisely because singleton pregnancies are safer for mother and child. Surplus embryos are cryopreserved and can be used later without renewed stimulation.
How long should we try naturally before deciding on assisted reproduction?
Under 35 we recommend a work-up after twelve months, over 35 after six months without success. A work-up does not automatically mean assisted reproduction – gentler routes are often enough. A good place to start is our guide Getting pregnant.
Does health insurance cover assisted reproduction?
In Austria, funding runs through the IVF Fund rather than regular health insurance benefits: around 70 percent of the costs of IVF/ICSI are covered if the requirements are met. Insemination is not a Fund benefit, but considerably less expensive. We clarify the details in the first consultation.
IVF or ICSI – which is better?
Neither is “better” across the board: with normal sperm quality, classic IVF is the more natural route; with reduced quality, ICSI leads to fertilisation more reliably. We decide based on the semen analysis and your history – sometimes even split within the same cycle.
Your next step
Let's find out which path suits you.
A free info evening to get to know us, or the in-depth first consultation right away – you decide.
Or call us: +43 1 877 77 75