Knowledge base

Natural conception

Before any treatment: about half of couples who struggle still conceive naturally with good timing and lifestyle. If it hasn't worked after a year (or six months from age 35), a work-up makes sense.

• Know your cycle and fertile days – ovulation is usually about 14 days before the next period
• Regular intercourse every 2–3 days throughout the cycle covers the fertile window
• Lifestyle: healthy weight, no smoking, little alcohol, folic acid from the start
• For men too: heat (sauna, laptop on the lap) and smoking lower sperm quality

Duration: up to 12 months of natural trying as a rule of thumb

From age 35, or with a known cause (e.g. irregular cycles, missing tubes), don't wait – see a doctor sooner.

Initial tests & diagnostics

Every treatment starts by finding the cause: hormone levels, ovarian reserve (AMH), ultrasound, fallopian tube patency and a semen analysis for the partner.

• Blood tests: hormones, thyroid, infection screening
• Ultrasound of uterus and ovaries, AMH as a measure of ovarian reserve
• Semen analysis: count, motility and morphology
• Depending on findings: hysteroscopy, genetic or immunological work-up

Duration: 1–2 cycles (4–8 weeks)

Most clinics require recent results (often no older than 6–12 months). Tests done at home are usually accepted, which saves money.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Prepared sperm is placed directly into the uterus around ovulation. The simplest and cheapest method – it requires open tubes and reasonable sperm quality.

• Mild hormonal stimulation or a natural cycle
• Ultrasound monitoring and trigger of ovulation
• The procedure takes minutes, no anaesthesia
• Lower success rate per attempt than IVF, usually 3–6 attempts

Duration: one cycle, about 2–3 weeks

Also possible with donor sperm (IUI-D).

IVF – in vitro fertilisation

After hormonal stimulation eggs are collected and combined with sperm in the lab. The embryo grows for 3–5 days and is then transferred into the uterus.

• Stimulation by injection, 10–12 days at home with ultrasound checks
• Egg retrieval under short anaesthesia, about 20 minutes
• Fertilisation in the lab, embryo culture for 3–5 days
• Embryo transfer without anaesthesia, pregnancy test after about 12 days

Duration: about 4–6 weeks per cycle, usually 2 clinic stays

The headline price often excludes medication (EUR 1,000–2,500), anaesthesia, initial tests and freezing of spare embryos.

ICSI – intracytoplasmic sperm injection

A variant of IVF: a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. Standard when sperm quality is reduced or fertilisation failed in a previous IVF cycle.

• For the patient the process is identical to IVF
• The difference is only in the laboratory step
• Often combined with sperm selection techniques (IMSI, PICSI)

Duration: as IVF, about 4–6 weeks

Usually billed on top of IVF – check whether the listed price includes it.

Egg donation

Eggs from a donor are fertilised with the partner's or a donor's sperm and the embryo is transferred to the recipient. Common with low ovarian reserve, after menopause or repeated failed IVF cycles.

• No stimulation for the recipient – only preparation of the endometrium
• Donor matched by blood group, physical features and health screening
• Usually only 1–2 short stays, first consultation often online
• Higher success rates because eggs come from young donors

Duration: 6–10 weeks from matching to transfer

Law differs strongly per country – anonymity, age limits and access for single women or female couples are regulated differently.

Sperm donation

Donor sperm from a sperm bank is used for IUI or IVF/ICSI – for male infertility, female couples and single women.

• Selection from the sperm bank catalogue (features, blood group, sometimes childhood photos)
• Open or anonymous donation, depending on country and bank
• The price per vial is often added to the treatment price

Duration: depends on the chosen procedure

Frozen embryo transfer (FET)

Transfer of a previously frozen embryo in a later cycle. Gentler and much cheaper than a full new IVF cycle.

• No stimulation, no egg retrieval, no anaesthesia
• Endometrium prepared in a natural or medicated cycle
• Only one short stay needed

Duration: one cycle, about 3–4 weeks

Ask about the annual storage fee for frozen embryos – it is missing from many price lists.

PGT-A / PGT-M – genetic embryo testing

A few cells of the embryo are tested before transfer: PGT-A for chromosome number, PGT-M for a known inherited condition.

• Biopsy on day 5 (blastocyst), then freezing until results arrive
• Results after 2–4 weeks, transfer then done as a frozen transfer
• Can reduce miscarriages and failed transfers

Duration: adds about 4 weeks to the cycle

Usually billed per embryo plus a base fee – costs add up quickly. Legally restricted in some countries.

Freezing eggs & embryos

Eggs or embryos are vitrified and can be used years later – for medical reasons (e.g. before cancer treatment) or personal ones (social freezing).

• Steps up to egg retrieval are the same as IVF
• Storage in liquid nitrogen, annual fee
• Later use via thawing and frozen transfer

Duration: one stimulation cycle, about 3–4 weeks

Budget for several years of storage plus the later transfer.

Hidden costs of initial tests

Initial tests are almost never in the advertised price – and are often paid for twice: once at home, once at the clinic. Budget around €300 for the woman and €150 for the man when the clinic lists no prices.

• Woman: hormone panel, AMH, ultrasound, infection screening (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis) – often €200–500
• Man: semen analysis and infection screening – often €80–250
• Many clinics require recent results (no older than 6–12 months) and repeat tests on site
• Some clinics sell 'diagnostic packages' – check what you can do more cheaply at home
• Ask in writing which results from your home country will be accepted

The BabyWish full estimate always includes initial tests for woman and man as separate items – even when the clinic does not list them.

Hidden costs – what to watch for

The advertised price is rarely the final price. These items are most often missing from clinic websites.

• Stimulation medication (EUR 1,000–2,500)
• Anaesthesia for egg retrieval, initial tests and lab monitoring
• Freezing spare embryos and the annual storage fee
• Add-ons: ICSI, assisted hatching, EmbryoGlue, genetic tests
• Travel, accommodation and food for two stays

In our catalogue the transparency score shows how complete a price list is; the full proposal adds the missing items back in.