The A-Z of fertility treatment
The topic of fertility treatment is very complex and extensive. Especially when you are dealing with it for the first time, you quickly feel overwhelmed by all the technical terms.
Our fertility lexicon from A-Z covers all the important topics and terms that you will come across again and again on your fertility journey. We have also created a section with the most frequently asked questions of our patients. However, we are always happy to provide you with help and advice and answer any questions you may have in a personal first consultation.
- Implantation bleeding
This particular bleeding typically occurs 10 to 14 days after ovulation and is usually much lighter than the normal menstrual period. At this time, many women expect their normal menstrual period, so this bleeding can often be confusing. As a result, early pregnancy can also be missed. In addition, problems can arise when calculating the gestational age if this bleeding is used as the "last normal menstrual period" for the calculation. The first ultrasound then shows that it was an implantation bleeding and not a monthly bleeding and the gestational age is corrected accordingly.
The implantation bleeding only lasts a short time and does not require any special treatment. If you are unsure, a pregnancy test will immediately provide certainty.
- Implantation flushing
Sometimes embryos of good quality are implanted several times, but pregnancy still does not occur. This repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a major problem because there are only limited possibilities to achieve pregnancy.
What is implantation flushing (PBMC flushing)?
The body's own blood cells (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell - mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood) are specially prepared, selected and cultivated together with pregnancy hormone (HCG). This enables these cells to be stimulated in such a way that they take on pregnancy-protective properties. These prepared mononuclear blood cells are flushed into the uterine cavity before embryo transfer. This imitates the environment of an "intact" pregnancy and increases the readiness of the uterus for implantation.
How is PBMC prepared and administered?
Approximately 20ml of the patient's own blood is taken as part of a venous blood sample on the day of the puncture or the day before. The blood cells are then prepared and cultivated for about 24-48 hours. Then a certain number of the mononuclear cells prepared in this way are flushed directly into the uterus completely painlessly with a thin catheter.
When is PBMC used in IVF?
- Immunologically conspicuous findings (e.g. increased killer cells, missing KIR, increased Th1 cells. etc)
- repeated implantation failure
- repeated miscarriages or biochemical pregnancies
Since the body's own cells are used, no side effects are to be expected. We are still in the early stages of influencing the immunological system of the expectant mother in a beneficial way. In any case, PBMC is a promising method to increase the success of IVF treatment.