Frequently Asked Questions

In the treatment of chocolate cysts (endometriomas), is surgery or IVF better?

The main concern here is that surgery may reduce your ovarian reserve. If your ovarian reserve decreases, your chance of success with IVF treatment will also be lower.

Points to consider when making a decision:

If the cyst is large, if there is suspicion of cancer, or if it causes you severe pain and reduces your quality of life, surgery may be the priority.
If the cyst is not large, if you have widespread endometriosis, or if the location of the cyst could seriously reduce your ovarian reserve after surgery, then IVF treatment should be the preferred option.

Why is an IVF treatment cycle sometimes cancelled?

Here are 9 possible reasons for cancellation:

Insufficient egg development
Premature follicle rupture
No eggs retrieved from the follicles
Eggs not maturing properly
Eggs not fertilizing
Fertilized eggs not dividing
Poor embryo development or arrest at a certain stage
No healthy embryos due to genetic problems
No sperm found in men with azoospermia

I want to come to Turkey for IVF treatment, what should I do?

What happens at the first consultation? How do we plan?

As a first step, we schedule a free online consultation. This meeting takes about 45 minutes, during which we carefully evaluate your medical condition and explain how we can help you. Then, we discuss how long you would need to stay in Istanbul and the approximate budget you should set aside.

How many days should you stay in Turkey during treatment?

For the female partner: Starting from the 2nd day of her period, the treatment process requires an average stay of 15 days in Istanbul. During this time, egg collection and embryo transfer are completed.
For the male partner: It is sufficient to be in Istanbul only on the day of egg collection to provide a sperm sample.

If a fresh embryo transfer is suitable, the transfer can be done on day 3 or 5 of embryo development, and you may return home on the same day.

If embryos need to be frozen, then about 2 months after egg collection, you can prepare your uterine lining in your home country and come back to Istanbul for just 1 day for the embryo transfer.

Can IVF Be Done with Minimal Medication?

In IVF treatment, the semi-natural (seminatural) method is applied initially without using any ovulation-stimulating drugs. The body’s naturally selected egg is monitored until it reaches a certain size. Afterwards, low-dose medication support is given for 3–4 days, and one or two eggs are collected.

Who Can Benefit from the Semi-Natural IVF Method?

This method is especially suitable for women with severely diminished ovarian reserve and high FSH levels. Regardless of age, if there is only a chance of 1–2 eggs developing even with high-dose medications, this method may be preferred.

Advantages of the Semi-Natural IVF Method?

Lower medication use: Fewer drugs make the treatment more economical.

Preservation of egg quality: Since high-dose drug side effects are reduced, the chance of obtaining better-quality eggs increases.

Easier process: Fewer injections and medications improve patient comfort. Fewer injections and medications improve patient comfort.

What Is Embryo Genetic Testing, and Is It Necessary?

In IVF treatment, the technique that allows us to analyze the number and structure of chromosomes in embryos is called Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). This method helps determine which embryos have a healthy chromosomal structure.

The most important factor in PGT is the woman’s age, as the likelihood of finding normal embryos decreases with age. Age is one of the most critical factors affecting IVF success.

Advanced maternal age is generally considered 38 years and older.

At 38 years, the chance of finding a chromosomally normal embryo with PGT is around 35%.

At 43 years, this rate drops to about 8%.

These statistics clearly show how strongly a woman’s age impacts IVF success.

Is My Embryo Good? How Can I Tell?

When deciding which embryo to transfer, four main criteria are used:

Development stage and cell structure:
The cell number must be appropriate for the embryo’s day of development, and fragmentation (cell breakage) should be low.

Morphological features:
On transfer day (e.g., Day 5), a compact inner cell mass and a well-arranged outer cell mass indicate high-quality embryos.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT):
Allows the selection of embryos with normal chromosomes, increasing the chance of a healthy pregnancy.

AI-assisted evaluation:
Advanced artificial intelligence software can monitor embryo development and help doctors select embryos with higher potential.

Why Can’t I Get Pregnant? Possible Causes?

Ovulation disorders
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Tubal factor infertility
Advanced maternal age
Diminished ovarian reserve
Previous ovarian surgery
Endometriosis (chocolate cysts)
Thyroid disorders
High prolactin levels
Endometrial pathologies (adhesions / thin lining)
Fibroids or adenomyosis
Congenital uterine abnormalities (unicornuate, bicornuate uterus, septum)
Obesity (BMI >30 kg/m²)

Does Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Cause Infertility?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition affecting about 7 in 100 women.

Symptoms:

Acne
Hair loss
Menstrual cycles longer than 35 days
" String of pearls” appearance of ovaries on ultrasound

Diagnosis can be made if at least two of these signs are present.

Associated conditions:

Insulin resistance
Overweight in some women
Anxiety and depression tendency

Treatment approaches:

Weight loss, regular exercise, and a healthy diet are the basics.
For women who want children, simple methods are tried first, such as mild ovulation induction and insemination.
If pregnancy is not achieved after 1–2 attempts, IVF offers the highest success rate and is recommended.