Artificial insemination

DEFINITIONS

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) – a group of different methods used to prepare sperm or embryos and transfer them to achieve pregnancy.

Embryo – the product of the division of the zygote to the end ofthe embryonic stage, 8 weeks after fertilization.

FET – frozen embryo transfer is an ART procedure in which in vitro created and frozen embryo is thawed and transferred into the woman's uterus.

ICSI – intracytoplasmic sperm injection is an in vitro fertilization procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. The embryo is then transferred to woman's womb. This procedure is most commonly used to overcome male infertility problems. ICSI can be performed, even when very few sperms can be retrieved from the sample or if a testicular biopsy has to be used as the source for sperms.

IUI – intrauterine insemination involves a laboratory procedure to separate more viable and motile sperm from the sperm sample and transfer them. The fast moving sperm are then placed into the woman's womb close to the time of ovulation when the egg is released from the ovary in the middle of the monthly cycle. For IUI donor or partner sperm can be used.

IVF – in vitro fertilisation is a process by which an egg is fertilised by sperm outside the body: in vitro ("in glass"). One procedure includes the following stages:

METHODOLOGY

2011–2013 data was collected by the National Institute for Health Development with annual report "Assisted reproductive technology". From 2014, the data is collected by the State Agency of Medicines. The data in table "KV01: In vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transplantation procedures by age group" is not comparable with data in table KV10.

In ART table KV10 for variables "IUI", "IVF", "ICSI" and "FET" are collected of cycles where sperm/embryos were actually transferred. For variable "transfer did not take place" is collected cycles in which the ART cycle began, but the sperm/embryo transfer didn't take place. When IVF and ICSI produced embryos were transferred together then only ICSI cycle is counted. Woman's age is defined at the beginning of the treatment cycle.

DATA VIZUALIZATION: Assisted reproductive technology

CONTACT

Agency of Medicines

Phone: +372 737 4140

E-mail: info[at]ravimiamet.ee

 

or

 

Jane Idavain

Department of Health Statistics

National Institute for Health Development

E-mail: jane.idavain[at]tai.ee

 

Updated: 3.03.2023