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Treatment for childlessness
These methods of treatment of artificial insemination are available
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Infertility treatment
If you decide to undergo artificial insemination, there are various methods to choose from. All forms of so-called "assisted reproduction" are usually preceded by hormone treatment of the woman. Here we introduce you to the methods of artificial insemination.
What are the options for reproductive medicine?
On the subject of infertility treatment, there is also the question "Which method is the right treatment for me or us?" To find an answer to this, it makes sense to take a closer look at the various options. The following applies to all treatment methods: they cannot guarantee pregnancy, but they can increase the chances. Here you can get a first overview:
This method is mainly used when the partner has too few or insufficient motile sperm. Then the sperm cells are transferred directly into the woman's uterus. The success rate is about 5 to 10 percent per attempt. After several attempts, pregnancy occurs in about 10 to 30 percent of cases.
After hormone treatment, eggs are removed from the woman's ovary. In the test tube, the eggs are mixed with the man's sperm. If fertilization occurs and the fertilized eggs continue to develop, an embryo is transferred to the uterus. Since the embryo does not always implant in the uterus, two to three embryos are often transferred. This procedure results in multiple births in about 20 percent of IVF treatments. The success rate is about 25 to 30 percent, and the live birth rate is 15 to 20 percent.
The ICSI method is a special form of IVF treatment. It is used when fertilization of the egg does not occur due to sperm quality during sperm transfer or IVF treatment. For this purpose, eggs are retrieved from the woman after hormone treatment. Then a single sperm cell is injected directly into the egg. If normal cell division takes place after fertilization, up to three embryos are transferred into the woman's uterus.
If there are no sperm cells in the man's seminal fluid, the so-called Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) and Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA) are used. With surgical intervention, sperm can be obtained directly from the testicles (TESE) or epididymis (MESA) in some cases. Subsequent artificial insemination is performed using the ICSI method.
This procedure is a hybrid of sperm transfer (insemination) and in vitro fertilization. In GIFT, eggs are removed from the woman in a minor operation. These are combined with the partner's prepared sperm cells and then injected via a catheter into one or both fallopian tubes. Fertilization then occurs naturally. The fertilized egg is supposed to migrate to the uterus and implant there. The success rate is about 20 percent. Because surgery under general anesthesia carries higher risks of complications and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, intratubal gamete transfer is not often practiced today.
In Germany, reproductive medicine is regulated by the Embryo Protection Act. In addition, the German Medical Association and the Joint Federal Committee of Physicians and Health Insurers have issued guidelines for action. In Germany, the regulations are very strict. The use of foreign oocytes, surrogate motherhood, cloning of embryos, sex selection of sperm (except in cases of serious sex-linked hereditary diseases) and the use of semen from deceased persons are prohibited.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about infertility treatment
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In addition to the choice of methods, there are a variety of questions that come up here.
If a pregnancy fails to occur naturally, the first step is a detailed diagnostic examination to determine possible causes. The necessary medical examinations are fully covered by both statutory and private health insurance.
If you have statutory health insurance
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If infertility treatment is planned afterwards, the statutory health insurance will contribute to the treatment costs under certain conditions.
The following conditions must be met:
Both partners are at least 25 years old.
The woman must not be older than 39 years.
The man must not be older than 49 years.
The infertility must have been medically diagnosed.
The prospect of success of the fertility treatment must be attested.
Only the eggs and sperm of this couple may be used and medical or psychosocial counseling must have taken place prior to treatment.
If these conditions are met, the statutory health insurance grants subsidies for the following treatments:
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8 inseminations without hormonal stimulation of the woman
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3 inseminations with hormonal stimulation of the woman
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3 attempts of in vitro fertilization (IVF)
3 attempts of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or
2 attempts of intratubal gamete transfer (GIFT)
Please note that treatment cannot begin until the treatment and cost plan has been submitted to and approved by the health insurance company.
If you are privately insured
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Since in the private health insurance in principle individual contracts are concluded, the scope of benefits may vary. Therefore, clarify the possibilities of cost coverage early with your health insurance.
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In addition, there is state support for involuntarily childless couples. In family-friendly North Rhine-Westphalia, promising fertility treatment should not fail because of money. A separate state support program is available for medical fertility treatments.
Financial support for infertility treatment must be applied for before treatment begins.
Which requirements and individual steps to be observed for financial support, explains this infographic.
Which documents you need to submit in addition to the application form for funding for infertility treatment, please refer to the checklist in the download area.
Where can I find help and support?
An unfulfilled desire to have children quickly becomes the all-dominant topic in the partnership. If, in the course of time, several infertility treatments remain unsuccessful, relationship crises are pre-programmed. If the emotional strain becomes too great, it can even lead to a relationship breakdown. Psychosocial counseling can help to master this time together. Especially before, during and after fertility treatment, accompanying counseling can have a relieving effect. Infertility counseling is offered in reproductive medicine centers and pregnancy counseling centers. The costs for the regular health insurance service are usually covered by the statutory health insurance.
Via the Counseling Center Finder on the familienplanung.de portal of the Federal Center for Health Education BZgA, you can find a local pregnancy counseling center with just a few clicks.
If you are involuntarily childless, you can receive financial support for infertility treatment under certain conditions. Detailed information on the funding and the possibility to apply online can be found here in the family portal
The information portal Kinderwunsch offers you comprehensive information about causes, treatment, counseling and financial support for involuntary childlessness.
When childlessness and the efforts of treatment become stressful, professional support is helpful. You can find out which counseling services you can take advantage of in the event of involuntary childlessness on the portal www.familienplanung.de. There you will also find a database of counseling centers for a targeted search for the right help.
On the portal of the Federal Center for Health Education you can download the brochure "Why us? When involuntary childlessness burdens the soul" free of charge.
