Access to infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technologies under the medical guarantees program is an important support for Ukrainian families, but when choosing a clinic, patients should focus not on promises of results, but on the quality of the medical team, the laboratory, the transparency of the treatment plan and clear communication.
Assisted reproductive technologies, in particular in vitro fertilization, or IVF, are not a single procedure. This is an individually planned medical process that includes consultations, diagnostics, medication preparation, the embryological stage, safety monitoring and further observation.
The state finances infertility treatment using ART in medical institutions that have the relevant contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine. The medical guarantees program allows patients to receive such treatment free of charge if there are medical indications and if they apply to an institution that has a contract with the NHSU.
Within the program, specialist consultations, medication stimulation, ultrasound monitoring, egg retrieval, sperm preparation, in vitro fertilization, including with the use of ICSI, embryo cultivation, embryo transfer into the uterine cavity and monitoring of the patient’s condition until pregnancy is established may be provided.
The patient’s age at the time of the start of the cycle must be no more than 40 years. If the first cycle did not lead to pregnancy, the possibility of a repeated cycle during the year is determined by the conditions of the program and medical indications.
At the same time, the list of services, indications and organizational requirements may be updated. Before starting treatment, patients are advised to clarify with the clinic what exactly is included in the state package in a specific case, what studies may be required additionally and what decisions are made individually after a doctor’s consultation.
In reproductive medicine, the result of treatment is formed by the work of an entire team — a reproductive specialist, embryologist, andrologist, geneticist, anesthesiologist, ultrasound diagnostics specialist, medical coordinators and other specialists.
Experts emphasize that in this field it is unethical to promise a specific result. The probability of pregnancy and the birth of a child depends on the patient’s age, ovarian reserve, causes of infertility, sperm quality, the condition of the uterus and endometrium, genetic factors, previous reproductive history, the number of embryos obtained and other clinical circumstances.
Therefore, when choosing a clinic, patients should pay attention to the presence of a contract with the NHSU, the experience of the team, its own embryology laboratory, the quality management system, a transparent treatment plan, the possibility of genetic counseling according to indications, the availability of modern technologies, the quality of communication and the further medical route after embryo transfer.
The embryology laboratory has special importance. A significant part of the IVF process takes place precisely there: specialists work with eggs and sperm, carry out fertilization, cultivate embryos, assess their development and prepare them for transfer or cryopreservation.
It is important for patients to understand that the laboratory must work according to standardized protocols, ensure control of the environment and use systems that minimize the risk of errors when working with biomaterial.
Some additional technologies, such as time-lapse monitoring of embryo development or IMSI for more detailed morphological selection of sperm, may be useful in certain clinical situations. However, their use must be determined by medical indications and not be perceived as a universal guarantee of success.
Modern reproductive medicine may also include genetic counseling and preimplantation genetic testing of embryos. Such studies may be recommended in cases of known hereditary diseases in the family, carriage of genetic changes, chromosomal rearrangements in partners, repeated pregnancy losses or other medical indications.
At the same time, genetic testing does not exclude all possible medical risks and is not a guarantee of the birth of a healthy child. The decision to conduct it must be made individually after consultation with a doctor and a geneticist.
A comprehensive approach to infertility treatment may include additional examinations, correction of concomitant conditions, consultations with a geneticist, endocrinologist, gynecological surgeon or pregnancy management specialist. Therefore, for the patient, not only the availability of individual services is important, but also coordination between specialists, a clear treatment route and the preservation of medical documentation.
The Nadiya Clinic has been working in the field of reproductive medicine for more than two decades and provides services in Kyiv and Lviv. For patients considering treatment under the NHSU program, practical advantages may include the presence of a specialized team, an embryology direction, genetic counseling according to indications and a coordinated route from the initial consultation to further observation.
At the same time, the decision on treatment in any medical institution should be made after a personal consultation. It is precisely during the consultation that the patient can assess how clearly the treatment plan is explained to them, whether the specialists are ready to answer difficult questions, whether they take into account the individual history and how comfortable the communication with the team is.
Before the first consultation, patients are advised to prepare the results of previous studies, discharge summaries after operations or treatment, information about previous pregnancies, pregnancy losses or ART programs, if there were any.
It is also worth discussing in advance with the doctor the possible cause of infertility, the need for additional examinations, the stages that are included in the state package, possible additional decisions or expenses, indications for consultation with a geneticist, the procedure for communication with the team during treatment and realistic expectations specifically in a particular clinical situation.
The state infertility treatment program expands access to important medical care, but the quality of treatment depends not only on financing. It is determined by the accuracy of diagnostics, the coordination of the team, laboratory standards, honest communication and the patient’s right to receive clear information before every decision.
Nadiya Clinic is a medical institution specializing in reproductive medicine, infertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology programs. The clinic operates in Kyiv and Lviv, provides consultations with reproductive specialists and supports patients at different stages of treatment.
