FAQ

The limit for IVF treatment in Cyprus is 50 years old. Women between the ages 50-53 may apply to the Board of Medically Assisted Reproduction to get an exemption.

In tandem IVF cycle women are given the chance to be transferred embryos that were fertilized with their own eggs and with donor eggs or to be transferred embryos that were fertilized with the sperm of the partner and donor’s sperm at the same time. However, transferring embryos that were made from different gametes simultaneously is illegal at Cyprus. Tandem cycles are forbidden.

Gender/sex selection is applicable only for medical reasons, for example in case of inheritance syndromes. Patients should present a medical report specifying the problem in order to proceed with the biopsy of the embryos.

According to the new legislation couples and single persons can have IVF treatments.

According to article four of the law, the new legislation is applicable to couples and single persons. Please note that the law states that every couple should be composed by a man and a woman in order to have IVF treatments. Additionally all couples should be married or have a permanent relationship in order to proceed with IVF treatments.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is related with several multi organ diseases. Mitochondria are organelles found in the cytoplasm of most cells including oocytes and are responsible to supply cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphospate (ATP). They also participate in other cellular tasks like signalling, cell differentiation and cell death. Dysfunction of mitochondria could affect brain, liver, heart etc and symptoms may include deafness, blindness, diabetes, heart, kidney and liver failure. Mitochondria carry only a small number of genes and they are exclusively transmitted maternally, by the oocyte.

Currently there is no treatment for patients; there is a limitation in prenatal and preimplantation diagnosis methods. In order to avoid transmission of defected mitochondria the method of cytoplasmic transfer or mitochondria replacement has been established with promising results. However, more studies need to be done with regard to safety and efficacy before its routine application.

According to the new legislation women that are younger than 38 years old can only have 2 embryos transferred.

Women who are between 39 to 50 years old can only have 3 embryos transferred.

In both cases the quality and the stage of the embryos is not a factor.

Having intercourse before the transfer can actually help to have an easier transfer as it will help the cervix channel to open. However, patients are advised to avoid intercourse after the transfer until the results of the b-HCG test.

Women can eat and drink before the embryo transfer. They should be aware that for the embryo transfer they are needed to have full bladder so the position of the endometrium will be clear to the scan.