Fertility Department

• IVF Unit (In Vitro Fertilization)
• Sperm Bank
• Sperm Laboratory
• Semen Analysis
• Male Fertility – Clinic

IVF Unit (In Vitro Fertilization)

At the IVF Unit of the Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), more than 1,000 treatment cycles are performed each year.

The unit diagnoses and treats all types of fertility disorders, including hormonal problems, uterine structural changes, mechanical disorders in the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF), unexplained infertility, and complex sperm-related problems. In collaboration with Shaare Zedek Medical Center, the unit offers pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for genetic diseases as well as PGS.

The Shamir Medical Center IVF team carefully designs a personalized treatment protocol for every patient, tailored specifically to their needs, using advanced technologies and techniques.

When available, patients may also participate in research studies that offer new treatment methods, which can be beneficial. The unit offers a comprehensive range of IVF treatments to patients from all Israeli health funds.

We will do everything possible to help you fulfil your dream of parenthood together.

Sperm Bank

The Sperm Bank at the Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) specializes in assisting single women and female couples who seek sperm donation in order to fulfil their dream of parenthood.

Who turns to sperm donation?

When sperm banks first began operating, most patients were heterosexual couples suffering from severe problems with sperm production or function. In recent decades, alongside dramatic improvements in fertility treatments for such couples, allowing them to achieve biological parenthood, there has been a significant rise in the number of families formed by single women or female couples. Today, these two groups are the main patients seeking sperm donation.

Who are the sperm donors?

According to Ministry of Health regulations, sperm donors are men who undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation, including an interview and physical examination, show normal semen quality in two separate analyses (one fresh sample and one tested after freezing and thawing), are not carriers of infectious diseases, and meet the basic standards set by the Ministry of Health.

In addition to these requirements, Shamir’s Sperm Bank conducts one of the most comprehensive medical and genetic evaluations in Israel. All donors undergo detailed genetic counselling, followed by genetic screening tests and karyotyping.

Recently, the evaluation has been expanded to include genetic microarray (CMA) and an extended genetic panel screening for hundreds of diseases. Out of all applicants, only about 10% successfully complete the full evaluation process and are accepted as donors.

Limiting the number of families per donor: To ensure safety and diversity, we restrict each donor to a maximum of 8–10 families. Patients are required to inform the sperm bank of the outcome of each treatment, allowing us to accurately monitor the use of donor samples.

What is the difference between Israeli donors and foreign donors?

As in any medical treatment, we strive to offer patients several alternatives. Sperm is imported from European and U.S. sperm banks, all of which receive annual approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health. These banks enable us to offer a wider range of donors and more options, including “open-donor programs” with detailed donor information, as opposed to completely anonymous donations. On the other hand, it is important to note that importing donor sperm requires compliance with European/American regulations and an administrative import process that can take several weeks from the time of order until arrival in Israel.

How is sperm donation carried out?

Each patient at the Sperm Bank receives a formal list of preliminary tests. Additionally, an intake appointment is scheduled, which includes a medical evaluation and an orientation on how the sperm bank operates. After completing the medical evaluation, the patient receives comprehensive information to help them select a donor.

Sperm samples are used in two main fertility treatments: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). During Intrauterine Insemination, patients arrive at the sperm bank on the day of ovulation with the relevant documents from the treating physician. The sample is thawed, and insemination is performed shortly after. In contrast, samples designated for In Vitro Fertilization are transferred frozen in advance to the IVF lab and are thawed on the day of egg retrieval.

We are committed to respecting each patient’s worldview and beliefs, and we collaborate with both social organizations and religious organizations to support their needs.

Sperm Laboratory

Laboratory Activities

The sperm laboratory serves as the diagnostic foundation for both the Male Fertility Clinic and the Sperm Bank. Each year, it performs thousands of semen analyses, sperm preparations, and cryopreservations.

For the sperm bank, the lab is used to screen out donor candidates whose semen quality does not meet the required standards. Additionally, it conducts repeated semen analyses on approved donors, including the preparation of sperm samples for clinical use.

For male fertility patients, the lab provides semen analysis for men with fertility difficulties, sperm preparation for intrauterine insemination, and cryopreservation of sperm for future use.

The laboratory operates under the strict supervision of the Standards Institute of Israel - ISO 9001 certification. Internal and external quality control is carried out by CAP (UK), represented in Israel by the “Gamidor” company. This ensures the lab maintains a high international standard of quality control.

Semen Analysis

Semen analysis is a basic diagnostic step in evaluating male fertility. Tests are performed in accordance with international guidelines (WHO standards). If results are abnormal, it is usually recommended to repeat the test at least one month later to confirm findings.

Sperm Cryopreservation

Sperm freezing is a simple but highly important laboratory procedure that allows preservation of fertility for men who may face present or future risks of infertility, such as:

• Before chemotherapy treatments
• Freezing testicular tissue obtained via biopsy for IVF treatments
• Freezing testicular tissue after death (upon the partner’s request)
• Freezing sperm for IVF when the male partner is expected to travel abroad
• Freezing sperm if difficulty in semen collection is anticipated on the day of egg retrieval
• Elective sperm freezing at the patient’s request

Male Fertility – Clinic

1. Medical Background – Male Infertility

Male infertility has been a well-known phenomenon for many decades. About 7% of men experience fertility difficulties, usually expressed in abnormal semen analyses. Male infertility may be caused by a wide variety of factors, such as reduced testicular function, hormonal disorders in the brain and pituitary gland, obstructive or neurological problems affecting ejaculation, and other medical conditions

 

4. Evaluation and Assessment of Men with Fertility Difficulties
5. Why is it important to perform a medical evaluation for a man with infertility?

The evaluation of the male partner has three main goals:

1. Identifying treatable conditions such as hormonal disorders originating in the brain or pituitary gland, or dilated testicular veins (varicocele).
2. Identifying the effect of infertility on the patient’s overall health. In recent years, growing scientific evidence has shown links between male infertility and long-term health risks, such as diabetes, lipid disorders, cardiovascular disease, testicular cancer, and other diseases. Therefore, a thorough evaluation is essential to detect medical problems early, before they appear later in life.
3. Identifying genetic disorders that may affect offspring. In such cases, the patient (and his partner) will be referred to formal genetic counselling and consideration of comprehensive diagnostic options.

1. What tests are required in the evaluation of male infertility?

1. Hormonal tests – In addition to producing sperm, the testicles have an important role in producing testosterone, which is regulated by the hormonal stimulation of the pituitary gland. Male infertility is often accompanied by impaired testosterone production, which can affect the patient’s overall health. Hormonal tests typically include testosterone, pituitary hormones, and other hormones (like thyroid function tests), which can help determine the source of infertility and guide treatment.
2. Testicular ultrasound – Used to diagnose structural or other abnormalities of the testicles. This is a non-invasive, radiation-free test, increasingly used in recent years.
3. Genetic testing – such as karyotyping or Y-chromosome microdeletion analysis in cases of severely impaired sperm production, or testing for cystic fibrosis mutations in cases of suspected obstructive infertility.
4. Other tests as needed – such as examining for sperm in urine, transrectal ultrasound, and others.

5. Treatments for Men with Fertility Difficulties

After completing the patient’s evaluation, the optimal treatment plan can be offered for him and his partner. The main treatment goals are to achieve pregnancy and childbirth, while also providing tools for building the family unit, supporting future pregnancies, and maintaining the patient’s general health. Here are some of the treatment options:

1. Hormonal therapies – Proven effective first and foremost when infertility is caused by a lack of hormonal stimulation from the pituitary gland, or in cases of testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) to preserve fertility and protect overall health. These treatments may also be considered in other circumstances.
2. Other medications – for example, in cases of retrograde ejaculation into the bladder.
3. Testicular biopsies – A relatively common treatment in male infertility. Approaches include needle aspiration or open testicular biopsy. Usually performed in men with no sperm present in the ejaculate.
4. Varicocele repair – Varicocele (enlargement of testicular veins identified in physical examination) can be corrected by surgery or embolization. This treatment is recommended especially when the female partner is younger than 35 and has no additional fertility issues.
5. Sperm cryopreservation – In cases of significantly reduced sperm count, it is recommended to freeze sperm cells as a form of “fertility insurance” for future pregnancies, in case of further deterioration over the years that could result in the complete absence of sperm.