FAQs on Infertility
For pregnancy to happen, a woman must be ovulatory with patent fallopian tubes and around the time of ovulation (midcycle)semen with good number of viable sperms must be deposited in vagina.
Irregular menstrual cycles, genital Infections, and increasing age are some of the signs of infertility in woman.
Tubal blockage, uterine tuberculosis, polycystic ovarian disease and poor ovarian reserve are some common causes of infertility in woman
Yes with latest ART techniques available infertility in females can be treated well.
To improve female infertility, woman should plan timely for pregnancy. Increased age of woman is a leading cause for infertility.They should get timely treatment for the genital infections. Lifestyle modifications like maintaining optimum weight and reducing mental stress level are also needed to optimise their fertility potential.
Poor semen parameters like low sperm counts , low motility and abnormal or bad quality sperms are the common male factors of infertility .Sometimes there is no sperms at all in the semen sample ( Azoospermia) . At times there can be sexual dysfunction, diabetes,obesity,steroid abuse etc
Yes , male infertility can be treatable using latest technology available nowadays. For mild male factor infertility, medical therapies of antioxidants and hormones can help . But for severe cases, ICSI is the best viable option .It may include sometimes surgical sperm retrieval techniques like PESA , TESA, Micro TESE. For those who fail all these, donor sperm can be the last option.
Load More
FAQs on IVF
In Vitro Fertilization is a processwhere fertilization of gametes (fusion of egg and sperm) is done outside the human body (invitro) under specialised lab environment.Embryos (microscopic babies) that are formed after fertilization are transferred back into uterus of the woman for pregnancy to happen.
An IVF treatment cycle involves few stepwise procedures: (1) Case selection and screening tests of the couple. (2). Ovarian stimulation of woman to form multiple eggs in ovaries by giving hormone injections. (3) Egg collection procedure. (4) Fertilization of eggs with washed semen sample in IVF lab (5) Embryos formed under lab environment are transferred back into uterus.
Internationally, the overall IVF success rate are around 30-40% in first cycle. The success depends very much on couple’s profile like age of wife & husband and quality of their gametes. Uterus and its lining have to be good in order to carry the pregnancy. It is also important that the IVF Lab is having good quality control practices.
Usually patients get a positive result on an average with two or three IVF cycles. Lucky ones can get in their first attempt! In cases with three or more IVF failures, they can still try more if a centre is offering some novel techniques and protocols which are yet not attempted before.
Usually 3 months are adequate to bring back hormonal profile and physical fitness to normal and self IVF can be tried again.
Your chances are maximum with IVF treatment, as this technique has the highest success rate (around 40%); although if not successful in first attempt, you can go for second or third attempt to improve the success rates further. Your success rates can be predicted by your fertility expert depending on your reports and findings
No, IVF treatment is not painful. The hormone injections given nowadays are administered with baby needles with almost no pain, the procedure of egg retrieval is done under anaesthesia.
Medications used under guidance of IVF specialist are safe. However, in rare circumstances ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS)can occur and has to be managed stringently.
Pregnancy test can be performed roughly after 12 to 14 days of embryo transfer. Itis usually done by a blood test i.e. Serum beta HCG
Good IVF centres maintain transparency and inform beforehand about this. You can verify this on your IVF consent forms. After the procedure is done you can check this by DNA testing of the baby.
No bed rest is recommended after embryo transfer. Many clinical trials done across the world showed no benefit in IVF outcomes after bedrest.
You need to take all your prescribed medication on time to ensure good implantation.
There are no restrictions per se for intercourse but better to avoid it for the sake of getting genital infection or uterine stimulation
Artificial insemination is a process whereby sperms are deposited directly into female reproductive tract after semen is washed and prepared in laboratory.
Assisted reproductive technology comprises of all techniques where gametes are brought outside the body and fertilisation is done in lab conditions.
Sperm motility is a parameter to assess the fertilisation potential of a sperm. To assess its ability to reach the egg and enter inside.
IVF offers success to all those cases of infertility where natural conception is not possible by all means and everything fails to get a pregnancy, thereby it is becoming popular choice among infertile couples when nothing else works.
In Vitro Fertilization costs may vary depending upon various factors for example using self-gametes or donor gametes from ART banks. Also, in certain cases a pre-IVF laparoscopy or hysteroscopy may be needed which can change the cost of treatment. On average, around Rs. 1.5 to 2 lacs are the usual expense in all.
The overall Success rate is around 40% per cycle.
No, IVF born children are equally good as children born following natural fertilization.
Yes, IVF does increase the chances of multiple pregnancies because more than one embryois transferred in a cycle.
At present in India, insurance plan does not cover infertility treatments. There may be few companies who reimburse medical bills of the procedure.
Load More
FAQs on IUI
IUI is a procedure where semen is instilled inside the uterus of a woman after it has been processed in laboratory.IUI is done at the time of ovulation.
It is recommended in cases of male factor infertility like low sperm counts or motility and also in case of unexplained infertility so as to improve chances of pregnancy.
In IUI,the washed sperms are deposited directly inside the uterus at the time of ovulation. By this there are more chances for gametes (eggs and sperms) to fertilise and cause pregnancy.
Best period to do an IUI is at the time of or just before the ovulation (egg release).
IUI is a simple, non-painful procedure.Firstly,the husband semen is collected and then prepared in laboratory so we get maximum number of good motile sperms.Thereafter the woman (wife)is positioned to lie down and speculum is inserted in vagina. Semen wash in loaded in a sterile plastic catheter and introduced through cervix into the uterine cavity and is then injected slowly.
Pretreatment steps
1)Screening tests for both husband & wife.
2)Tubal patency test of wife is desirable.
3)Ovulation induction with medications
4) Follicular monitoring by ultrasound.
5)Timing of ovulation by giving HCG trigger injection (for egg release)when follicles are mature(>20 mm).
6)36-40 hours later, semen is processed and IUI done.
Woman is asked to lie down for 15-30 minutes after IUI procedure,thereafter she can resume her routine activities .She is asked to take prescribed medications on time as advised.
No,sperms don’t fall out after IUI.
Sperm accumulates in cervical crevices during intercourse and can survive for 72 hours Sperm accumulates in cervical crevices during intercourse and can survive for 72 hours Sperm accumulates in cervical crevices during intercourse and can survive for 72 hours
Semen sample is processed first in laboratory and the semen wash is then freezed by putting this in liquid nitrogen.Thereafter this frozen sample can be used anytime, like on day of IUI even when husband is not around.
Frozen sperms can be stored as long as desired.
No,using frozen sperms does not increase chances of birth defects.
No extra precautions are needed after IUI,just take the medicines on time as advised by the doctor.
After IUI, there is no restriction to have intercourse.
When husband semen has no sperms (azoospermia)then sperms can be taken from sperm banks and IUI can be done, this is called a donor IUI.
“Washed sperm”is actually the processed semen prepared in laboratory using various medias. By this process, toxins and dead sperms are removed from semen so that it can be put directly inside the uterine cavity.
Absteinance period of 2-3 days is advisable before IUI to get the best sperm sample from partner.
Ultrasound monitoring (transvaginal probe) is usually done in IUI cycles.
Fertilisation takes roughly 12-18 hours and implantation occurs around 5th day after ovulation.
NO,IUI cannot be used for gender selection.
NO,IUI process is not painful.It is equivalent to a gynaecological examination.