Frequently Asked Questions on infertility.

Dr. Sarabjeet, Fertility specialist at Ridge IVF, Bensups Hospital, Dwarka answers a few commonly asked questions on fertility.

Is infertility a common problem?

Yes, About 10 percent of women in ages 18-44 have difficulty getting pregnant.

What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a group of different methods used to help infertile couples (couples who face difficulty in conceiving, despite trying to conceive for more than 12 months). Various popular ART methods are IUI, IVF, ICSI, Surrogacy, and more specialized methods. ART works by assisting the egg and sperm to come together, fertilize, form an embryo and grow inside the Uterus of the woman, as in pregnancy.

What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an infertility treatment that is often called artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI. This procedure is often used to treat mild male factor infertility, Women who have problems with their cervical mucus, Couples with unexplained infertility have has successful pregnancy through IUI.

What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Today, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is practically a household word. But not so long ago, it was a mysterious procedure for infertility that produced what were then known as "test-tube babies." IVF involves combining eggs and sperm outside the body in a laboratory. Once an embryo or embryos form, they are then placed in the uterus.

How often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful?

Success rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:

·         Age of the partners

·         Reason for infertility

·         Clinic

·         Type of ART

·         If the egg is fresh or frozen

·         If the embryo is fresh or frozen

We do not have collated data for India, in U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2006 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a live birth were: 39% in women under the age of 35; 30% in women aged 35-37; 21% in woman aged 37-40; 11% in women aged 41-42.

Is infertility just a woman's problem?

No, infertility is not always a woman's problem. Both women and men can have problems that cause infertility. About one-third of infertility cases are caused by women's problems. Another one third of fertility problems are due to the man. The other cases are caused by a mixture of male and female problems or by unknown problems. Dr. Sarabjeet, at Ridge IVF says, he encounters more cases of infertility due to the male partner than due to the female partner.

What causes infertility in men?

Infertility in men is most often caused by (a) A problem called varicocele (VAIR-ih-koh-seel). This happens when the veins on a man's testicle(s) are too large. This heats the testicles. The heat can affect the number or shape of the sperm. (b) Factors related to exposure to excessive pollution in the enviournment (like Delhi city), (c) Movement of the sperm. This may be caused by the shape of the sperm. Sometimes injuries or other damage to the reproductive system block the sperm, (d) Cystic fibrosis in males also causes male infertility.

What increases a man's risk of infertility?

A man's sperm can be changed by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce the health or number of sperm include: Heavy alcohol use, drugs, Environmental toxins including pesticides and lead, smoking cigarettes, Age, health problems, such as mumps, serious conditions like kidney disease, or hormone problems, medicines

How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?

Many women wait until after a few years of their marriage, often reaching their 30s to have children. Age is a growing cause of fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35, have fertility problems. Aging decreases a woman's chances of having a baby in the following ways: Her ovaries become less able to release eggs, she has a smaller number of eggs left, Her eggs are not as healthy, She is more likely to have health conditions that can cause fertility problems, she is more likely to have a miscarriage.

How long should women try to get pregnant before calling their doctors?

Dr. Sarabjeet, Fertility specialist at Ridge IVF suggests at least one year. However, women 35 or older should see their doctors after six months of trying. A woman's chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. Some health problems also increase the risk of infertility. So, women should talk to their doctors if they have irregular periods, very painful periods, Endometriosis, Pelvic inflammatory disease or have had more than one miscarriage in the past.

Ridge IVF offers a free consultation with fertility specialists this Sunday, February 2, to couples who are facing problems in getting pregnant. To register, please call 8800100326