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 

Freeze your sperm preserve your fertility explained by Shibin at Ridge IVF, Delhi/NCR

Investigation of Possible Causes for Failed IVF Cycles

Infertility, more than a physical problem causes emotional turmoil for a person or for the couple. The realization that their happiness as a couple could not translate into parenthood is devastating. A couple who faces such a situation feels cheated by the nature and want to try anything possible to be able to be parents. They long for their kids more than anything in the world. The urge of generativity surmounts any other rationale. 

Assisted Reproductive Technology or ART has brought in new hope in the field of treatment for infertility. This advancement has allowed doctors to improve the success rate of fertility treatment and now couples who earlier could never have gained parenthood are blessed with kids and have a complete life. IVF or In-Vitro Fertilization is one of the most effective ART treatments. Doctors specialized in IVF treatment commit that this method has changed the way couples look forward to infertility treatment. It is like a treatment that will sure bless them with parenthood, no matter what come.

However, there are cases when even IVF procedures have been reported to fail. The failure could be due to various factors, but the sad part is it disheartens the couples beyond state of expression. How could IVFcycle fail? What could we do now? If IVF procedure has failed over me then either the doctor is cheating or I am too sick to be a mother or there is something gravely wrong with the sperm quality of my partner. These are some of the doubts that creep in the couple along with their disheartenment. 

Then, whatever are the doubts created in a patient’s mind, failed IVF cycle remains to be a starting fact of their life. But the reasons for the failure may not be what a patient doubts. It could be even grave or even none. As per experts from the best IVF center in India, low quality of sperm, certain procedural defect during implantation, age of women and uterus defects accounts for main reasons behind failed IVF attempts.

Women after certain age slow down releasing hormones that are conducive to support implantation and further nourish the embryo into a child. Further the body of the women starts treating pregnancy as a burden after a certain age. The defects during implantation are rare, at least when the IVF procedures are carried out at the best fertility center in Delhi. However, the chances are not nil and does account for failures of the process.

Defects in uterus of the woman also hamper the success of the In-Vitro Fertilization process. The uterus wall sometimes is not adaptive and thus rejects the embryo after some days of implantation. Low quality of sperm is also another major cause. Sperm motility is not only attributed to failure of IVF but is also accountable for miscarriage in a number of cases. But, even after aforementioned reasons of failures, IVF is best ART procedure with high success rate if performed by an IVF specialist in Delhi.

Look Out for the “Right” Fertility Centre

Let us understand that you have been getting recommendations from your gynaecologist-- who has been running hormone tests, recording your basal body temperature and making you go through a series of physical examinations. At the same time, your male partner has been going through agonizing checks at the urologist. There comes a stage when you are sick of running from pillar to post and wish to get in touch with specialist who can take care of all your infertility woes –together as a couple.

To get that much required “big-picture advice” and the best modes of treatment, you need to seek an appointment with the best fertility centre in your town/city. 

Why do you need to meet a Specialist?

If you are a woman with a history of 3-4 miscarriages and aged over 35, you need to meet an infertility specialist. It also rings true for men who have poor semen analysis reports or couples who have tried in vain to get a baby –for more than two years.

Questions to ask of people connected with a Fertility Clinic

Now that you have an appointment in place and are waiting to meet the specialist you should go through a check list of questions that need to be addressed. 

•   How long has the fertility clinic been in existence?
• How experienced are the doctors and technicians in treating the issues connected with your infertility?
• What is the turnover rate of the technicians and staff involved with the fertility clinic? A high turnover rate can signal bad management skills and can contribute to irreversible mistakes in handling your case as well.
•   What are the procedures offered by the clinic and how often are they performed on patients visiting their facility?
•   Do they offer the latest technological inputs and sophisticated tools to handle processes like blastocyst transfer and tubal cannulation?
•   Are there any age limits for going through these infertility treatments?
•  How many patients and treatment cycles do you handle every year?
•  What are chances for multiple births in IVF procedures?
•   What does the entire treatment cost and does the fertility clinic offer a money back guarantee if you fail to get pregnant?

These and many more concerns arise in the minds of childless couples wanting to go through proven processes of getting their own child. A careful analysis of all provided answers and further research can guide you to the best clinic for handling fertility problems.

Way Forward...

You can also look for references and testimonials from friends, peers and family members. A careful insight into the working modes of your fertility clinic, doctors on its panel and procedures on offer, can make you feel more confident and geared up to handle the treatment.

So, instead of looking for words to frame your advertisement for “surrogate mother wanted”, simply go ahead and look for the best fertility centre close to you. You will come back happy and elated!

Tips for Increasing your chances during female infertility treatment in delhi

Are you looking for female infertility treatment in delhi? Not every IVF center offers quality treatment. Infertility treatment is unlike other treatments, and there is much more to it than finding the best center. Here are some important success tips for helping you to find the get through your IVF process with the highest chances of becoming pregnant.

The first point is to find the best infertility center delhi. Research the facilities offered and the qualifications of the professionals at the IVF centers. Check the physician’s qualifications, specialities, the presence of accredited labs, the kind of amenities provided to patients, and the number of women of your age who have been successfully treated.

Beyond finding a successful IVF center, there are many other things to be kept in mind. As a couple, you must make your decision for a treatment as early as possible without waiting any longer. The more you wait, the lesser the chances that you will become pregnant. According to specialists, 33% of women start having lesser chances of fertility after 35. After 40, the chances of becoming pregnant further diminish by a huge percentage. However, that doesn’t mean that there are no chances at all. However, if are having trouble becoming pregnant, the best thing is to see an IVF doctor at the earliest.

The next important point is to get both the male and female tested for infertility. The best ivf centers in india will always conduct tests on both the husband and wife to determine who needs treatment. Even if the wife has infertility issues, the sperm quality needs to be checked before the IVF cycle is started. A certain percentage of the success of the treatment will also depend on this factor.

When searching for centers offering infertility treatment in delhi, it is most important to find a doctor whom you are comfortable to talk openly with. In addition to being fully-qualified and experienced, the doctor should be ready to answer all your questions. The doctor should explain everything that you can expect during the entire process. He/she should also advise you about all the things you need to do and the things that need to be avoided. Keep in mind that the more you understand about the process, the higher your chances of becoming pregnant.

IVF treatment is not an ordinary decision for couples. Therefore, there is a very high chance that the female infertility treatment in delhi process can bring in a certain amount of stress. Ask the doctor for ways on how you can relax. The doctor can suggest several activities for promoting relaxation. At the same time, it becomes more important from physical perspectives to maintain your mental and physical balance. Postpone any major changes around you such as moving to a new job or house. One effective way to relax is to go out for spa treatments and other naturally refreshing treatments that don’t require much physical movement. Most importantly ask your doctor before engaging in any exercise or treatments.

Looking for a fertility treatment clinic? Read on to learn more

At a fertility hospital, you can find state of the art technology, experienced technicians and other fertility specialists who help several couples to conceive in different ways. Making a decision when it comes to selecting a fertility treatment clinic can indeed be a confusing one; you should certainly not be making any decision in haste. Also, it is essential that you have realistic expectations since even the best or the most popular fertility treatment clinic in the world will not assure you of a pregnancy.  The highest you could be doing is enhancing your odds of conceiving when visiting a fertility clinic.  

Irrespective of which fertility centre are you choosing for your treatment, there are some questions which need answers before you go ahead with the treatment. First and foremost, you should decide how much are you willing to spend on the treatment, or rather how much will the treatment cost. You must be certainly aware of the fact that such treatments are not inexpensive and many insurance providers will not offer cover for such treatments. Thus, it means that you have to finance the treatment costs on your own. The cost of the fertility treatment will also depend to a great extent on the cause of the problem which is hampering your pregnancy chances.

Some patients are lucky enough to get the treatment done within a reasonable amount. They primarily have to pay for fertility drugs apart from doctor visits and the required tests to be performed. If any patient requires a high-priced fertility injection or drug, then costs may escalate. Some fertility problems also call for a surgery and this can prove to be very expensive for the couple. 

Indeed, cost plays a pivotal role for many couples who are looking for fertility treatment India. Most couples who look to opt for fertility treatment are handicapped by the high expenses involved in availing the treatment. One also comes across many cases where couples have mortgaged their property or risked their retirement savings to spend on such a treatment in a hope that they will be blessed with a child.

When it comes to choosing a fertility clinic, couples should also enquire about the staff’s experience and qualification when it comes to carrying out the procedure. At the fertility clinic that the couple pays a visit to, they should find out about the industry experience of the in vitro fertility, infertility specialists as well as that of the endocrinologist. Compared to other fertility treatments, IVF, or in vitro fertilization is a highly expensive procedure so one should always find out about the success rate of such a treatment before spending an astronomical amount on it.  One may also want to know how a particular fertility clinic fares in comparison to other clinics in the area and what has it fared on a national level.