How does natural conception occur?
Every month a single egg is released from the womans ovary. This egg has to travel up to the fallopian tube. If sexual intercourse has occured, then the man’s sperm travels through the vagina upto the fallopian tubes. The sperm fertilizes the egg and this fertilized egg is then implanted in the uterus.
How does advancing age affect fertility?
With advancing age the quality as well as the quantity of eggs decline in women. Hence the fertility potential of women gradually decreases with age. But nowadays, with technologies like fertility preservation, couples can freeze their eggs and sperms at a young age and stop the biological clock.
How does lifestyle affect fertility?
A poor lifestyle has a negative effect on fertility in both men and women. To improve fertility, couples should reduce body weight and exercise regularly. Diet should include foods rich in
anti-oxidants like green leafy vegetables, nuts and fruits. They should also give up smoking, drinking and lead a stress free life. Men should wear loose cotton undergarments and reduce use of laptops to maintain good sperm production.
What are the success rates of IVF?
The success rates of IVF vary from patient to patient. Your fertility physician will be able to tell you your success rates after a complete evaluation. Fortunately, due to great advances in reproductive medicine, IVF is the most successful treatment available today.
Are babies conceived after IVF normal and healthy?
Yes, of course. There is no increased risk of abnormality in babies conceived after IVF compared to those conceived naturally.
Is IVF procedure painful?
In IVF procedure, ovum pickup is usually done under sedation, hence the patient does not feel any pain. Embryo transfer is a painless procedure which usually does not require any anaesthesia.
Does a woman need strict bed rest during pregnancy after IVF?
Absolutely not! No special precautions need to be followed in cases of IVF pregnancy. Patients should just be mentally relaxed and continue with their normal activities.
How does endometriosis cause infertility?
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue from inner lining of uterus, called endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus in the pelvic area. These tissues bleed during menstrual periods resulting in cyst formation in the ovaries. The endometrial tissues cause inflammation and adhesion formation between the various pelvic organs destroying the tubo-ovarian relationship. So in these cases even though the tubes are patent, they are unable to pick up the eggs and transfer them to the uterus.
What are the treatment options for blocked fallopian tubes?
If a small part of the fallopian tubes are blocked, then the tube can be surgically recanalised by microsurgical procedure. But if the tubes are severely damaged, then IVF is a better option.
What is PGS?
Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is a screening technique to detect chromosomal defects in the embryo. This procedure is done after embryos are formed by IVF. A few cells are taken from the embryo for testing to provide information about the genetic make-up of that embryo. PGS is helpful for couples with repeated miscarriages and for better embryo selection in IVF.