Fertility Treatments For Women

There are numerous causes for infertility in women. Disruptions in hormones, damage to the fallopian tubes, cervical problems or conditions such as endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can have implications for your ability to have a child.

The cause of female infertility can be diagnosed through blood tests and Laparoscopy, among other methods. Treatments range from Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) such as In-vitro Fertilization (IVF), medical therapy and egg donation to treatments such as Intra-uterine Insemination (IUI) -

In-vitro Fertilization (IVF): IVF is the process of manually combining an extracted egg and retrieved sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the embryo to the uterus. IVF is helpful in case of ovulation and genetic disorders, male factor infertility and blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.

Intra-uterine Insemination (IUI): IUI is a fertility treatment where fertilization is facilitated by placing sperm inside the uterus. The increased volume of sperm within the fallopian tubes leads to a higher choice of fertility.

Medical therapy: In case ovulation has been identified as the problem, fertility drugs can help with ovulation by either regulating or inducing it. Certain drugs can also help in case of unexplained infertility

Fertility Treatments For Men

75% of all male infertility cases can be diagnosed and treated. In most cases, in case of low or negligible sperm count, your doctor will recommend Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) or some non-surgical methods to counteract the underlying problem. These can include -

Sperm retrieval: If a male has a low or abnormal sperm count, sperm retrieval techniques may need to be employed. These can also be used along with ARTs.

Medical therapy: Medical therapy can help with sperm motility, production and quality. Certain antibiotics can help clear infections of the urinary or reproductive tract. Hormone imbalances can also be corrected with carefully prescribed medication and/or hormonal supplements.

Surgery: Surgery is a recommended option for men with a low sperm count on account of scrotal varicocele, and can have good results. Surgery could also aid in the reversal of sperm blockage, and hence lead to pregnancy.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs)

ARTs are used primarily as fertility treatments, and involve handling of both the sperm and the egg. Eggs are extracted from the uterus and sperm is retrieved, and fertilization is induced. While most in vitro fertilization treatments include Transvaginal ovum retrieval (OVR) or embryo transfer, other methods include -

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): ICSI is usually employed when other IVF procedures have failed, or in cases of severely low sperm counts or quality. This procedure involves the careful injection of a single sperm into an egg, and can vastly reduce the sperm requirement for egg fertilization. Usually, 50,000 to a lakh sperms are needed for one egg, but with ICSI, just one sperm per egg can work.

Egg or sperm donation: Genetic causes, prior surgery or chemotherapy can sometimes lead a deterioration in the quality of eggs or sperm. This makes them unusable, and a donor - whether known or anonymous - can be taken into consideration instead. This is especially a good solution in case of multiple failed pregnancy and IVF attempts, or at an advanced maternal age. Eggs from the donor are fertilized with the sperm from the male, and the resulting embryo is fertilized in the laboratory and then tranferred to the female’s uterus. Sperm donations are helpful in case of the absence of a male partner, or when the male partner has a condition that affects their sperm production.

Assisted zona hatching (AZH): This procedure increases the rate of clinical pregnancy by transferring the embryo to the uterus and ‘hatching’, by making a small opening in the outer layer surrounding the egg.

Gestational carrier: When other procedures have failed to work or if there is a risk involved with any fertility treatment, a surrogate or gestational carrier can be considered. A gestational carrier is a woman with a healthy uterus who can carry a couple’s embryo for the duration of the pregnancy.

Potential Complications To Look Out For

Certain complications that could arise with any fertility treatment range from side effects such as bloating, breast tenderness, indigestion and headaches to hot flashes and mood swings. Other complications can include -

Multiple pregnancy: This is perhaps the most common complication, and can conceive twins or triplets, which may be unexpected for the parents. A multiple pregnancy heightens the risk of premature birth, which comes with its own complications in tow. In addition, this could cause birth defects as well, or problems such as gestational diabetes. Such a case can be avoided by careful prevention in consultation with your doctor.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): The primary symptom of this condition is swollen or painful ovaries, which can cause mild abdominal pain. Other symptoms include bloating, nausea or shortness of breath. If you have faced such symptoms for over a week, you must contact your doctor immediately.

Bleeding or infection: This is not a complication faced after fertility treatment alone, but is often a risk with any invasive procedure. While the chances are slim, the risk still remains and should be accounted for.

Please contact us if you have any other questions, or if you’d like to book a confidential appointment. Dr. Chaitasi operates out of the best IVF center for infertility treatment in Ahmedabad, at the Shreema Maternity Clinic.