Month: February 2023

How Does Diabetes Affect Fertility In Men And Women?

Diabetes can impact fertility by compromising reproductive health in both males and females. The primary factor behind the failure or delay of implantation and pregnancy is the hormonal disruption caused o by diabetes. Diabetes damages sperm, eggs, and embryos, causing DNA deletions and genetic mutations. Approximately 1 in 11 Indians are estimated to have diabetes, making India the second-highest prevalence worldwide. Diabetes is a condition that develops slowly and discreetly harms your general health and it also impairs your fertility. 

To improve your reproductive health, you can consult an infertility specialist.

Diabetes and Female Infertility

Diabetes is one of the many factors that can influence a woman’s fertility. Low fertility rates can be caused by autoimmune illnesses, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), problems from uncontrolled diabetes or any chronic illness etc.. Being underweight and overweight both might also contribute to low fertility rates. 

There are two forms of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin to metabolize sugar and the blood sugar levels are increased.  In Type 2 diabetes normal levels of insulin is produced by the body but there is insulin resistance, that is higher level of insulin is required to metabolize sugar. Since, the level of insulin is less than the demand of the body, it gives rise to high blood sugar levels.  In order to conceive naturally, maintaining normal blood sugar levels is essential. Another form of diabetes which develops during pregnancy and blood sugar levels revert to normal after delivery is called Gestational diabetes mellitus.

While it’s true that many women with diabetes can get pregnant easily, diabetes can occasionally make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant. Doctors advise women with diabetes to take extra care to reduce their risk of complications during pregnancy because of this.

• Women who have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) during in the early stages of pregnancy are five times more likely to experience complications difficulties, such as congenital anomalies, first trimester abortions, missed abortions. In advanced gestation increased blood sugar levels may result in intrauterine growth retardation (low birth weight) and even sudden intrauterine death.
• Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes later in life, and are at higher risk of developing diabetes during the next pregnancy. They are also at a twofold higher risk of acquiring hypertension in late pregnancy.

Doctors claim that women with diabetes typically do get pregnant. However, it frequently leads to miscarriage even before they begin to realise that they are pregnant. The disease compromises egg quality, leading to poor-quality embryos. In some women with diabetes, reduced blood flow to the uterus lowers the chances of implantation.

Related: How To Get Ready For A Healthy Pregnancy After Miscarriage

Diabetes & Male Infertility

Men with diabetes may experience problems conceiving. In actuality, type 2 diabetes affects men more frequently as compared to women. It can cause erectile dysfunction in men, which may be related to infertility

Male fertility can be impacted by diabetes in a number of ways, including decreased sperm quality, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, abnormal or malformed sperm, retrograde ejaculation.

A study compared sperm quality in diabetic and non-diabetic men. It found that non-diabetic men have 25% more sperm than diabetic infertile men. Men with diabetes are also more likely to have DNA damage in their sperm. Evidence shows diabetes increases miscarriage and birth defects in women and hinders conception in men.

Related: How can Male Infertility be treated?

How You Cure Infertility Along With Diabetes?

If diabetes is making it hard to get pregnant, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can help. Your infertility specialist will tailor the treatment for you.

Experts say pregnancy is possible with well-controlled diabetes and a healthy weight. You and your partner can both visit the best IVF centre in India for the right advice and medical assistance. Your IVF specialist may carry out sperm retrieval techniques like TESA or micro TESE for male infertility if required. They can perform assisted laser hatching, in-vitro fertilization, or intrauterine insemination for female infertility based on the diagnosis.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is useful for both male infertility like in cases with decreased sperm count, motility or morphology and in female infertility where the number of eggs are less.

Finally, treatment only works when you and your partner stick to the fundamental rules, such as eating the appropriate foods, exercising frequently, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding excessive stress. 

We have all been in that situation where we said something we aren’t supposed to. And honestly, that’s one of the most embarrassing and awkward moments. But, how would it be when you share something really sensitive with your closed one and they said something hurtful. 

When it comes to a problem, we always share it with our friends. While they may say something insensitive, we must know that they aren’t always meant to be hurtful. Often these hurtful comments are made out of sheer ignorance. All of us just want to be there for our friends and sometimes it hurts. 

When your close family member, a friend or anyone is going through IVF, you have to be very careful about what you say. Your prime focus here is to be there for them and not say something hurtful. 

Things You Should Never Say to Someone Going Through IVF

When it comes to supporting someone going through IVF, you need to be extra careful. One major reason these people opt for IVF is because they are undergoing infertility. It can be very disheartening. Well, here are some things that you must avoid saying:

1. Try to Relax

IVF is going to be a long procedure. Moreover, if you’re trying to conceive through IVF, you need to be extremely patient. One needs to prepare themselves to accept the results whatever may come their way. 

While you may want to make them feel at ease by saying to relax, it does not really help. People battling infertility are always conscious about having a child. Let’s just admit that IVF is a really expensive treatment. Therefore, no one can relax until they’ve received results. 

After all, what would happen if the results aren’t positive? It can lead to a mental breakdown. You must try to be there for people who have undergone IVF but make sure that you aren’t unreasonable about it. 

2. You Have Time

Never, never, never say this to someone going through IVF. Our fertility, especially in women, sees a steep decline after the age of 35 years. The ovarian reserve may vary from woman to woman, but whether it can help in pregnancy or not is still questionable. 

If they are young, don’t try to restrict or restrain them by saying that they have enough time. It is their choice as to when they want a baby. Saying that they have time will not help any individual who has been trying to get pregnant. 

Insurance coverage for IVF will also be limited. Since this is an expensive treatment, they will have to spend a lot. When someone is undergoing IVF, they are already going through a lot. 

No matter how young or old the person is, telling them that they have time doesn’t make sense. Each of them is in the path of their own suffering. There are individuals who may use donor eggs after a certain age. Rather than being opinionated, during these times we should try to be supportive. 

3. You Can Just Adopt

Let’s just say that this is one of the most common things anyone trying IVF has heard. While it is a very legitimate and logical explanation, it does not necessarily help. The path to parenthood is never easy. There are way too many complications that the couple is going through and this just keeps adding to the pain. 

If they wanted to adopt, they would have done that without waiting. It is advisable that you be a little compassionate towards their feelings and let them heal. They are already going through a rough patch, please don’t add more to it. 

4. You’re Lucky that You Don’t Have Kids

This is honestly the worst thing that you can say to someone going through IVF. One of the main reasons why an individual or couple goes through IVF is to conceive and have children of their own. In such a situation, to call them lucky because they don’t have kids is very insensitive.

Rather than telling them things like these, you should consider being supportive. It is advisable to analyze their situation and then say something that will provide assurance to them. 

5. Maybe You’re Not Meant to Be Parents

Nothing hurts a couple more than hearing these words. If this was at all true, why would bad or abusive parents have children in the first place? 

There are many reasons why they aren’t able to conceive. Well, don’t just add to the pain by telling them that they are not meant to be parents. Be compassionate and not rude towards any couple going through IVF. 

6. Why Do You Need a Second Child when You Already Have One?

Secondary infertility can be as painful as primary infertility. Many couples experience this and it can be heart-wrenching. Having a child doesn’t take away the pain when the couple wants to conceive one more child. 

Couples with secondary infertility already feel grateful for having children. However, their desire to have one more child may be due to any other reason. It is advisable that you are polite towards them rather than being rude. 

Winding Up

Going through IVF, wishing to have a child can be an extremely complex procedure. You will need to go through a lot. Moreover, IVF success rate is also an important factor to consider. If you are planning to go through IVF, you need to ensure that you’re following the best practices. 

Reaching out to the professional doctors can be of great help in determining the higher success rates. It is advisable to know your situation and then go for IVF. 

If you want an infertility center with world-class IVF labs, foreign-trained doctors, a promising success rate, and the most complete range of treatments, you should choose Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Center.

 

Can You Get Pregnant with Hydrosalpinx (tube blockage)?

Hydrosalpinx means the fallopian tube of a woman is filled with fluid. It can be present either in one or both of the fallopian tubes. As the sperm needs to reach the egg to fertilize, the eggs must reach the uterus too, to fertilize with the sperm and develop into a healthy embryo. The fallopian tubes serve that purpose by transporting the released egg into the uterus. Once these are blocked, the passage of the egg is hampered thereby affecting the chances of fertility. This type of infertility is known as tubal factor infertility. However, this can be treated and the patient has a fairly high chance of becoming a mother.

Must Read: The Vital Role of Psychological Support in the IVF Journey

Reasons behind the occurrence of Hydrosalpinx

• Trauma to the fallopian tube
• Pelvic Infection or sexually transmitted infection
• Endometriosis
• Intrauterine devices
• Any previous abdominal surgery

How Diagnosis of Hydrosalpinx made?

The most common and painless diagnostic procedure is Ultrasound. The sound waves give a fair idea about the fluid in these tubes. This fluid is said to build-up due to some infections most likely and the scarring of the fallopian tube occurs too which makes it less functional.

Problems Hydrosalpinx creates

Other than creating fertility issues, hydrosalpinx can be problematic for the baby even when you have conceived. For example, if one tube is blocked and the other is open, then a woman can still conceive as the eggs are released alternatively from each tube every month. So even after the lady has conceived, there are chances that the fluid from the fallopian tube can leak inside the uterus. This fluid can be toxic to the embryo thereby creating a high miscarriage rate.

Treatment of Hydrosalpinx

Laparoscopic Tubal Clipping

The most minimal invasive as well as effective treatment is Laparoscopic Tubal clipping. In this procedure, a laparoscope is inserted inside the abdomen by keyhole surgery. A camera is attached to the probe to provide guidance to the surgeon. Through that probe, the fallopian tube having hydrosalpinx is detached from the uterus. This tube is then clipped so that it can not discharge any fluid to the uterus. This protects the embryo. Another tube is also examined for any pathologies.

If that tube also has some issues then IVF is the preferred method.

Laparoscopic Salpingectomy

It is performed in more severe cases of hydrosalpinx. The fallopian tube is removed to prevent any chances of infection or miscarriage.

IVF Treatment

In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF is a preferred method in such cases. As the patient’s eggs are taken painlessly and they are fertilized in the lab with their partner’s healthy sperm. The embryo thus formed is kept in the embryoscope for a few days. Later, this embryo is transferred to the patient’s womb and a pregnancy test is performed after 14 days.

Never give up on your dreams, you can conceive even if you are suffering from hydrosalpinx, any type of tubal blockage or any other infertility issue. You can meet our most experienced Fertility Doctors in Delhi for hydrosalpinx treatment or any other fertility problems.