Author: Athar Anjum

What is the role of ICSI in IVF treatments?

ICSI is an advanced technique in which the best sperm is selected and pushed inside the egg using micropipette fertilization. This ICSI technique was first used in the 1990s, and since then it has been successfully used in patients to relive their dream of becoming parents.

What is ICSI/IVF?

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is an Assisted Reproductive Technology that is utilized in coordination with IVF to treat infertility problems caused due to low sperm count, less sperm mobility and much more.

This technique has a significantly higher success rate than any other form of treatment for male infertility. During an ICSI Treatment, the expert embryologist injects sperm into the egg for successful fertilization which increases the chance of pregnancy.

ICSI is performed within the IVF treatment process. During which the female partner is given medication for producing a high number of eggs during the IVF cycle. The eggs are retrieved under anaesthesia and injected with sperm for fertilization.

The sperms are collected from the male partner, but if due to any psychological reasons he is not able to produce a sample, the doctors can extract the sperms by giving some anaesthesia (TESA).

After extraction, the sperms are tested in laboratories for choosing the best sperm to be used in ICSI.

The entire process takes a day, right from the retrieval of the sperm and egg to their fusion.

The ICSI is performed strictly under the guidance of an expert embryologist who finely injects the sperm into the egg. Once the fertilization is done, it is transferred into the women’s uterus under expert medical supervision.

Post 16 days, a pregnancy test is done to check the progress.

Although ICSI is a revolutionary treatment in the realm of human infertility it has its limitation of being not so useful in treating female infertility problems.

Is ICSI/ IVF safe?

Well, according to Pristyn Care Ferticity’s best infertility specialist in Delhi, the ICSI IVF treatment is very safe.

However, the risks it carries are similar to the ones present in any other fertility treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this treatment, it is advised to get in touch with a fertility expert doctor who can offer you a reliable medical consultation for your reproductive health.

When you are looking for the best infertility treatment in Delhi, look for the one who has a proven history of delivering successful ICSI IVF results and Pristyn Care Ferticity, the best IVF clinic in Delhi NCR tops all the charts.

Video On Difference Between ICSI And IVF

Age is the most important factor that affects fertility in both men and women. In women, the fertility is at peak in the early teenage and mid 20s, which starts declining with the passing years. A woman’s fertility is majorly dependent on her egg pool. The higher the egg count the more is the fertility score of a woman. However, with passing age, this egg count decreases and leads to infertility problems in women. And since there is no natural way to regaining the egg count inside the body with increasing age which gets worst for female who are born without or minimal eggs, it makes them infertile.

However, with advancement in technology, medical industry has also witnessed significant miracles especially when it comes to women’s health. Getting pregnant for an infertile woman is now easier with infertility treatments available.

According to the experts at best IVF centre in Delhi, Pristyn Care Ferticity, there is a dramatic drop in the ovarian reserve after 35yrs of age along with the declining quality of eggs. The ovarian reserve is reflected by the AMH value- Anti Mullerian Hormone (blood test) , and antral follicle count which can be detected by an ultrasound. In contrast for men, the new sperm production takes place in every 60-90 days. Lucky men!! Aging does not affect sperm count much, so age is no bar for a man’s sexuality. The risk of aneuploidy also increases after 35 years of age in a woman. While good health improves the chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby, it does not over ride the effects of age on a woman’s fertility.

It is a common misconception that infertility treatments can overcome age related infertility. This is why the success of treatment is dependent on a patient’s age. For the older woman, the chance of having a baby increases if they use eggs donated by a younger woman. However, on the other hand the risk of pregnancy complications increases with age too. The risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities like mental retardation, Down syndrome and neural tube defects in the foetus increases significantly in the pregnancy after 35 years onwards.

Addingly, the complications such as gestational diabetes, Pregnancy induced hypertension ,intrauterine growth retardation, premature delivery, caesarean section and still birth in older women are more significant than in the younger women.

What can be done to improve the pregnancy results?

Women can help protect their fertility from the natural ageing process by leading a healthy lifestyle. It is important to perform regular exercise, moderate caffeine intake, balanced diet and a healthy weight range.

• Plan your baby before 35 years of age to have a healthy child
• Freeze your eggs at the younger age and use them later
• If opting for the infertility treatment, try getting eggs from a younger and fertile donor to improve the success rate and healthy pregnancy

If these natural processes do not provide the expected outcomes it is advised to contact the expert doctors of the best IVF centre to get a reliable infertility treatment . Pristyn Care Ferticity has emerged as a one-stop-solution and the best IVF Centre in Delhi for any female fertility treatment endowed with world-class amenities at the most affordable pricing.

IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) is a simple procedure that raises the chances of pregnancy.

According to research, IUI is the best treatment one must prefer before going for an IVF treatment.

Also, it is a much cheaper and less invasive method other than IVF.

IUI is mostly used on women who are younger and already conceived in the past. Also, it is effective for those couples who are diagnosed with some kind of unexplained infertility or minimal endometriosis.

Before getting into IUI, a few preconditions are required; a woman should have one open Fallopian tube and men should have adequate sperm samples. A painless procedure is performed in a fertility clinic setting without the use of Anesthesia.

This process hardly takes 5-10 minutes. During IUI, another medication that supports ovulation is also given. Also, continual monitoring of the procedure is done which includes frequent blood tests and ultrasounds.

The tests are required to keep an eye on the egg until they mature.

Related: What Is the Difference Between IUI and IVF?

If you want to increase your chances of getting pregnant and want to go for an IUI treatment, you can follow the following tips for better and more successful results.

Choose the Right Type of IUI procedure

IUI is known for giving a higher success rate than Intracervical Insemination. While using IUI, it’s very important which type of fertility drug is used and how timely it is used.

Good Health is very important

While going through IUI, you must take good care of yourself. Eat healthy foods like whole foods, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese, etc. Also, don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated and consume folic acid daily.

Don’t let the Stress, Overcome your Mind

If you keep yourself filled with stress, it’s hard for you to maintain your health. You should live a stress-free life if you want a healthy pregnancy. Try out different activities or exercises to keep yourself stress-free such as meditation, yoga, etc.

Try to Avoid Heavy Exercises

It’s always good to remain healthy, but once you are under the IUI procedure, you have to avoid heavy exercise. Such strenuous activities or exercises can cause uterine contractions, which could further cause interference with the procedure.

So, if you have any infertility issues we suggest you try IUI before starting any other fertility treatment.

Compared to IVF, it is quite effective and less expensive too. For any further queries or confusion, you can contact our fertility experts at Pristyn Care Ferticity, the best IVF treatment centre in Malviya Nagar, Delhi.

Male Infertility: The Plight of Infertile Men

Infertility is a serious concern in India. The National Family Health Survey (2015-2016) indicates a more acute fall in fertility amongst the urban population as compared to the rural population.

Interestingly, both male and female partners are responsible for this decline, hence bursting the myth that infertility is a gender-specific problem.

Male Infertility

According to WHO, a study conducted on more than 8500 couples shows that the contribution of malefactors in infertility is 51.2%.

The problem of Male infertility may increase further given the lifestyle changes, like no physical workout, increased consumption of junk food and environmental factors such as pollution.

From a practical perspective, it is immensely difficult for men to talk about their infertility because of societal pressure, fear of rejection, regret, and shame.

Unfortunately, male infertility is often associated with diminished virility and hence leads to an unwillingness and hesitation to seek help.

It is often erroneously presumed that male infertility does not lead to emotional distress.

A study reviewing the mental and psychological effects of infertility indicates that male infertility is also associated with problems of anxiety, isolation, self-blame, low self-esteem and inadequate sexual power. (M J & Khanghah, Fall,2003)

The appalling reality of Indian and most Asian societies is that reproduction is considered to be one of the fundamental goals of marriage and an inability to have children attracts negative social attention.

Also Read: Things to consider before starting your IVF Journey

Given the social stigma, opening up about infertility to a friend, partner, or other family members can be a daunting experience. Thus, not only is infertility a serious personal issue, but also a social one, and the lack of social support and understanding adds to the emotional distress.

The answer lies in providing information about the reasons for male infertility, the availability of fertility treatments and spreading awareness about its social and psychological aspects. These measures will go a long way in fostering healthy and happy families.

Article By – Anchita Kapoor, Counselling Psychologist

There are multiple factors that can cause infertility in a woman. The reasons can be hormonal imbalance, illness, any disease or any complications related to the reproductive system.

The causes of infertility are such that they can easily be overruled by minor environmental and behavioural changes.

However, living a healthy lifestyle and adjusting the causes to the max can help a woman to overcome infertility and lead to a healthy pregnancy.

Causes of infertility in women

Pelvic inflammatory disease

It is a very common cause of infertility which gives rise to infertility syndrome in women.

Pelvic inflammatory disease or say PID is associated with the inflammation of the uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries that may get infected with an STI.

A timely STI screening is the best way to avoid such chaos.

Related: What is The Success Rate Of IVF With Donor Eggs in India?

Fibroids

Fibroids are a type of benign tumour in women and another cause of infertility in a woman. They tend to remain small, but with time, they rise and impact fertility at a great level.

Also Read: Can Fibroids Affect Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?

Low egg quality

Many times, damages or abnormalities in the reproductive system may result in poor egg quality. It implies that some damages are prone to lower the quality of the eggs. With the poor egg quality, women face issues in their pregnancy.

Read: Common symptoms of PCOD shared by Pristyn Care Ferticity’s IVF Specialists

Disease

Diseases such as diabetes, thyroid, kidney issues or adrenal problems may lead to infertility. Some may directly impact fertility power while others indirectly affect it. Though possible treatments are available to treat such issues, women have to take necessary corrective measures too.

Hormonal imbalance

Most women have hormonal imbalances in their bodies which could lead to the growth of infertility.

With regulatory checkups and proper medication, hormonal imbalance can be lowered.

Related: What Is Hormone Therapy and How Can It Treat Infertility?

Medication

Some sort of medicine carries side effects that may lead to the growth of infertility in a woman.

Though medicines are prescribed to treat some other medical problem, it does carry negative side effects on the fertility of a woman. Before taking any medications, patients must discuss the consequences with their doctor.

Fertility issues are very common and can easily be cured with proper diagnosis and medication.

A woman who is facing such issues can become pregnant after following some preventive measures and by applying some behavioural and environmental changes to her lifestyle.

If you are struggling to conceive then you can blame your hormones for it. Like a lot of times, infertility is because of hormonal imbalances and that’s where hormonal treatments come as a blessing.

What Exactly Is Hormone Therapy?

Hormone therapy is defined as a hormonal treatment that is used to treat the hormonal imbalance caused in women.

Hormonal imbalance is the main cause behind the inability to conceive.

Though hormonal changes affect both men and women, in most cases, therapy is being applied to women only.

The therapy is known to promote egg maturation which helps in triggering ovulation.

Though the effect of the treatment depends upon the age of the women and the extent of the hormonal disturbance, the therapy works towards improving the situation.

Related:  What Is An Infertility Counselling, And What Questions You Should Ask

When hormonal therapy is required?

Women dealing with impaired egg maturation problems or irregular or no ovulation at all, hormonal therapy is the right solution.

Most cases call for the imbalance between male hormones and female hormones. As a result, egg follicles either mature to a small size or do not mature at all.

Related: Can Fibroids Affect Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?

In some cases, thyroid hormones also affect women’s health. Normal thyroid levels are important for a healthy and uninterrupted pregnancy. Hormone therapy can effectively treat the above mentioned and other related types of hormonal issues.

How can hormone therapy treat infertility?

Hormone therapy works in a three-way process followed by Detailed diagnosis, therapy, and ovulation & fertilisation.

Let’s understand what they are.

Detailed diagnosis

Doctors recommend detailed diagnosis during the menstrual cycle.

During the diagnosis, the doctor keeps a check on the hormonal imbalance, keeping an eye on the frequency of the imbalance caused.

Doctors use ultrasound techniques during the tests to monitor the causes and then begin the therapy.

Therapy begins

Once therapy starts, the doctor prescribes the medicine to the patient. The doctor can give it orally as tablets or through injections.

Ovulation and fertilization

The doctor gives the injections or transfers the medicine into the body. This triggers follicular development, aiding in ovulation and fertilization.

Though interfering with the hormones in the body is quite challenging, if the process is followed precisely, it can lead to assured success in the form of ovulation.

Doctors applying the hormone therapy keep a constant watch on egg maturation and hormone levels. Monitoring prevents excessive change that have the potential of serious health hazard.

Begin Your Hormonal Therapy At Pristyn Care Ferticity

If you are also facing such hormonal imbalances in the body and are not able to get pregnant, you can opt for Hormonal therapy at Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics.

We are the first NABH accredited IVF centre in India with the latest and most advanced technology and we promise a high success rate in infertility treatments.

Book an appointment with us and our fertility experts will understand the cause of your imbalance and will treat you accordingly.

A complete analysis is crucial before the beginning of any treatment to help you get the best treatment and success.