Tag: Infertility

If you are planning to undergo an IVF treatment, there is a probability that you might have read many articles regarding less IVF success rates in the first cycle. But what if we tell you that it’s not impossible to make your IVF treatment successful on the first try.

At Pristyn Care Ferticity we receive hundreds of patients and the first question that they ask is “What can we do to increase our chances for IVF Success on the first try?” or “Is it possible to maximise 1st Time IVF Success.”

So in this article, you will find the 8 tips by which you can make your IVF successful on the first try.

8 Effective Tips For Successful IVF

Here are the ten most effective ways by which you can maximise your chances of conceiving through IVF in the first cycle itself.

1. IVF success rates may be improved with detoxification. So, for a minimum of 3 months, you must adhere to a healthy eating regimen.
2. Alcohol. coffee and smoking must be avoided at all costs as they can hinder your IVF success rates.
3. Weight gain has a negative impact on the success rates of IVF. So if you want to make it successful in the first cycle itself, try to maintain a healthy weight and BMI.
4. Take the vitamins your doctors provide to round out your diet. Fetal implantation can be boosted by vitamins such as A, B, C and E. On the other hand, Folic acid is also important.
5. Men who want to improve their sperm quality should take care of their diet too and must consume important multivitamins. Aside from that, doctors suggest that using boxers over briefs could improve sperm quality.
6. IVF or infertility centres must also be chosen carefully. Choose an IVF clinic that has a long history of experience and success rates. Ask your friends and family for recommendations and then choose an IVF centre.
7. Though IVF is a stressful journey one must always keep in mind that stress always hinders IVF success rates. Do take the necessary steps to cope with it or talk to your counsellor for help.
8. It is possible to boost your chances of IVF treatment in the first attempt if your male spouse refrains from ejaculating or any sexual activity for 5 to 6 days before the sperm donation.

Prepare Yourself For Successful IVF

So as we have discussed the 8 tips by which you can increase your chances of a successful IVF treatment on the first try, let’s now understand how you should prepare yourself for IVF treatment.

For male partners, it’s better to avoid cycling or any other physical activity that can heat the testicles. As this can decrease your sperm quality. One should also keep in mind that age does play a crucial role in IVF treatments and it’s only possible to make it happen in the first cycle if you are below the age of 35.

Aside from that, both the couples should maintain a healthy weight by maintaining a healthy diet.

There is nothing more important to us than making your dream of becoming a parent a reality at Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics. Being located in Malviya Nagar, we are the best IVF centre in South Delhi. Book an appointment with us.

Watch This Video On IVF Success Rate

Are you consuming herbs just because you read a blog post or watch some YouTube videos about how they can cure your fertility? Then we would tell you to read this article and decide for yourself on taking herbal remedies or not. So, can herbs treat infertility? Let’s find out.

Herbs And Infertility: The Truth

See, it’s really discouraging when one can’t conceive in the natural ways even after taking care of everything from having unprotected sex to tracking ovulation cycles.

Also Read: Can Apple Cider Vinegar Make You Infertile?

But, after some time couple loses hope and attempts to try some herbal remedies with their prescribed medicines.

Though herbal remedies can work for some couples, one must always take note of the side effects they can cause too.

Herbal remedies do cure some ailments like cough, fever, etc. But infertility is not of them.

There are no such scientific backings so far that conclude that infertility is treatable by herbs.

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

However, there are a lot of times when couples try to consume herbal medicines with their prescribed conventional medicines. But they end up making their ailment worse.

Why?

Just because, many herbal medications react with the conventional medicines.

Studies On Herbs As A Cure For Infertility

Gilbert Ross medical director of the American Council on Science and Health in New York says, “Many herbal preparations have been documented to contain estrogenic substances, which can have an impact on sex-hormone concentration and fertility in both males and females.”

Nidal Jaradat and Abdel Naser Zaid performed a study on the effects of herbal remedies used in the treatment of infertility in males and females. They found that the herbs showed no signs of a positive impact on fertility in both men and women. And also lacked evidence that they are clinically safe.

What Can Help You Boost Your Fertility?

You don’t need many herbal remedies if you are trying to conceive naturally. All you need is a good diet plan, regular exercise, good sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking and alcohol.

Conclusion

Natural remedies or herbs can’t cure infertility. There are a lot of herbs that can make your infertility even worse. So before taking any natural supplements talk to your doctor and read about its side effects.

If you have any questions regarding infertility or planning to undergo an IVF treatment, then book an appointment now.

If you are someone who has just undergone the first IVF cycle or is planning to go for an IVF treatment, this is the typical question that can pop up in your mind.

If you have read some articles or watched some YouTube videos then you might have seen people saying that IVF guarantees a 100% success rate on the first try, but it’s a false statement.

So does IVF guarantees a high success rate on the very first try?

Can IVF Guarantee Success Rate On The First Time?

See, the overall global average success rate of women starting their first cycle of IVF is 35% and 50-75% by their sixth or eighth cycle.

However, one must understand that the success rate of IVF depends upon the age of the women. Hence, the likelihood of pregnancy increases with multiple cycles of IVF, which is generally three or more.

If you think that you might see a higher success rate in the first cycle of IVF treatment then you are wrong. This is the reason why so many couples lose their hopes as they do not make up their minds for multiple cycles.

Don’t change your fertility centre as soon as your first cycle fails, be prepared for more than two IVF cycles and then make your decision.

Factors That Determine IVF Success Rate In The First Try

Various factors affect a couple’s fertility and their success rate, but the most common ones are:

Your Age

Your age is the most significant determinant of your odds of getting pregnant in your first cycle of IVF. You must know that IVF is most successful for women between the ages of 25 to 35.

Your Lifestyle

If one of the partners smokes or drinks excessively or has an unhealthy weight, the likelihood of better success rates in an IVF cycle reduces significantly.

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

The Fertility Clinic or Centre Your Choose

The chances of successful pregnancy in IVF are as dependent upon the expertise and quality of a fertility clinic as it is on a couple’s age.

A fertility clinic or an IVF centre with great expertise, advanced labs, good air quality, and the background and expertise of the embryologists can promise you better chances of conceiving in the first cycle itself.

How Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics Can Help You?

Facing difficulty in getting pregnant? Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics is here to make your dream come true. With our world-class advanced labs and 43 years of combined expertise, our success rates are greater than 70%. So if you are looking for the best IVF and infertility centre in Delhi, give us a chance to serve you.

Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries and is proven to provide a lot of benefits not only in the terms of acne and beauty ailments but also in controlling pH Levels and whatnot.

However, because of its numerous benefits, many couples suffering from fertility problems ask if apple cider vinegar can boost their fertility or will it make them infertile.

And indeed conceiving successfully is a challenge for most couples, as many faces various problems such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), low sperm count, uterine fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, etc.

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

So, does apple cider vinegar (ACV) makes you infertile? The short answer is no, apple cider vinegar does not make you infertile. Rather it is good for both men and women and can help in improving fertility when incorporated into their diet. However, one must understand that daily consumption of apple cider vinegar can do the opposite and may hinder your chances of getting pregnant or infertility treatments.

Now, let’s understand how apple cider vinegar helps you in fighting infertility.

Apple Cider Vinegar And Its Potential Health Benefits

Apple cider vinegar has many health benefits. It can help you restore your normal pH level, prevent heartburn, and kills bacteria to improve your normal well being. However one must understand that it won’t treat infertility alone but helps in improving it to a certain level.

Here are some of the common benefits of ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) for infertility:

Controls pH Levels

Your vaginal pH balance is important for your vaginal health. Vaginal pH levels usually range from 4-to 5; too high or too low can disrupt your fertility. As well as helping to restore your vaginal pH levels because it’s mildly acidic, ACV is also proven to avoid urinary tract infections and yeast infections.

Prostate Problems

Fluids that are secreted by the prostate gland help nourish the sperms. But a lot of men after the age of 35 or 40 face prostate problems. Such as enlargement of the prostate gland or painful ejaculation. However, the consumption of apple cider has been proven to control prostate problems.

Also read: Does Fasting in Ramadan Affect Fertility?

Weight loss

If you are planning to undergo infertility treatments then you must be knowing that weight plays a crucial role in determining your chances of pregnancy.

Doctors recommend couples maintain a healthy weight and healthy diet, and ACV helps in lowering obesity and other weight-related problems.

 Lower Testosterone Levels in Women 

Being largely a male hormone, testosterone is found in both males and females. But it is to b noted that if testosterone levels increase in women they might face fertility related issues and other hormonal imbalances. Yet, apple cider vinegar is also proven in lowering testosterone levels.

How To Consume Apple Cider Vinegar And What Precautions To Take

Before learning about the right way of consuming ACV, here is something you must note.

Though you can try apple cider vinegar and yes it does provide benefits in improving fertility, it doesn’t guarantee results. This is because infertility depends upon many factors which are untreatable through natural remedies.

Related: Are Babies Born From IVF Treatment Healthy?

Hence, it is always recommended to consult with an infertility specialist before you start consuming apple cider vinegar. Your doctor would guide you through the journey by advising you about what’s right and what’s not.

Let’s now see how one must consume apple cider vinegar:

1. Start by boiling a glass of hot water and wait till it becomes lukewarm
2. Now add 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar

Precautions:

1. Drink it with a straw to prevent affecting tooth enamel.
2. ACV should be taken on an empty stomach.
3. Remember that ACV is mildly acidic in nature so one must dilute it in more water.
4. Remember to ask your doctor first before taking apple cider vinegar as it could react with certain medications.

When You Must See a Doctor?

If you are trying to conceive for more than 8 months now and you think that you might be suffering from infertility, then it will be a good decision to see a doctor rather than trying home remedies on your own.

Your doctor would help you in understanding the reason behind your infertility and what you can do about it.

How Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics Can Help You?

Did you know that finding affordable IVF and infertility treatment centres is a hectic task? And even if you find one they are just not that experienced.

But Pristyn Care Ferticity is not only affordable but also has 43 years of combined expertise in performing IVF procedures. So if you are planning to go for infertility counselling or treatment book an appointment with us.

Frequently Asked Questions

During Ramadan, Muslims across the globe abstain from food, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. Fasting in Ramadan is a form of intermittent fasting which is associated with numerous health benefits, but many patients question, can fasting in Ramadan affect their fertility?

So, in this article, we would find out if there is any effect of fasting during the month of Ramadan on infertile women and men.

Affect Of Ramadan Fasting On Fertility

There are a lot of benefits associated with fasting during Ramadan like weight loss, reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, and much more. But what about fertility?

To answer this question, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital conducted a study on fasting infertile Muslim women with non-fasting women comparing the outcomes of IVF cycles in both. But they found no significant difference between the two.

However, it was revealed that the fasting group of women experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression associated with the procedure. This is because of the increased spirituality fostered during the holy month of Ramadan.

Related: Can You Work Full Time While Undergoing IVF Treatment?

Also, there is a common myth among people that the children who are conceived during Ramadan are born smaller and sooner than babies conceived at other times of the year, and the answer is no.

A study published in BMJ Journals found that “Healthy Muslim women considering becoming pregnant prior to, or during Ramadan, can be advised that fasting does not seem to have a detrimental effect on the size (weight) of their baby and it appears not to increase the likelihood of giving birth prematurely.”

Effects of Ramadan Fasting On Male Fertility

Many studies done on infertile men’s to see if fasting has any effects on their fertility found that it didn’t have any effect on the fertility of healthy men.

Also read: How does a women’s age affect fertility?

A study performed by S M Abbas, A H Basalamah found that “In oligospermics, there was a proportional rise of testosterone with the level of prolactin. The total count and live- sperm percentage were improved during fasting among oligospermic men, but the percentage of weak sperm also increased.”

However, they concluded that though there is no major benefit of fasting for infertile men, there are some chances of improvement in the total sperm count, gonadotrophic hormone levels, and testosterone levels.

Should You Fast If You Are Pregnant or Undergoing Infertility Treatment?

Well, it is always advisable to get advice from your doctors because any uninformed decision might hinder your chances of getting pregnant and can prove to be a disaster.

But, it is not recommended to fast during Ramadan if you are a pregnant woman or if you are undergoing infertility treatments like IVF.

Conclusion

If you are opting to fast during pregnancy or treatment you must always ask your doctor first.

Avoid fasting because fasting does not affect your chances of getting pregnant in a positive way but can do the opposite. However, infertile men can fast during Ramadan s fasting does neither benefit nor declines their sperm quality.

We at Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics wish you a very Happy Ramadan, and we wish that all your dreams come true.

Infertility is becoming a common medical condition, affecting every aspect of your life. There are many studies and statistics that state that infertility affects 15% of couples of reproductive age globally.

Infertility is indeed stressful and that’s why some doctors might recommend you to go for an infertility counselling session. But many couples often think about whether to consider counselling or not.

Related: What Is the Difference Between IUI and IVF?

Though for some it’s really easy to decide, many others do question what an infertility counselling session looks like, what they can expect during the session and the questions they should ask the counsellor.

So in this article, we will give you all the answers you were looking for. But first of all, let’s understand what infertility counselling is.

What Is An Infertility Counselling?

Infertility counselling sessions are a form of psychotherapy that is used to help those struggling with infertility. This type of counselling is beneficial for someone who has been trying for a baby for 6 to12 months and is suffering from fertility problems.

The treatment can result in different physical and mental behaviour so the therapist guided you and helps you in coping with the challenges you are likely to face during your treatments.

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

Well, the sole aim of infertility counselling is to understand and resolve the patient’s nuisance emerging because of infertility or infertility treatments.

The best part about these counselling sessions is that your therapist is always there to help you cope with any emotional and psychological stress you are going through. Also, he/she will answer each and every question that’s wandering in your mind related to infertility treatments.

For more information about our counselling team, you can visit our counselling service page.

What Kind Of Counselling Is Involved In Fertility Issues?

At the outset, counselling is done in a variety of ways and generally, the medical staff determines the type of counselling that would be provided to the infertile couple.

However, the session covers three types of counselling which include therapeutic counselling, decision-making counselling, and support counselling.

During the counselling, the patients are offered adequate information about the pros and cons of infertility treatments so that the patient knows enough to make informed decisions.

When You Should See An Infertility Counselor?

If you are taken up by the thought of going for infertility treatment and don’t know what to do. Then you should go for infertility counselling.

It is also recommended to see a counsellor when your mental health takes up a toll. So, if you don’t know what to do after unsuccessful tries of pregnancy for 6 to 12 months, then it is advisable to take a counselling session near you.

These are the ways infertility counselling with help you out:

• Helps you process your emotional reactions
• Guides you through the infertility treatment
• Helps couples to emerge from relationship issues
• Takes you out of the maze of uncertainty and unfamiliarity
• Guides you to manage difficulty with “scheduled” intercourse

And the list goes on. As there is a lot more involved in infertility counselling that helps couples to ignite some hope that their dream of becoming a parent is not an impossible one to achieve.

Questions To Ask During An Infertility Counselling?

Asking the right questions to your counsellor during infertility counselling is really crucial. So here are the top 10 fertility questions one must not forget to ask.

1. How often would we be meeting?
2. What tests are really necessary?
3. What do you charge and will our insurance cover infertility treatment?
4. What tests are really necessary?
5. Will we be treated right away?
6. What’s the success rate of your clinic?
7. Should I use fertility drugs?
8. How can infertility counselling help us in coping with stress?
9. What if I can’t carry a pregnancy?
10. Are infertility treatments safe?

Looking For An Infertility Counselling?

So as you have seen, infertility counselling does benefit a lot of couples in numerous ways.

If you’re are planning to go for infertility counselling then we can help you. Start your counselling today by getting in touch with us, Delhi’s Best IVF and Infertility Treatment Centre. 

The first thought that arises in most women’s minds after their infertility specialist tells them to go for an IVF treatment is, “What is it like to get IVF treatment feel like?” or “what should I expect during my IVF treatment”

And yes it’s obvious to think about it. Because there are so many myths around us telling us that IVF is a painful treatment.

Honestly, this is why we are here to shed some light on what IVF treatment feels like and what you can expect during the procedure.

What is IVF?

IVF or in vitro fertilization is a process in which a couple’s gametes are fertilized outside a female’s body in a lab. This is the reason why sometimes IVF is also termed a test-tube baby.

Also read: Are Babies Born From IVF Treatment Healthy?

Generally, the treatment is more expensive than IUI and other infertility treatments but it promises a high success rate of a healthy pregnancy with a success rate of 40% in young women. This is the reason why for most patients the cost of IVF seems worth it.

Also Read: Everything about IVF

What Is It like to get IVF Treatment?

Well, if you are thinking getting an IVF is all fun and easy then you might be wrong. Though it’s painless, it is a lengthy process that takes time. After all, even natural pregnancy takes time, care, and patience.

From numerous screening and medical tests to a lot of consultations, getting an IVF treatment will seem hard mentally and emotionally.

But don’t be scared because, at the end of the day, this will be a worth it journey. So the good news is that IVF isn’t as bad as it’s projected.

Also Read: What Is the Difference Between IUI and IVF?

So, what actually an IVF treatment feels like?

Undergoing an IVF treatment will feel like an experience filled with emotions. From excitement to fear you’ll feel it all. Every stage will feel like an examination because without passing each and every stage you cannot make your place to the last one. But the last stage of implantation is when you hope you succeed. But the happiness you’ll achieve after successfully conceiving will be incomparable.

You’ll feel a bunch of emotions, stress, and also excitement about being so close to your dream. But all this time, you just have to take less stress and be optimistic.

What To Expect During The Early Stages Of Your IVF Treatment?

Do not get surprised but your body will go through a lot of changes during an IVF treatment, and here are some things which you can expect during the early stages of IVF.

1. Expect To Feel Emotional

It is common to feel so many emotions and outbursts during your IVF treatments. This is because of the hormonal changes that take place in your body. So you can expect your journey to be overwhelming at some point.

2. Increase In Hunger

Some patients may experience an increase in their appetite. This generally doesn’t happen with all patients but the reason can be emotional changes rather than medications.

3. Patience

Yes, you read it right, you have to keep more patience during your IVF journey. You need to keep your cool during the tests, you need to be more patient because things take time in IVF.

Though we at Pristyn Care Ferticity Fertility Clinics value your time and do our best to share your results as soon as possible, there might be some days where it would take some time.

4. Digestive Issues

Constipation is one of the most common problems of IVF. So it’s recommended to eat plenty of fiber-rich foods to keep your bowels regular.

Having kids in life is a very personal decision, it can be right now, far in the future or soon in future, however it’s important to be aware of factors that can affect your fertility. Because people often do not consider it until they are actively trying to start a family.

Although there’s no need to panic, taking care of reproductive issues in the initial stage can help improve your chances of having kids down the line and it can also help you understand your body so you can improve your health overall.

Both men and women can suffer from infertility for numerous causes, but signs and symptoms can vary greatly.

If you are in doubt, see infertility specialists in the fertility clinic near me who can help determine whether these symptoms are related to your fertility or not.

Common symptoms of infertility include the following

• Irregular Periods: Experiencing irregularities in your cycle can be a sign of ovulation, which eventually interferes with the process of getting pregnant. It’s best to keep a track of your menstrual cycle, it’ll help you to identify patterns or changes early on. This will also help you in case you ever seek guidance from a physician, while they inquire about your medical history. Checking on your blood flow can also help you, heavy flow and even overall absence of the same are some of the most prominent signs of infertility in women.
• Hormone Fluctuations: Few symptoms of hormone fluctuations can be skin issues, reduced sex drive, facial hair growth, thinning hair and weight gain. Experiencing these signs could indicate potential issues with fertility.
• Change in Sexual Desire: Man’s fertility is also linked with his hormone health. Feeling extreme changes in virility could indicate issues with fertility.
• Sprouting Facial Growth: Profuse growth of hair or losing it are all hallmark symptoms of PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. This results in impairing your ovaries’ ability to make or release an egg.

One in eight couples trying to conceive goes through trouble with infertility so if you’ve been diagnosed with infertility, or fear you may have trouble conceiving in the future, you’re not alone. Make an appointment with Best IVF centre in Delhi, Pristyn Care Ferticity IVF & Fertility Clinics and create your way to a blissful journey of parenthood.

IVF or Invitro Fertilization is a widely popular and highly successful fertility procedure. It is a boon for childless couples. However, there are still many myths associated with IVF which put the couples into a dilemma. To help such couples and clear any confusion about the IVF treatment, here we are sharing 10 facts about IVF from the best IVF doctors in Delhi so that they can make a decision based on the real facts.

These IVF facts will serve as eye-openers for couples seeking fertility treatment:

Babies born from IVF Treatment

The babies born after IVF treatment are completely normal and healthy as other babies. They are not any special babies who have any different needs and healthcare requirements.

About The Pregnancy after IVF

IVF procedure works differently till the pregnancy is achieved, after that it is a normal pregnancy just like other pregnancies. Utmost care is taken to keep the baby safe and healthy just like in normal circumstances.

Growth & Immunity of IVF Babies

The growth of the baby and his/her immune system are just like other normal pregnancies. The health features, immunity depends upon the mother’s health, nutrition and the genes running in the family.

About the IVF Procedure

The procedure of IVF is not as complicated as it may sound. The couple is counseled and the mother is given medications to help her ovulate more. After ovulation, the sperm is retrieved from the male partner and the eggs are taken from the female partner. Later, these sperm and eggs are fertilized in an IVF lab. The embryo formation takes place. These embryos are then implanted in the mother’s womb by a simple and painless procedure. After about 15 days, a pregnancy test is performed to confirm the pregnancy. Get more information about IVF treatment in Delhi here.

IVF in simple Words

In-Vitro Fertilization is just a facilitation process to achieve pregnancy in infertile couples. It is a simple procedure to help childless couples get pregnant with their biological child.

IVF Procedure if Male Partner has Less number of Sperms

IVF is possible even if the male partner has low sperm. This procedure is known as ICSI-IVF. In ICSI-IVF treatment, only one healthy sperm is selected and inserted into the egg. Later, the embryo develops in the lab. This embryo is then transferred to the mother’s womb to achieve pregnancy.

IVF procedure if Female Partner does not have healthy Eggs

IVF is possible even if the female partner is not producing healthy eggs through the Donor IVF Programme. The eggs are taken from the donor and the sperm from the male partner. They are then fertilized in an IVF lab and implanted in the female partner’s womb. Thereby a lady can become pregnant even if she is not able to produce healthy eggs.

IVF Procedure if the Female is unfit to become pregnant

If the mother is medically not fit to become a mother due to cancer or any other medical problem, then she can still become a biological mother of her child. This is possible by the surrogacy treatment where the sperm and eggs are taken from the couple and fertilized in a lab. The embryo is then transferred to the surrogate’s womb. She just carries the child and will not be the biological mother of the baby or related anyhow.

Couples having a history of Failed IVF Treatment

Failed IVF treatments can create a successful pregnancy by some assisted reproduction techniques such as –

• Assisted Embryo Hatching – The outer layer of the embryo is made thin to facilitate the pregnancy this time.
• Blastocyst Transfer – The embryo is transferred when it reaches the blastocyst stage(fertilized embryo), where it has the most chances of latching and hatching, thereby resulting in a successful pregnancy.

Couples With Unexplained Infertility

The couples having unexplained fertility who doesn’t want to go for IVF treatment can opt for the IUI treatment. Intrauterine Insemination also has great chances of creating successful pregnancies in healthy couples.

Meet the best and most experienced IVF doctors at the best IVF clinic in Delhi, Pristyn Care Ferticity IVF & Fertility Clinics.

The fallopian tubes are a part of the reproductive system in a female’s body. Their function is to collect the egg and through propulsive movements transport it to the uterus. For any pregnancy to occur the tubes should be open and they should be functioning normally.

Tubal Factor is implicated in 15-25% of the cases of infertility. Tubes can be damaged i.e. blocked or their normal function can be disturbed leading to improper functioning. Repeated pelvic infections in females, history of tuberculosis, endometriosis, any pelvis mass like fibroid, large ovarian cysts, and history of pelvic radiotherapy for cancers can cause tubal factor infertility. Often, the damaged tubes have a fluid collected in them which is known as hydrosalpinx. This collected fluid has harmful chemicals which are toxic to embryo development.

There are various tests to evaluate the tubal patency:

• The most simple is Sonosalpingogram (SSG) which is routinely performed in clinics under ultrasound guidance. A very small diameter rubber catheter is placed inside the uterus and saline is injected which comes out of the tubes freely if the tubes are open. There is no cut or stitch in this process. However, the functioning of the tube cannot be seen in tubal patency tests.
• Another test that helps in visualizing the tubes is known as Hysterosalpingogram (HSG). In this test radiopaque dye is injected inside the uterus and when the dye flows inside the tubes, its pictures are captured with the help of an X-ray machine. This test delineates the tube clearly and pathologies like tubal distortion, blockage of tube, beading of tubes, convolutions of the tube, presence of hydrosalpinx can be easily made out.
• Tubes can also be tested during Laparoscopy where a telescope is inserted through a keyhole below the umbilicus inside the abdominal cavity and fluid can be seen coming out through the tubes directly. Laparoscopy is an invasive test that involves anesthesia administration, but it has the added advantage that any pathology can be treated in the same setting.

The treatment options for tubal pathology depend on many factors. The age of the female partner, duration of infertility, history of failed treatments, the extent of damage to the tube or presence of hydrosalpinx. Patient preferences should be taken into consideration and thorough counseling should be done before starting a treatment. Sometimes when the patient is anxious during the tubal test evaluation, the reports can show a false tubal blockage, which should be ruled out laparoscopically. The HSG film should be read by an experienced infertility expert who can pick up subtle abnormalities and this can make huge differences in the management of the problem.

IVF is offered for those patients where the age of the female partner is advanced, the couple has a long duration of infertility, multiple IUI failures, ovarian reserve is less, associated male factor infertility is present, the tubes are moderate to severely damaged or there is the presence of hydrosalpinx. In IVF, mature eggs are directly picked up from the ovaries with the help of a needle placed through the vagina and then each egg is injected with a healthy sperm (ICSI) in the laboratory. The embryos are transferred into the womb. In this way, the damaged tubes are bypassed and pregnancy can be achieved.

In the era of IVF where the tubes can be bypassed, the role of tubal surgery has become limited. However, if a couple is young, there is no other infertility factor, the tubal pathology is mild and there is no hydrosalpinx, a tubal surgery can be given a chance. It should be kept in mind that the results of tubal surgery in the terms of pregnancy, depend on the patient’s profile, the extent of damage to tubes, and the surgeon’s expertise. If a hydrosalpinx is present then the tube should be detached from the uterus (tubal clipping) to prevent the backflow of toxic fluid from the damaged tubes to the uterus. This procedure is called laparoscopic tubal clipping and it is done to improve the chances of pregnancy outcome.