About the Health Information

• Infertility affects an estimated 15 percent of couples globally. As per WHO, one in four couples in reproductive age in India face difficulty in getting pregnant. Many scientific advancements have made it possible for us to treat a large percentage of couples with infertility. Reproductive Medicine is a rapidly evolving field and newer techniques provide us deeper insights into the causes of infertility and help us to treat it more effectively.

BREAKTHROUGH:

• The biggest breakthrough was the birth of Louise Brown on july 25,1978 in England,which opened the doorway of possibilities for greatest innovations in the field of reproductive medicine.

WHAT IS IVF?

• In Vitro fertilisation is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) where a sperm and an egg are fertilised outside of the human body. Through the years,IVF has been a boon to many couples to achieve their pregnancy and to start a new family.

POTENTIAL CANDIDATES WHO NEEDS IVF?

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.

• Endometriosis

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• Uterine fibroids

• Sperm impairment

• Genetic disorder

• Unexplained infertility

WHAT ARE THE STEPS INVOLVED IN IVF?

• Stimulation
  Fertility drugs (gonadotrophin) are used to begin a process called stimulation, which contains Follicle Stimulating Hormone. It helps the body to produce more than just one egg per month. Transvaginal Ultrasounds and blood tests are done on a regular basis to check the ovaries and to monitor hormone levels.

• Removal of eggs:
  Retrieval of eggs is done by a minor surgery called Follicular Aspiration.

• Collection of sperms:
  Egg retrieval is being done and male partner will provide a semen sample. The processing of sperm is done in the Andrology lab to capacitate the sperms.

• Insemination:
  Now comes the part of IVF- the best sperm is combined with the best eggs by conventional IVF or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).

• Transfer of embryos into uterus:
  After three to five days after fertilisation,the embryo will be placed in the uterus using embryo transfer catheter,and the person is supported with luteal supportive medication for next two weeks.Beta HCG level detected in the blood sample will confirm the pregnancy. This can take 6-10 days.

• The IVF process basically replicates the natural reproduction system of a human body.

  

MYTH BUSTERS:

• Age limit-Ideal cut-off age for IVF is 47-50 years(combined age of the couple should not exceed 100 years)

• Multiple births possible through IVF-Yes,there is a possibility,but now most centres transfer either 1 or 2 embryos only

• Cost of IVF?-Around 2-3 Lakhs per cycle.

• Injections needed for IVF?-Stimulation injections (gonadotropin) are needed for a minimum of ten days.

• Site of IVF injection-Abdominal wall or inner thigh.

• Success rate of IVF?-60-70% in their first try.

• Can IVF babies conceive in future?-Ivf conceived children can have a normal pregnancy.

• Is IVF painful?-No,it’s just the injectable medication that causes local pain.Egg retrieval is a small procedure which doesn’t cause much pain and it’s done under anaesthesia.

  

• Although some infertility conditions may not require IVF, it is important to discuss all options and scenarios with your doctor. We at MGM healthcare have a dedicated facility VARAM for women’s health and our specialists in Obstetrics & Gynaecology are here to help you through your journey to becoming parents.