Infertility is a common sexological problem. But what is categorized as infertility? It is estimated that the majority of couples (around 85%) achieve pregnancy successfully within a year from the beginning of their sexual relationship. An additional 7% of the couples conceive in the second year of their sexual relationship. However, when attempts to conceive fail for longer than 12 months, the condition is referred to as infertility. Approximately 15% of the couples wanting to have a baby fail to conceive for a year and can be considered as infertile. Such couples should seek the help of a reproductive endocrinologist to start their family.
Generally, fertility evaluation will involve a few tests, such as physical examination, medical and fertility history assessment, transvaginal ultrasound, laboratory testing, semen analysis and hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Depending on the case, an infertility specialist will take a call on which tests are necessary to be performed. Once infertility is diagnosed, the course of treatment to be taken will depend on multiple factors, including:
Treatment for male infertility involves working on deficiency of healthy sperm and other sexual problems in men. This may include: Medications: Certain drugs can improve sperm count, sperm quality and testicular function in men. Thus, they can boost the chances of conception for a couple. Surgery: A surgery becomes essential in some cases, for example, to repair a varicocele or reverse a sperm blockage and restore fertility. Sperm retrieval: This technique is helpful to obtain sperm in cases where sperm is absent in the ejaculated fluid, ejaculation is a problem or sperm count is low or abnormal when assisted reproductive techniques have been planned. Lifestyle modifications: Making certain changes to your lifestyle and behavior can boost your fertility. Men are often advised to exercise regularly, discontinue some medicines, eliminate harmful substances, increase frequency of intercourse and work on other factors to improve fertility. Treatment for female infertility involves a variety of therapies that aim to boost chances of pregnancy in women. Intrauterine insemination (IUI): The procedure involves placing healthy sperm directly into the uterus around the time when the ovary releases eggs for fertilization. A doctor determines the right time of IUI procedure depending on the cause of infertility and coordinates it with the normal monthly cycle of a woman or using fertility medications. Surgery to restore fertility: Different types of surgeries are undertaken to treat infertility in women. Laparoscopic surgery or surgery involving a large incision of the abdomen is carried out in case of large fibroids, pelvic adhesions and endometriosis. On the other hand, hysteroscopic surgery is required in case of uterine problems like endometrial polyps, intrauterine scar tissue, certain kinds of fibroids and uterine septum. Fertility drugs: Fertility drugs are the first-line treatment for women who are infertile because of ovulation disorders. These medicines stimulate or regulate ovulation in the female body to increase chances of conception. Concluding remarks If you’re planning a visit to an infertility specialist in Kolkata, remember to go prepared and have a list of questions to ask ready with you. You can discuss how health and lifestyle habits affect fertility, the different treatment options available, chances for success of each type of treatment, cost of various treatments and more.
0 Comments
Have you been trying to get pregnant for some time without any success? Maybe it’s time to consider an infertility doctor! Women under the age of 35 actively trying to conceive without birth control for 12 months or more can benefit from the services of a medical professional. You will find lots of good infertility specialists in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and other metropolitan cities. They will perform various tests and evaluations to understand the possible causes of interference with your pregnancy. Here’s how you can prepare yourself for the first consultation: Check Your Ovulation Cycle One of the first things the doctor will ask you is whether you’re ovulating or not. You can understand this on your own before making the appointment. Chart your basal body temperature or BBT for a few months. This is one of the most cost-efficient practices for helping you get pregnant and it is worth the effort! Undergo Fertility Testing During your first meeting with the fertility specialist, he/she will view your medical history and then draw up a plan for further fertility tests. You and your partner will both need to perform these tests from a clinic. This includes physical examinations and blood work for the both of you, ultrasounds to inspect the uterine lining, and semen analysis for men. Women must also submit to tests for fibroid and ovarian cyst detection. Perform Semen Analysis Men have to get the basic SA or semen analysis test done for detecting infertility. A sample is taken to the lab for evaluation once ejaculation happens. The sperm sample is counted and observed for motility issues, which is the ability of the sperm to move through the female reproductive tract. Submitting a sperm sample may be a cause of anxiety for men, but it is an extremely straightforward process. Know the Basics of Fertility Treatment
Once the testing is done and you have received your diagnosis, your doctor will start formulating a treatment plan for the both of you. Even if your lab results came back as inconclusive but there is no specific reason why you’re not getting pregnant, treatment is possible. So it is important that you don’t become disheartened. Please understand there are multiple options available, ranging from IVF to infertility medication. Understand the Side Effects of Fertility Drugs Medication necessary to stimulate ovulation is a key aspect of infertility treatments. In a few instances, drugs by themselves are used – at least in the initial stages of treatment. Fertility drugs happen to be a part of more extensive treatments like IVF. Some of the drugs have specific risks, which the doctor will discuss with you in detail. Know that if you conceive, there is going to be more than a single embryo which may cause pregnancy complications. Another major side effect of fertility drugs is the condition known as OHSS or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Pay Attention to the Cost of Fertility Treatments Fertility treatments are often more expensive than people imagine. So, make sure you have made suitable financial arrangements beforehand. You can even consider financing of fertility treatments. What’s Next? Many fertility drugs may lead to side effects. Moreover, you need to be cautious while taking them. Apart from that, the frequent – often daily – visits to the doctor’s clinic for ultrasounds and blood work, along with the shared disappointment when the treatment fails to work properly the first time are some of the factors that take a toll on couples who opt for treatment. That is why both partners should communicate openly and honestly with one another. It may seem like a difficult thing to do at the beginning but the outcome – a new addition to the family – is well-worth taking the chance! |
Details
Archives
March 2020
Categories
All
|