Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Know Everything About Infertility Treatment

Your infertility treatment plan will depend on the cause or causes behind your infertility. Infertility treatment also depends on whether the problem is from the woman’s side, the man’s side, both sides, or remains unexplained.

The good news is that 85% to 90% of couples dealing with infertility are treated with low-tech treatments, like medication or surgery, with less than 3% being treated by Assisted Reproductive Technologies, like IVF.

Of those treated for infertility, two-thirds will go onto have a baby.

Fertility Drugs

A common cause of infertility in women, ovulation disorders account for about 25% of female factor infertility cases. The first line of treatment for most women with ovulation problems is through medication. Fertility drugs can help a woman ovulate 80% of the time.

Surgical Infertility Treatment

In 35% of female infertility cases, problems are found with the fallopian tubes or problems with the lining of the pelvis and abdomen. Usually, this problem is diagnosed through a test called an HSG, or hysterosalpingogram. If the HSG shows possible blockage of the tubes, the doctor may perform laparoscopic surgery to evaluate the situation, and possibly repair the problem.

* All About Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
* Laparoscopy for Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment

Sometimes, blockage or scarring is not repairable. In this case, IVF may be recommended.

IUI - Intrauterine Insemination

Intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination, is a procedure that involves placing specially washed sperm directly into the uterus. This treatment may be used in some cases of male factor infertility, if there’s a problem with the woman’s cervical mucus, or in cases of unexplained infertility. IUI may also be used for donor sperm.

* What You Need to Know About Intrauterine Insemination

The success rate of IUI is not very high -– with one study showing 4% of women achieving pregnancy with a non-fertility drug cycle, and 8% to 17% success for IUI cycles that use fertility drugs to produce more, high quality eggs. The advantage of IUI is the cost, which is much lower than IVF.
IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Assisted reproductive technologies :
(ART) refer to infertility treatments that involve the handling of eggs or embryos. This includes IVF, GIFT, and ZIFT. IVF is the most common form of ART in use today. GIFT treatments make up for less than 2% of all ART procedures, and ZIFT is used less than 1.5% of the time.

IVF (in vitro fertilization): In a typical IVF procedure, fertility drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. Assuming all goes well at this stage, those eggs are then retrieved from the woman’s ovaries in an out-patient procedure. Next, the eggs are placed together with sperm, in a special cocktail of nutrients, and left alone until fertilization takes place. After fertilization, one to three embryos are placed inside the woman’s uterus.

* IVF Treatment Step By Step

GIFT: With GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer), the egg and sperm, or gametes, are not fertilized outside the body. Instead, they are placed together into one of the woman’s fallopian tubes.

ZIFT: With ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer), the zygote is placed in one of the fallopian tubes. This is usually done via laparoscopic surgery.
What’s the success rate of ART?

For women under age 35, the live birth rate for each IVF cycle is 30% to 35%. For women ages 35 to 37, the rate is 25%. For women ages 38 to 40, the rate is 15% to 20%, and for women over age 40, the success rate is 6% to 10%.

ART is also sometimes performed with donor eggs and/or sperm. For women whose eggs are of lower quality, donor eggs may be the best option. The live birth rate for egg donation is between 40% to 45%, but less than 10% of couples choose to use donor eggs or sperm.

You can get more detailed information IVF Treatment Step by Step at:

Deccan Fertility Clinic & Keyhole Surgery Center
Tel: +91 22 2446 6633 / 2444 9992
Fax: +91 22 2444 4443
testtubebabyclinic@gmail.com
http://www.testtubebabyclinic.com
Information about the Author:
The Deccan Fertility Clinic and Keyhole Surgery Center is India's first budget IVF clinic and an ISO 9001-2000 certified center.We are Infertility clinic, Fertility centre & IVF lab,Surrogacy Clinic for Male & Female in Mumbai,India. Our fertility center provides the best affordable quality infertility,fertility treatments with advanced reproductive technologies like IVF,ART, GIFT, ZIFT, TET, ICSI,donor egg,surrogate and surrogacy services for all nationalities. www.testtubebabyclinic.com

Monday, September 21, 2009

Symptoms of Infertility in Female and Male

For most couples, the first symptom of infertility is when after a year of unprotected sex, they can’t get pregnant. It is possible to have regular cycles, a healthy sex life, not have any of the risk factors, be generally healthy, and still suffer from infertility.

But for some couples, there are early warning signs or risk factors that may hint to a fertility problem, before they try for six months to a year unsuccessfully.

Here are some questions to ask yourself and your partner. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may want to speak to your doctor before you spend a year trying on your own.

Do you have irregular cycles?

An irregular cycle can be a red flag for infertility problems. If your cycles are unusually short or long (less than 24 days, or more than 35 days), or come unpredictably, you should speak with your doctor. An irregular cycle may be a sign of possible ovulation problems.

Do you bleed extremely heavily or lightly? Do you have excessive cramps?

Bleeding for anything between 3 to 7 days can be considered normal. However, if the bleeding is very light, or extremely heavy and intense, you should see your doctor. Also, if the bleeding changes significantly from month to month, either in terms of the heaviness or coloring, or length of bleeding time, or if you suffer from severe menstrual cramps, these are also possible symptoms that may hint to a fertility problem.

Are you older than 35?

If you’re older than age 35, your chances of dealing with infertility are higher. For example, at age 30, the average woman’s chance of conceiving during any one cycle is 20%. By age 40, that chance drops to a low 5%. If you’re over age 35, you should seek help if six months of unprotected sex doesn’t lead to pregnancy.

Does your partner experience impotence or ejaculatory problems?

Male factor infertility isn’t always so obvious – usually low sperm counts or inhibited sperm mobility is determined by a sperm analysis (in other words, you won’t be able to “notice” this yourself.) But if your partner does experience sexual dysfunction, this could be an infertility red flag.

Are you either underweight or overweight?

Being excessively thin or overweight can lead to infertility problems. Also, extreme or poor dieting practices, or too much exercise, can lead to problems with fertility.

How do you know if you’re too thin, or overweight? Check your BMI to see if your weight is in the healthy range.

Have you had three successive miscarriages?

While infertility is usually associated with the inability to get pregnant, a woman who experiences recurrent miscarriages is also considered to be dealing with infertility.

Because miscarriage is not that uncommon –- happening in anywhere from 10% to 20% of pregnancies -– doctors do not usually consider a diagnosis of infertility until after the third successive miscarriage.

Do you or your partner have any chronic illnesses, like diabetes, thyroid problems, or hypertension?

Chronic illnesses, as well as their treatments, can lead to fertility problems. According to The American Fertility Association, illnesses like diabetes and hypothyroidism can cause fertility problems. Insulin, antidepressants, and thyroid hormones may lead to irregular cycles. Tagamet (cimetidine), a medication used in the treatment of peptic ulcers, and some hypertension medications can cause male factor infertility, including problems with sperm production or their ability to fertilize the egg.

If you are dealing with chronic illness, or taking a medication that impacts your fertility, talk to your doctor about possible options.
Have you or your partner been treated for cancer in the past?

Some cancer treatments can lead to fertility problems. If you or your partner has gone through cancer treatments, especially radiation therapy that was near the reproductive organs, seeking feedback from your doctor is recommended.
Do you or your partner have a history of STDs?

STDs can be the cause of infertility. Infection and inflammation from chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause blockage of the fallopian tubes, making pregnancy either impossible or putting a woman at risk for ectopic pregnancy.

Because chlamydia and gonorrhea do not usually cause noticeable symptoms in women, it’s important that you’ve been screened for these STDs.
Do you or your partner smoke or drink alcohol?

Just about everyone knows drinking and smoking while pregnant is a big no-no. But smoking and drinking while trying to get pregnant is also a problem. Smoking has been linked to problems with conception in women, and heavy drinking has been linked with female and male infertility.

You can get more detailed information IVF Treatment Step by Step at:

Deccan Fertility Clinic & Keyhole Surgery Center
Tel: +91 22 2446 6633 / 2444 9992
Fax: +91 22 2444 4443
testtubebabyclinic@gmail.com
http://www.testtubebabyclinic.com
Information about the Author:
The Deccan Fertility Clinic and Keyhole Surgery Center is India's first budget IVF clinic and an ISO 9001-2000 certified center.We are Infertility clinic, Fertility centre & IVF lab,Surrogacy Clinic for Male & Female in Mumbai,India. Our fertility center provides the best affordable quality infertility,fertility treatments with advanced reproductive technologies like IVF,ART, GIFT, ZIFT, TET, ICSI,donor egg,surrogate and surrogacy services for all nationalities. www.testtubebabyclinic.com

Saturday, September 19, 2009

INFERTILITY,CAUSES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR INFERTILE COUPLES

What is Infertility?
Infertility, whether male or female, can be defined as 'the inability of a couple to achieve conception or to bring a pregnancy to term after a year or more of regular, unprotected intercourse'.Infertility is often a multifactorial problem and in any given couple may be related to the female partner, the male partner or the combination of both.
The evaluation of infertility proceeds along simple and logical lines of a basic three-step infertility work-up.
Test for eggs

Test for sperm

Test to make sure they can get together

For the male the specific tests required may include:
A semen analysis

Blood tests

Referral to an andrologist if an abnormality is detected.

For the female the specific tests required may include:
Hormonal tests

An infectious diseases screen

Endometrial biopsy

X-ray to determine patency of the fallopian tubes (hysterosalpingogram)

Ultrasound, possibly with saline infusion (Saline Infusion Sonography)

Hysteroscopy, a procedure in which a small telescope is placed in the uterus to check for abnormalities

Laparoscopy, a surgical procedure in which a small telescope is placed through the navel, to check for abnormalities of the tubes, ovaries and pelvis. This is the only way to diagnose mild forms of endometriosis

Causes that leads to infertility.

Infertility can be due to problems with sperm production, transportation through the male reproductive tract and delivery into the female reproductive tract. On the female side, infertility may be caused by a lack of ovulation (anovulation), blocked fallopian tubes, or inability of an embryo to implant and establish a pregnancy in the uterus. Infertility often results from combinations of several problems on both the male and female sides.

What treatment options do infertile couples have?

Several options are offered to couples depending on the type of infertility that has been diagnosed. The vast majority of female patients are successfully treated with the administration of drugs such as clomiphene citrate, cabergoline, metformin or gonadotropins. Surgery can also be a means to repair damage to the reproductive organs, such as those caused by endometriosis and infectious diseases. Treatment options for male infertility also include the administration of drugs, surgery and assisted reproductive technologies, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Drug therapy and surgery have proved very successful for specific types of male infertility. However, in a great number of cases, the reason why men have fertility problems remains unexplained and the treatment methods applied are empirical. Some patients nevertheless require more complex medical intervention. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) refer to several different methods designed to overcome barriers to natural fertilization such as anatomical problems (eg blocked fallopian tubes). One of these techniques, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), has now been practiced for more than 15 years. Overall, the estimated number of infertile patients currently treated by ART is around 20%.

What is the incidence of infertility worldwide?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 8-10% of couples experience some form of infertility problem. On a worldwide scale, this means that 50-80 million people suffer from infertility. However, the incidence of infertility may vary from region to region. In France, 18% of couples of childbearing age said that they had difficulties in conceiving.

How important is counseling to the patient undergoing infertility treatment?

The physician helps the infertile couple find the most appropriate therapeutic path to overcome barriers to conception, but, before a treatment is started, patients need to be aware of all its aspects, including its constraints. Beyond the medical expertise, infertile couples are also looking for counseling and support. From a psychological point of view, infertility is often a hard condition to cope with. During treatment and before a pregnancy is achieved, feelings of frustration or loss of control usually experienced by the infertile couple are likely to be exacerbated. Management of infertility includes both the physical and emotional care of the couple. Therefore, support from physicians, nurses and all people involved in treating the infertile couple is essential to help them cope with the various aspects of their condition. Offering counseling and contact with other infertile couples and patient associations can provide help outside the medical environment.

For further information on any question relating to IVF treatment,infertility issues,test tube baby clinic, surrogacy treatment,surrogate mother,surrogacy in India or infertility specialist you may contact
Deccan Fertility Clinic & Keyhole Surgery Center
Tel: +91 22 2446 6633 / 2444 9992
Fax: +91 22 2444 4443
testtubebabyclinic@gmail.com
http://www.testtubebabyclinic.com
Information about the Author:
The Deccan Fertility Clinic and Keyhole Surgery Center is India's first budget IVF clinic and an ISO 9001-2000 certified center.We are Infertility clinic, Fertility centre & IVF lab,Surrogacy Clinic for Male & Female in Mumbai,India. Our fertility center provides the best affordable quality infertility,fertility treatments with advanced reproductive technologies like IVF,ART, GIFT, ZIFT, TET, ICSI,donor egg,surrogate and surrogacy services for all nationalities. www.testtubebabyclinic.com

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Baby Gender Predictor - Is amniocentesis worth the risk?

A baby gender predictor is any tool, tale or test that can help identify the gender of your baby, and can range from whacky old wives’ tales to professional and proven pregnancy testing and diagnoses.

Discovering that you are pregnant is an incredible moment and one that is often followed by a myriad of different emotions. Knowing that there is the beginning of a new life growing inside you is an indescribable sensation and marks the beginning of the long and very special journey that is motherhood. Many questions will present themselves along this path, and one of the earliest and most prominent is the ineffable, “Is it a boy or girl?” Thus begins the search for a baby gender predictor.

In the early days and weeks of your pregnancy you will be come across several different options for identifying your baby’s gender. Old wives’ tales and Chinese lunar calendars will have to compete with formal obstetric scans and pregnancy procedures. As a prenatal test incorporating chromosomal analysis, amniocentesis testing fits firmly into the second category. With an accuracy of identifying baby gender at over 99%, it is understandable why the amniocentesis test attracts attention from parents seeking a baby gender predictor. Nevertheless it is of significant importance that parents considering undergoing an amniocentesis fully understand the purpose of the test as well as the procedure, risks and implications.

The word ‘centesis’ means a puncture or perforation, and medically refers to the act of puncturing a body cavity or organ with a hollow needle in order to draw out fluid. An amniocentesis is therefore the extraction of amniotic fluid; the surrounding liquid that nourishes and protects your baby during pregnancy. Although not as intrusive as it might sound, it is clear that this is certainly not a non-invasive procedure. Let us therefore consider the process steps, the risks involved and the circumstances where an amniocentesis may be a prudent option.

The test is usually conducted at around 15 to 22 weeks into a pregnancy when there is a desire to check for chromosome abnormalities that indicate a condition such as Down syndrome, Edward syndrome or Turner syndrome, or neural defects that may reside within either parent’s genetic history. Under ultrasound guidance, a thin needle is inserted through the mother’s abdominal wall to extract approximately 20ml of amniotic fluid from around the baby. The amniotic fluid naturally contains some foetal cells containing the same genetic blueprint as your baby. A chromosomal analysis of these cells will test for abnormalities indicating known conditions such as Down syndrome, Edward syndrome or Turner syndrome. The chromosomal analysis will also confirm baby gender.

The vast majority of amniocentesis tests are completed without complication, approximately 1 in 200 results in a miscarriage. The use of ultrasound guidance and the competency of medical practitioner are key factors in minimizing this risk. There is also a secondary risk of a uterine infection in the days following the test which may also cause a miscarriage, although the occurrence rate is less than 1 in 1000.

Amniocentesis is normally only offered as an option in one or more of the following circumstances:

• The mother is to be 35 years old or older at delivery
• The parents have already had a child with a chromosomal disorder
• The parents themselves have a genetic or chromosomal disorder
• A previous ultrasound suggested possible abnormalities
• A maternal screening revealed the baby would be at a higher risk

Parents in these circumstances will have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to proceed with an amniocentesis test, and any decision is recommended to be taken in consultation with your medical professional.

Although without doubt an extremely accurate baby gender predictor, identifying baby gender should not be the primary incentive for taking an amniocentesis. There are other less-invasive baby gender predictor options that can be used very early into your pregnancy.
Information about the Author:
May Hammond is a medical professional and mother of two who has dedicated her life to supporting mothers and families. Her internet resource Baby Gender Predictor is a wealth of essential information and a must-see for any mother keen to find an early baby gender predictor and to take the right steps during early pregnancy. Visit Baby Gender Predictor now to ensure you pregnancy gets off to the best possible start.