Around 12 percent of couples have been found to suffer from some form of infertility. It is always a situation where coping with problems of conceiving is hard. Fortunately, fertility treatments have come a long way towards helping you get pregnant. We at ZIVA Fertility Clinic will help you in navigating all the options. With this blog, we aim to provide an overview of the choices for infertile couples to get pregnant. After going through this blog if you or your loved ones need more information our doors are always open.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
In this simple ART, a thin catheter is used to place sperm directly in the uterus close to the fallopian tubes. This method helps in removing many blocks in the path of the sperm to meet the egg. Since the sperm is readily available for the egg fertilisation becomes easier. The sperm can be from your partner or a donor sperm. The best time to insert the sperm would be during ovulation. Additional fertility drugs can also be used to aid in ovulation.
IUI is good for:
- May be right for couples dealing with lower sperm counts or poor sperm motility.
- Due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, it is also a good first option for those with unknown fertility issues.
- IUI works best for women below the age of 40, due to better egg quality and quantity at that age. IUI is less likely to be effective for those with fallopian tube blockages, a history of pelvic infections or significant endometriosis.
- If the male partner has a very low sperm count or significant problems with sperm motility or morphology they have to seek other methods.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
The most successful and most popular method for infertile couples to get pregnant is IVF. The eggs and the sperm are fertilised in a laboratory in a fertility clinic. After a few days, embryos are developed and one or more of the embryos are transferred into your uterus with the hope that it’ll implant and result in a pregnancy. After that pregnancy follows a natural course.
IVF can also be a good choice for those dealing with :
- Severe fallopian tube blockages
- Ovulation problems
- Diminished ovarian reserve
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Endometriosis
- Severe sperm factor
- Couples using donor eggs or donor sperm
- If couples suspect a genetic disorder and need preimplantation genetic diagnosis or screening (PGD/PGS) to screen embryos for genetic disorders.
Based on the female’s age and male partner sperm quality, success rates for IVF range from 12 to 70 per cent. As a first step, females are given hormone shots before the eggs can be harvested for fertilisation, which can cause unpleasant side effects. The main side effect of an IVF is the likelihood of having twins or multiples, which increases the odds of possible complications.
Donor eggs
For some infertile couples using donor eggs is viable by fertilising it with sperm and implanting it into your uterus, similar to IVF. Donors are chosen from registered egg donor agencies. This method also involves making sure that legally the child is yours.
Donor eggs can be used when :
- If traditional IVF cycles haven’t worked
- Right for women with a low egg count or poor egg quality, above the age of 40.
- In cases of a genetic disorder or serious condition that you want to avoid passing on to your child.
Before using donor eggs consider the emotional and social implications of it since the family has to come to terms with the fact that they won’t have a genetic link to their baby.
A gestational carrier (surrogate)
A gestational carrier carries a child for another woman. The parents undergo IVF and the embryo is implanted in the surrogate’s uterus. As opposed to donor eggs/sperm both the parents have a genetic tie to the baby, but the surrogate doesn’t.
Using a gestational carrier is good for those infertile couples:
- Who wants a biological child but can’t carry a pregnancy.
- Women with repeated miscarriages who can’t sustain a pregnancy.
- No uterus or have a medical condition that would make pregnancy dangerous or impossible.
The success rates are similar to women using their uterus and mainly depend on the age of the woman whose eggs were used to create embryos.
The process takes longer, and there are also major legal aspects to deal with. The legality of the parents and surrogates like parental rights and custody, as well as medical treatment during pregnancy, labour and delivery, should be spelt out beforehand. Not all countries support surrogacy.
Fertility drugs
Fertility drugs are good for couples with known medical conditions hampering fertility. Medication which boosts the production of ovulation-stimulating hormones is preferred. Medications can be given orally or via hormone shots that directly stimulate ovulation. If your irregular ovulation is caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), there are drugs for that too.
Upon doctor’s recommendation fertility drugs can be taken while trying to conceive on your own without IUI or IVF.
Side effects or risks include bloating, nausea, headaches, mood swings or breast tenderness. There is a slight risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, where the ovaries become swollen and painful. Fertility drugs increase the odds of multiples too, due to the release of two or more eggs at a time.
We at ZIVA fertility clinic, say that If you and your partner need help conceiving, there are many options. We will work together, think about the ones that seem like they might be a good fit, and figure out a plan you feel comfortable with.
We at ZIVA are pioneers in the field of IVF treatments. For more information, please visit our website https://zivafertility.com/ or contact us at +91-9100002737 or +91-9392834024.
