How do doctors treat infertility? - Female infertility specialist in Delhi& NCR

Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. In most cases infertility is treated with drugs or surgery.

Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility based on:

•     Test results
•     How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant the
•     Age of both the man and woman
•     The overall health of the partners
•     Preference of the partners

Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways:

• Sexual problems: Doctors can help men deal with impotence or premature ejaculation. Behavioral therapy and/or medicines can be used in these cases.
• Too few sperm: Sometimes surgery can correct the cause of the problem. In other cases, doctors surgically remove sperm directly from the male reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count.
• Sperm movement: Sometimes semen has no sperm because of a block in the man's system. In some cases, surgery can correct the problem.

In women, some physical problems can also be corrected with surgery.

A number of fertility medicines are used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the possible dangers, benefits, and side effects.

What medicines are used to treat infertility in women?

Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:

• Clomiphene citrate (Clomid): This medicine causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. It is often used in women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or other problems with ovulation. This medicine is taken by mouth.
• Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (Repronex, Pergonal): This medicine is often used for women who don't ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim): FSH works much like hMG. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) analog: These medicines are often used for women who don't ovulate regularly each month. Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogs act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray.
• Metformin (Glucophage): Doctors use this medicine for women who have insulin resistance and/or PCOS. This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions. This helps the body to ovulate. Sometimes clomiphene citrate or FSH is combined with metformin. This medicine is usually taken by mouth.
• Bromocriptine (Parlodel): This medicine is used for women with ovulation problems due to high levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that causes milk production.

Many fertility drugs increase a woman's chance of having twins, triplets, or other multiples. Women who are pregnant with multiple fetuses have more problems during pregnancy. Multiple fetuses have a high risk of being born too early (prematurely). Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.ture babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

What causes infertility in women? - Infertility Specialist

Most cases of female infertility are caused by problems with ovulation. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

Ovulation problems are often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone imbalance problem which can interfere with normal ovulation. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is another cause of ovulation problems. POI occurs when a woman's ovaries stop working normally before she is 40. POI is not the same as early menopause.

Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:

• Blocked Fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
• Physical problems with the uterus
• Uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.

What things increase a woman's risk of infertility?

Many things can change a woman's ability to have a baby. These include:

•     Age
•     Stress
•     Poor diet
•     Athletic training
•     Being overweight or underweight
•     Smoking
•     Excess alcohol use
•     Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
•     Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary  ovarian insufficiency

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

Things Mothers Really Do When Baby Sleeps - Gynecologist in Noida

What Mothers Do When Baby Sleeps

#1: Have A Shower

New mothers don’t love the fact that sometimes it can be days before they actually get the chance to step foot in a shower. If you’re a non-parent, you may wonder how this is even possible – how could a decent human let this happen?! They must have their priorities all messed up, right? But especially in the early days , baby is adjusting to life outside of the womb. Imagine what it would be like to be in the womb: a warm, dark, snug, comfortable and cosy place, with the ambient sound of a mother’s heartbeat. Being in mums arms (or in a baby carrier) is the closest place baby can be to replicate that feeling while going through such a massive adjustment. Therefore, by responding to her baby’s needs, holding her baby and getting very little sleep, it can lead to a lengthy amount of time without a shower. Unfortunately, a new mother’s showers don’t tend to be very relaxing, as a mother often worries about not hearing her baby if he or she wakes, so she rushes to get it done. Or, baby does wake up… usually as she’s just stepped into the shower and gotten all wet.

#2: Feed Themselves

It can be really hard to eat a decent meal when you have a baby in your arms all the time – especially a good, healthy meal. With a belly growling louder than a passenger aeroplane taking off, as soon as baby is down and asleep, a mother’s human instinct for food kicks in. What also kicks in is a baby’s inbuilt ‘mum is eating!’ wailing alarm, which is guaranteed to go off, just as mum takes that first bite of food.

 #3: Have A Poo

Getting out the big guns here – and I don’t mean to be crass, but we all HAVE to poo at some point. When the baby is in our arms isn’t a good time. And you can’t schedule having a poo, so sometimes you just gotta hang onto it until the baby sleeps. Urgh. Having a quiet, undisturbed poo, opposed to a rushed one while the baby is screaming, can feel like heaven to a new mother.

#4: Pay Bills And Return Phonecalls

With a long list of phone calls to return, which are usually from companies wondering when you’re going to pay their bill, this is one of the more important things mothers feel they need to sort out when their baby sleeps. Because mammas are so busy looking after baby, many things tend to slip, even the bills. There are appointments to be made, changes to policies to be made, and all sorts of administrative tasks that need to be done during business hours.

#5: Doing The Dishes

You get to the point where you get desperate after running out of clean coffee (or tea if you prefer) cups. And spoons. And plates. And bowls. And well, you get the picture.

 #6: Hanging Out The Washing

You know you’re in trouble when you start wearing a wrap around the house because all of your maternity bras, tops and pants are covered in baby spew, leaked nappy contents and your last attempt at lunch (where more landed on the baby’s head and your top than in your mouth.

#7: Prepare Dinner

A mother knows that if she can sneak in dinner preparation while baby sleeps, it will make it so much easier at night time, especially when you have to contend with the witching hour (aka arsenic hour). While full dinner preparation may not happen often, she may attempt to get vegetables peeled and cut or meat defrosted before the baby wakes again.

#8: Having A Mouthful Of Tea

Baby is asleep in bed, yay! Mum excitedly does a silent fist pump, runs straight into the kitchen and switches on the kettle. Finally, a nice, hot cup of tea. The minute her cup of tea hits her lips, baby is somehow awake. Babies just seem to know when mum is having some ‘me’ time. And mum well knows she’s going to have a stone cold cuppa… again.

#9: Getting On With Business

Some mothers have businesses to run or are on maternity leave, but have agreed to work from home. Sure, they could just say no to work, but saying no may cause a dire financial situation or stop a business from running. A mamma who is still working tends to spend every spare minute working, which can be very demanding and draining. Sleep sounds awesome, but no income does not.

 #10: Adoring Her Baby

When a baby is asleep in our arms, it can be the most beautiful thing to just stare at our babies and enjoy them, especially while they are not being so demanding of us. Staring at and adoring our babies produces oxytocin, which is great for breastfeeding and great for bonding. While some believe that a mother will create a rod for her own back by holding her baby, its actually some VERY important work. A strong, loving bond between mother and child can only mean good things for future generations – all we need is love! We should all support new mothers to hold and adore their babies as much as possible. Also, teaching babies the importance and joy of comfort teaches them how to be comforting in return. My own children are an example of this! The empathy and comfort they give friends and family is beautiful to see.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

Tea During Pregnancy – Gynecologist in Noida

Benefits of Drinking Tea During Pregnancy

Drinking herbal teas during pregnancy is certainly a wise choice when compared with caffeinated beverages.
Caffeinated drinks have a diuretic effect, reduce nutrient absorption and deplete the adrenal glands.

Meanwhile, herbal teas hydrate, provide easily assimilated nutrients and feed the body during pregnancy. They are also packed with antioxidants and vitamin C which helps lower your anxiety and stress levels. Various types of herbal teas can also reduce morning sickness symptoms and even prepare the uterus for labour!

The Safe Tea List

1. Ginger Tea
2. Nettle Tea
3. Raspberry Leaf Tea
4. Dandelion Leaf Tea
5. Peppermint Tea
6. Rooibos Tea

Teas To Avoid During Pregnancy

According to research, caffeine consumption during pregnancy (particularly over has 200mg) has been directly linked with reduced birth weights. According to this study:

“Caffeine is rapidly absorbed and crosses the placenta freely. After ingestion of 200 mg caffeine, intervillous blood flow in the placenta was found to be reduced by 25%. Cytochrome P450 1A2, the principal enzyme involved in caffeine metabolism, is absent in the placenta and the fetus.”

BMC Central has published research this year (2013) which again produced results showing that caffeine is implicated with low birth weight. They found that for a baby expected to be of average birth weight (3.6kg), it equated to a loss of 21-28 grams per 100mg of caffeine consumed per day. Caffeine also extended the length of pregnancy by 5 hours per 100mg of caffeine per day, however if you’re also a coffee drinker the news is even worse! Coffee was associated with an even longer pregnancy – 8 hours longer for every 100mg of caffeine per day.

This research illustrates the importance of keeping an eye on your caffeine consumption during pregnancy. For this reason, teas that are particularly high in caffeine should be restricted while you are pregnant.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

What are the most common reasons for infertility in women?

If your doctor suspects a problem with you, she will look at certain common problem areas:
Is there any hostility to the sperm in the vagina or the cervix?
Is there any obstruction to the passage of sperm in the vagina or the cervix?
Is the uterus in the right position?

Your doctor will also check whether your reproductive organs are functioning well. She will look for any blockages in the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes carry the sperm to the egg, and also carry the fertilised embryo to the uterus for successful implantation.

A blockage in the fallopian tubes can cause irreversible infertility. In our country, genital tuberculosis causes permanent blockage of the fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can also block the fallopian tubes and can cause adhesions between the pelvic organs.

Another common cause of infertility in women is problems linked to ovulation. Such problems mean that either a woman does not ovulate or she may have dysfunctional ovulation. Many women do not ovulate due to polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS).

Polycystic ovaries syndrome is becoming more common, particularly in young girls. In the case of irregular ovulation, getting pregnant can take longer but it usually does happen eventually. Many causes of infertility are treatable today or at least something can be done to improve your chances of conceiving. So if you suspect a problem, do consult a fertility specialist.

What is Infertility?

What is infertility?

Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying. Or, six months, if a woman is 35 or older. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be infertile.

Pregnancy is the result of a process that has many steps. To get pregnant:

A woman must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
The egg must go through a Fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).
A man's sperm must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.
The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).

Infertility can happen if there are problems with any of these steps.

Infertility facts

• Infertility means not being able to become pregnant, within certain parameters.
• Infertility is a common problem of about 10% of women aged 15 to 44.
• Infertility can be due to the woman (33%), the man (33%) and by both sexes or due to unknown problems (33%), approximately.
• Infertility in men can be due to varicocele, low or absent sperm count, sperm damage or certain diseases.
• Risk factors for men's infertility include alcohol and drug use, toxins, smoking, age, health problems, medicines, radiation, and chemotherapy.
• Risk factors for women's infertility include ovulation problems, blocked Fallopian tubes, uterine problems, uterine fibroids, age, stress, poor diet, athletic training, and those risk factors listed for men.
• Aging decreases a woman's fertility; after age 35 about 33% of couples have fertility problems; older women's eggs are reduced in number, not as healthy and less likely to be released by the ovary – the woman is also more likely to have a miscarriage and other health problems.
• Women under 35 should try for a year or 6 months if 35 or older to become pregnant before contacting their doctor if they have no health problems.
• Doctors use the histories of both partners and may run tests such as sperm studies, ovulation tests, ultrasound, hysterosalpingography, or laparoscopy.
• Infertility may be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technology, based on the couples test results and other factors.
• There are multiple medicines that may be used to treat infertility in women.
• Intrauterine insemination is artificial insemination where a woman is injected with sperm into the uterus.
• ART (assisted reproductive technology) is when a woman's eggs are removed, mixed with sperm to make embryos that are placed back in the woman's body; it's successful about 11% to 39%, depending on the woman's age.
• There are several types of ART; in vitro fertilization, Zygote transfer, Gamete transfer and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
• Surrogacy (the woman's male partner sperm is used to fertilize another woman egg and that other woman carries the fetus to term and the infant is then adopted ) is a way for some couples to obtain a baby.
• A gestational carrier is a woman who has an embryo placed in her uterus, carries the fetus to term and gives the baby to the couple (or responsible persons) that produced the embryo.

Dr Priyamvada SeniorInfertility Specialist, Genesis IVF

Dr Priyamvada Senior Infertility Specialist, Genesis IVF

Usually pay quite a handsome amount for surrogacy. Unfortunately, the surrogate mother barely receives Rs. 2-3 lakh because of the absence of a central regulatory authority. Couples faced with infertility can resort to full or partial Surrogacy. Full surrogacy involves the implantation of an embryo created using one of the following:

• The eggs and sperm of the intended parents
•  A donated egg fertilised with sperm from the intended father
• A embryo using donor eggs and sperm

Partial surrogacy, however involves sperm from the intended father and an egg from the surrogate. Here, fertilisation is usually done by artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination (IUI).

           

     - Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

5 tips to make traveling easier during pregnancy

As your bump grows bigger and bigger, chances are your dreams of foreign adventures or sojourns to other parts of the country will diminish considerably. It's not that a vacation isn't needed – in fact, at many points during pregnancy, it may feel much-deserved – the fact is, most mothers-to-be have bigger things on their minds than a trip, like getting ready for baby.

But during pregnancy, some trips are non-negotiable, like a planned stay at a relative's house. This can be a pleasant experience for some, but other women struggle to feel comfortable while traveling. With these five tips, going from place to place during pregnancy can be easier than ever before.

1. Talk to a healthcare provider
Before you take any kind of extended trip, reach out to your doctor to ensure that it's OK for you to do so. This may be just a quick check-up, but it can be important for you and your partner to gain peace of mind before you embark on an adventure together.

2. Prepare for the unexpected
Even the best-laid plans can become a mess due to unexpected hiccups or delays, but when you're pregnant, this can take on a whole new dimension. When you're pregnant, you may be fighting the urge all day long not to put your feet up or sprawl out on your favorite sofa to relax after a tense day, but while you're traveling, you may not feel this is so easy to do.
While you may not be within the comfort of your own domain, by planning for potential issues – including health troubles, discomfort or sudden feelings of tiredness – you may be able to feel calm.

3. Plan for comfort
Whether you travel by bus, plane or car, comfort is key during pregnancy for making sure you get to your destination without delay. If you're traveling in a vehicle, you may want to pack along a neck pillow, ear plugs and a blanket so that you can relax throughout the ride, while having bottled water, snacks and spare bags in case you get motion sickness can help you feel at ease during the journey.

4. Pack your healthcare documents
You never know what kind of potential hazards you could encounter while you're away from home, which is why it's so essential that you do your best to manage your health while you can. One of the best ways to reduce the potential for pregnancy complications is to bring all of your relevant healthcare documents with you, as this can make you prepared to manage any potential challenges.

5. Know your limits
When it comes to traveling during pregnancy, women should be especially careful during their third trimesters, as this can be a dangerous period for being on an airplane.
Although this can be different for each airline provider, most recommend that women who are in the final weeks of their pregnancies avoid this mode of travel, as it could lead to potential health risks. Additionally, most healthcare providers urge women not to travel after 36 weeks of pregnancy unless in the event of an emergency.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior Infertility Specialist,Genesis IVF