What is Infertility?

When a sexually active couple is unable to get pregnant after more than one year of trying without using any birth control, this medical condition is known as Infertility. 3 million couples in USA are facing the problem of Infertility in which 40% cases are due to female factors, 30% due to male factors, 20% cases related to both and 10% cases are still unknown.

For pregnancy several incidents have to happen such as-

• Egg must develop in woman’s ovary.
• Each month egg has to be released in fallopian tube.
• A man’s sperm must fertilize the egg.
• Fertilized egg must be able to move from fallopian tube and get attached to the lining of uterus.

What are the major reasons of Female Infertility?

• Imbalance of Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle- Stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Injury in Hypothalamus or Pituitary gland
• Pituitary tumor
• Two little or too much body weight
• Thyroid
• Diabetes
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Premature ovarian failure
• Occasionally Cushing’s syndrome

 Other factors that affect women fertility-

• Age
• Problems with reproductive tract
• Sexually transmitted disease
• Medical conditions such as sickle cell anemia, HIV, Kidney related disease
• Smoking and drinking alcohol
• Consumption of drugs
• Exposure of fumes, pesticides and radiations

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION- IVF

IVF proven to be boon for the women who do not able to conceive. This is the most advanced technique for the treatment of infertility. IVF is the most effective and advance form of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

IVF is offered as primary treatment for infertility in women over age 35 and also for those who are suffering from health conditions such as:

• Fallopian tube damage or breakage
• Endometriosis
• Ovulation disorders
• Uterine fibroids
• Genetic disorder
• Radiation or chemotherapy
• Unexplained infertility
• Impaired sperm production
• Poor mobility of sperms
• Abnormalities in sperm size and shape

How IVF is performed?

During this procedure mature eggs retrieved from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in laboratory. Then the embryo is transferred to the uterus. A complete cycle of IVF takes around 21 days but sometimes it takes longer for a successful IVF. IVF can be time consuming, expensive and invasive technique. If more than one embryo transfers to the uterus, can results in multiple pregnancy.

Giving birth a healthy baby after IVF depends on various factor such as:

• Maternal age
• Embryo status
• Reproductive history
• Life style factors

What are the benefits of IVF?

• Increase the chance of conception
• In this technique donated eggs and sperms can also be used
• Increase a chance to having a healthy baby
• Less time consuming
• It helps the couples who are unable to conceive

What are the risks associated with IVF?

IVF is the most effective and successful technique then other reproductive technologies but it also has some risks such as: 

• Multiple births
• Premature delivery
• Low birth weight
• Miscarriage in rare case
• Egg retrieval complications
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Birth defect
• Cancer
• stress