Infertility Treatment
Diagnosis
Before performing infertility testing, your doctor or clinic will try to understand your sexual habits and may make recommendations to improve your chances of getting pregnant with PCOS. For some infertile couples, no specific cause is found (unexplained infertility) Infertility testing can be costly and sometimes requires uncomfortable procedures. Some health insurance companies don’t cover the cost of fertility treatment. Finally, even after all the tests and consultations, there is no guarantee that you’ll get pregnant, and despite technological advances, there are still not enough good hospitals for infertility treatment.
Tests for men
A prerequisite for male fertility is that the testes produce enough healthy sperm and that the sperm are ejaculated effectively into the vagina and reach the egg. Male infertility tests are used to try to determine if either of these processes is impaired.
You may undergo a general physical exam, which includes an examination of your genitals. Specific fertility tests may include the following:
Semen analysis: Your doctor may request one or more semen samples. Semen is generally collected by masturbation or by interrupting intercourse and ejaculating into a clean container. A laboratory analyses the semen sample. In some cases, urine may also be tested for the presence of sperm.
Hormone tests. A blood test may be done to determine testosterone levels and other male hormones.
Genetic testing. A genetic test may be done to determine if a genetic defect is causing the infertility.
Testicular biopsy. In certain cases, a testicular biopsy may be performed to detect abnormalities contributing to infertility or to obtain sperm for assisted reproduction techniques (e.g., IVF).
Imaging. In certain situations, imaging tests such as an MRI of the brain, a transrectal or scrotal ultrasound, or an examination of the vas deferens (vasography) may be performed.
Other special tests. In rare cases, other tests may be performed to assess sperm quality, such as testing a sperm sample for DNA abnormalities.
Tests for women
A woman’s fertility depends on her ovaries releasing healthy eggs. The reproductive organs must allow an egg to enter the fallopian tubes and combine with sperm to fertilise it. The fertilised egg must travel to the uterus and implant in the lining of the uterus. Female infertility tests are used to try to find out if any of these processes are disturbed.
You may undergo a general physical exam, including a regular gynecologic exam. Specific fertility tests may include:
Ovulation tests. A blood test measures hormone levels to determine if you’re ovulating.
Hysterosalpingography. Hysterosalpingography (his-tur-o-sal-ping- GOG -ruh-fee) examines the condition of your uterus and fallopian tubes and looks for blockages or other problems. An X-ray contrast material is injected into the uterus and an X-ray is taken to determine if the cavity is normal and if fluid is leaking from the fallopian tubes.
Ovarian reserve test. This test determines the amount of eggs available for ovulation. This approach often begins with a hormone test at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
Other hormone tests. Other hormone tests check the levels of ovulation hormones as well as pituitary hormones that control reproductive processes.
Imaging tests. A pelvic ultrasound is used to look for diseases of the uterus or ovaries. Sometimes a sonohysterogram, also called a saline infusion sonogram, is used to see details inside the uterus that may not show up on a normal ultrasound.
Depending on your situation, in rare cases your exam may include:
Hysteroscopy. Depending on your infertility symptoms, your doctor may order a hysteroscopy to look for disease in the uterus. During the procedure, your doctor inserts a thin, lighted device through your cervix into your uterus to see possible abnormalities.
Laparoscopy. This minimally invasive procedure involves making a small incision below the navel and inserting a thin viewing device to examine the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus. A laparoscopy can detect endometriosis, scarring, blockages or irregularities in the fallopian tubes, as well as problems with the ovaries and uterus.
Not all women need to have all or even several of these tests before the cause of infertility is found. You and your doctor will decide which tests to have and when.
Treatment
The treatment of infertility depends on:
What is causing infertility?
How long have you been infertile?
Your age and the age of your partner?
Personal preferences?
Some causes of infertility cannot be cured
In cases where spontaneous pregnancy fails to occur, couples can often still achieve pregnancy with the help of assisted reproductive technology. Infertility treatment can involve significant financial, physical, psychological and time commitments. We offer our treatment with a team of the best infertility specialists in Jaipur.
Treatment for men
Treatment for men for common sexual problems or lack of healthy sperm may include:
Changing lifestyle factors. Improving lifestyle and certain behaviours can increase the chances of getting pregnant. These include stopping selected medications, reducing or eliminating harmful substances, improving the frequency and timing of sexual intercourse, exercising regularly, and optimising other factors that might otherwise affect fertility.
Medications. Certain medications can improve sperm count and the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. These medications can improve testicular function, including sperm production and quality.
Surgery. In some conditions, surgery can reverse sperm blockage and restore fertility. In other cases, surgical repair of a varicocele can improve the chances of pregnancy overall.
Sperm retrieval. These techniques are used to retrieve sperm when ejaculation is a problem or when there are no sperm in the ejaculate. They can also be used when artificial insemination is planned and the sperm count is low or otherwise abnormal.
Treatment for women
Some women only need one or two treatments to improve their fertility. Other women may need several different treatments to get pregnant.
Stimulating ovulation with fertility drugs. Fertility drugs are the main treatment for women who are infertile due to ovulation problems. These medications regulate or induce ovulation. Talk to your doctor about your fertility medication options – including the benefits and risks of each type.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI). With IUI, healthy sperm are placed directly into the uterus at about the time the ovary releases one or more eggs for fertilisation. Depending on the reasons for infertility, the timing of IUI can be coordinated with your normal cycle or with fertility medication.
Surgery to restore fertility. Uterine problems such as endometrial polyps, a uterine septum, intrauterine scar tissue and some fibroids can be treated with hysteroscopic surgery. Endometriosis, pelvic adhesions and larger fibroids may require laparoscopic surgery or a larger abdominal incision.
Assisted reproductive technology:Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is any fertility treatment that involves the treatment of eggs and sperm. There are several types of ART.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the most common ART technique. In IVF, several mature eggs are stimulated and retrieved, fertilised with sperm in a dish in the laboratory, and the embryos are implanted in the womb a few days after fertilisation.
Sometimes other techniques are used in an IVF cycle, such as:
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A single healthy sperm is injected directly into a mature egg. ICSI is often used when sperm quality or quantity is poor, or when fertilisation attempts have failed in previous IVF cycles.
Assisted hatching. This technique assists the implantation of the embryo into the lining of the uterus by opening the outer covering of the embryo (hatching).
Egg or sperm donor. Most ART are carried out using the couple’s own eggs and sperm. However, if there are serious problems with the eggs or sperm, you can use eggs, sperm or embryos from a known or anonymous donor.
Carrying a pregnancy. Women who don’t have a functioning uterus or for whom pregnancy poses a serious health risk may opt for IVF with a gestation. In this case, the couple’s embryo is implanted into the carrier’s uterus to induce pregnancy.