Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many people suffer from infertility related problems in India ?
Ans. In India, it is estimated that approximately between 15-20% of the couples of fertile age suffer from infertility. This figure increases because of increased urbanization and pollution, stress, a competitive work environment and a hectic and fast lifestyle. With improved economic status and lack of exercise obesity and insulin resistance is another major contributory factor.

Q. Who are the main sufferers of infertility?
Ans. Infertility related problems could strike anyone - rich or poor, educated or illiterate.

Q. What are the main causes of infertility?
Ans. The most common known causes of infertility are ovulatory disorders, tubal disease and problems with the sperm. A large group is due to "unexplained infertility". This is when a couple fails to conceive after about 12- 18 months of regular intercourse, and no cause is found.

Among couples who seek medical help, infertility is exclusively a problem in the female in about 1/3 of cases and exclusively in the male in about 1/3 of cases. In the balance of cases, infertility results from problems in both partners and the causes of the infertility cannot be explained

Q.When should I seek treatment for infertility?
Ans. Treatment starts as soon as you seek professional help. Many infertile couples undergo a long process to attempt to conceive with no guarantees of success. On the other hand, there are women who become pregnant soon after their first appointment with the fertility specialist, using simple advice and without complicated treatment.

Q. Should my partner accompany me to the specialist?
Ans. Over half of the couples with more then two years of infertility eventually become successful in achieving pregnancy. With advances in infertility research and wider availability of newer techniques, the success rate of infertility treatment is increasing all the time.

Q. what is the success rate of infertile couples getting pregnant with treatment?
Ans. Since both you and your partner are involved in the process, it is only fair that he be part of it. The infertility specialist will be able to discuss with both of you and to also outline the chances of success and the possibility of failure.

Q. What is ovulation?
Ans. . Ovulation is the name given to the process in which a woman's eggs are released by her ovaries in the monthly menstrual cycle. A woman has two ovaries, which are located in her pelvis. These ovaries are responsible for producing the eggs to be fertilized by a man's sperm. Each ovary contains lots of fluid- filled sacs called follicles, which are normally home to the developing eggs. Ovulation occurs when the follicle enlarges and ruptures to release a fully mature egg. Generally only one egg is release each month.

Q. Why do I ovulate?
Ans. . In order for a woman to have a chance of becoming pregnant, she must ovulate. After ovulation, the mature egg is passed down the fallopian tube, which is structured to catch and transport the egg.

Once the egg is inside the fallopian tube it is ready to meet the sperm. If the egg comes into contact with sperm, fertilization can occur and the woman can become pregnant.

If the egg does not meet any sperm, it breaks down in the fallopian tube. Getting pregnant is all about being in the right place at the right time!

Q. When do I ovulate?
Ans. . The actual day of ovulation varies from woman to woman and can actually vary slightly each month. As guide, the length of an average menstrual cycle is 28 days, with ovulation occurring about 12-14 days before the next period.

You may wish to ask your doctor to help you work out your expected day of ovulation by recording the length of your menstrual cycles.

To become pregnant it is best to have sex during or very close to the time of ovulation. This will give the sperm the best chance of meeting the egg inside the fallopian tube where fertilization takes place.

Q. How do I know if I am ovulating?
Ans. . There are few physical signs to look for to help you work out if you are ovulating.

• Before ovulation, your vaginal discharge becomes clear, wet and sticky, like egg- white
• Some women feel abdominal pain around the time of ovulation.
• Your body temperature rises slightly after ovulation.
• Your body temperature rises slightly after ovulation.
• After ovulation, your vaginal discharge becomes thick and white.

If you are taking contraceptive pill you will not be ovulating as it prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation from occurring. Other forms of contraception, however, do not affect ovulation.

Q. What happens if I am not ovulating?
Ans. If you are not ovulating, the most common sign will be that you do not have a period. Sometimes, however, you may have irregular spotting, or even period- like bleeding even though you are not ovulating.
If you think that you may not be ovulating, or have any concerns, you may wish to discuss this with doctor.

Q. I am ovulating but cannot get pregnant?
Ans. Remember that it is all about the sperm and the egg meeting at the right time. If you are ovulating but cannot become pregnant after having regular unprotected sex, you may wish to ask doctor for advice.

Q.How many cycles of IUI?
Ans. It all depends on the age of the patients, condition of ovaries, tubes, husband's semen values etc. On an average if all is well, one can try for 3-6 cycles of IUI.

Q. When should one undergo IVF?
Ans. If one has tried IUI several times, if tubes are not healthy, if there is severe polycystic ovaries, severe endometriosis, cervical problem or Unexplained infertility.

Q. If a man does not have sperms, Can he still father of a child?
Ans. Yes. If there is spermatogenesis, with the help of sperm retrieval techniques (TESA, PESA) one can father of a child.

Q. If my ovaries are not working and doctor says that this is premature menopause, is a pregnancy still possible?
Ans. Yes! You need an ovum donor. With the help of eggs from the donor and sperms from your husband an embryo can be formed with IVF or ICSI techniques. This embryo can be transferred in your womb to achieve the pregnancy.

Q.Because of anxiety a man may not be able to give the sample at the time of IUI, what to do?
Ans. YIn such cases good counseling may help .Some medicines may also be given to the man. In such cases usually a frozen sample is kept from the husband beforehand and this gives confidence to the husband and relieves the anxiety. If still he is not able to produce semen sample frozen sample can be used.

Q.What can one do if the uterus is not able to implant or hold the pregnancy say because of adhesions in the uterine lining or because of fibroids or uterus is absent?
Ans.In such cases, surrogate mother can give birth to the baby and hand it over to the biological parents after birth.

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