Ovulation induction is usually used in women who do not ovulate (release egg) regularly, have irregular cycles or in women with poly cystic ovaries (PCO) or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Ovulation induction is often combined with ultrasound scans, urine and blood tests this may increase the chances of conception, provided the fallopian tubes are patent and sperm test is normal.
Egg growth (follicular genesis) and release of egg (ovulation) can be improved by giving tablets / injections and monitoring the changes by ultrasound scan and sometimes may also need a trigger injection as well to improve ovulation.
Semen analysis, also known as a sperm count test, analyzes the health and viability of a man’s sperm. Semen is the fluid containing sperm (plus other sugar and protein substances) that’s released during male ejaculation. A semen analysis measures three major factors of sperm health :
The number of sperm
The morphology of the sperm
The movement of the sperm, also known as “sperm motility”
Doctors will often conduct two or three separate sperm analyses to get a good idea of sperm’s health. According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), the tests should be conducted at least seven days apart and over the course of two to three months. Sperm counts can vary on a daily basis. Taking an average of the sperm samples can give the most conclusive result.
the sperm count in a normal semen analysis should be between 20 million to over 200 million. This result is also known as sperm density. If this number is low, conceiving can be more difficult.
Semen cryopreservation is a procedure to preserve sperm cells. Semen can be used successfully indefinitely after cryopreservation. For human sperm, the longest reported successful storage is 22 years. It can be used for the patients who wants the treatment in a different time or place, or as a means of preserving fertility for men undergoing vasectomy or treatments that may compromise their fertility, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.
In vitro fertilization (or fertilization; IVF) is a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body: in vitro ("in glass"). The process involves monitoring and stimulating a woman's ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova (egg or eggs) from the woman's ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a liquid in a laboratory. The fertilized egg is cultured for 2–5 days in a growth medium and is then implanted in the same or another woman's uterus, with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.
IVF techniques can be used in different types of situations. It is a technique of assisted reproductive technology for treatment of infertility.
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) used to treat sperm-related infertility problems. ICSI is used to enhance the fertilization phase of in vitro fertilization (IVF)by injecting a single sperm into a mature egg. The fertilized egg is then placed in a woman's uterus or fallopian tube
A glass tool is used to hold an egg in place. A tiny glass tube is used to put one sperm into the egg. After culturing in the lab overnight, eggs are checked to see if they've been fertilized. After incubation, the eggs that have been successfully fertilized or have had 3 to 5 days to further develop are selected. Two to four are placed in the uterus using a thin flexible tube (catheter) that is inserted through the cervix. The other embryos may be frozen for future use.
Egg retrieval under ultrasound guidance and subsequent fertilization and embryo culture are carried out according to our current procedures. If there happens to be a surplus of embryos following selection for fresh transfer (usually between one to four embryos are transferred to the uterus), then embryos of sufficient quality may be considered for cry storage. While embryos can be frozen at any Pre implantation stage between one-cell (one day old) to the blastocyst stage (5 days old).
A blastocyst is an embryo that has been developed in the laboratory for five days after insemination, in contrast to conventional IVF which involves transferring embryos to the womb two to three days after egg collection and insemination (this is referred to as a Day 2 or 3 transfer).
With a blastocyst transfer, the embryo has advanced to the five-day stage. This means the embryo has divided many more times into many more cells over this period. Blastocysts have a very thin outer shell thus potentially increasing the chances of implantation into the uterine cavity. Most of the blastocyst contains a fluid cavity and it is possible to see the cells which will become the baby and those which will make up the placenta. While the majority of fertilised eggs will develop into a three-day old embryo, only perhaps 40% of these embryos will develop into a blastocyst. Therefore, blastocysts are considered to be a more "select" group of embryos with a higher chance of pregnancy.
The 5 day blastocyst is a much more advanced structure than the 3 day old embryo and the real advantage of transferring blastocysts is the high live birth rate associated with blastocyst transfer.
A blastocyst is an embryo that has been developed in the laboratory for five days after insemination, in contrast to conventional IVF which involves transferring embryos to the womb two to three days after egg collection and insemination (this is referred to as a Day 2 or 3 transfer).
With a blastocyst transfer, the embryo has advanced to the five-day stage. This means the embryo has divided many more times into many more cells over this period. Blastocysts have a very thin outer shell thus potentially increasing the chances of implantation into the uterine cavity. Most of the blastocyst contains a fluid cavity and it is possible to see the cells which will become the baby and those which will make up the placenta. While the majority of fertilized eggs will develop into a three-day old embryo, only perhaps 40% of these embryos will develop into a blastocyst. Therefore, blastocysts are considered to be a more "select" group of embryos with a higher chance of pregnancy.
The 5 day blastocyst is a much more advanced structure than the 3 day old embryo and the real advantage of transferring blastocysts is the high live birth rate associated with blastocyst transfer.
This technique is used to help couples where the male partner does not ejaculate sperm. A small number of sperm are obtained directly from the
Epididymis or testicles in a small surgical procedure sufficient for IVF treatment.
(PESA- PERCUTANEOUS EPIDIDYMAL SPERM ASPIRATION ;
TESA- TESTICULAR SPERM ASPIRATION) FOR MEN WITH AZOOSPERMIA OR NO SPERMS IN THE EJACULATE.
A Sperm recovery technique whereby a fine needle is passed through the skin of the scrotum and into the epididymis region of the testes and sperm are withdrawn using gentle suction, or, retrieving sperm directly from the coiled tubing outside the testicles that store sperm (epididymis) using needle.
This sperm extraction technique involves the insertion of a needle into the lower region of the testes and the removal of a small piece of testicular tissue.
INFERTILITY, WHETHER MALE OR FEMALE, CAN BE DEFINED AS ‘THE INABILITY OF A COUPLE TO ACHIEVE CONCEPTION OR TO BRING A PREGNANCY TO TERM AFTER A YEAR OR MORE OF REGULAR, UNPROTECTED INTERCOURSE, INFERTILITY EXCLUSIVELY A FEMALE PROBLEM....? NO.. THE INCIDENCE OF INFERTILITY IN MEN AND WOMEN IS ALMOST IDENTICAL.
PROBLEMS IN EGG FORMATION
STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES
DISEASES / INFECTION INVOLVING REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.
LOW SPERM COUNT IS THE MAIN RESULT OF THE CAUSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPRODUCTION OF SPERM. WHEN SPERM REPRODUCTION IS AFFECTED THEN THERE MAY BE LOW LEVEL OF SPERM PRODUCING HORMONES OR DAMAGED TESTICLES OR ABSENCE OF TESTICLES.
CERTAIN EXTERNAL CAUSES ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE LIKE OVERHEATED VARICOCELES, TIGHT CLOTHING EXCESSIVE EXERCISE AND EXTREME HOT WATER BATH CAN PROVE DETRIMENTAL TO FERTILITY. LONG HOURS OF SEDENTARY WORK CAN HEAT UP THE GENITALS CAUSING LOW SPERM PRODUCTION.
OBESITY CAUSES THE FAT LAYERS TO HEAT UP THE TESTICLES. CAUSING LOW SPERM COUNT.
SEMEN IS RELEASED INTO THE BACKWARD INTO BLADDER INSTEAD OF PENIS DURING EJACULATION. THIS CONDITION MAY BE SINCE BIRTH OR YOU COULD HAVE DEVELOPED IT DUE TO DIABETES, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, PROSTRATE SURGERY OR SOME MEDICATIONS.
THERE MAY BE SOME OBSTRUCTION IN THE PASSAGE OF THE SPERM FORM THE TESTIS TO THE PENIS.
THE OPENING OF THE URETHRA IS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PENIS INSTEAD AND THUS THE SEMEN DOES NOT REACH THE PENIS.
intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. The goal of IUI is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and subsequently increase the chance of fertilization.
IUI provides the sperm an advantage by giving it a head start, but still requires a sperm to reach and fertilize the egg on its own. It is a less invasive and less expensive option compared to in vitrofertilization.