Category: Infertility

In Vitro Fertilization or IVF treatment in India, is an assisted reproductive technology that brings happiness to countless couples across the globe. It involves retrieving mature eggs from women’s ovaries, fertilizing them in a special laboratory, and placing the embryos in the uterus.

The embryo transfer procedure requires utmost attention and care even after it is over. So, here are five things you need to avoid to not damage your chances of a successful pregnancy.

Skipping Medications

Progesterone plays a crucial role throughout the IVF treatment and is also responsible for supporting embryo implantation, which results in successful pregnancy. Therefore, doctors recommend or prescribe Progesterone medications to several women. They need to continue taking those medications in the early weeks of their IVF transfer. However, some may be recommended to continue the medicines after embryo transfer.

We can understand there will be days and times when you wish to stop consuming them, but trust us; it is not a great idea to stop medications without consulting your gynecologist. In case you face difficulty while taking vaginal suppositories or progesterone injections or if they seem annoying, please consult our experts immediately.

Taking the Pregnancy Test Immediately

You might be excited to know whether you have finally conceived or not, but taking a pregnancy test immediately after embryo transfer is a bad idea. The possibility that the test results will be false is high. This is because the IVF procedure involves using fertility medicines like hCG, which can give a false result of not being pregnant or being pregnant.

Instead, you need to be patient and wait for the hCG production through placenta cells to ensure correct results. It generally takes about two weeks for the hCG to double from the day of embryo transfer and peaks anywhere between 8-11 weeks, which is then detected by the test if it is more than 25 mIU/ml.

Ignoring Symptoms

Even if the embryo transfer or the IVF procedure, in general, went smoothly, there are chances your body might signal some symptoms later on. The most common ones are bloating, dizziness, blood clotting, and abdominal pain, which are okay to ignore. However, suppose it is a case of severe abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. In that case, there are chances you may develop OHSS, i.e., Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, and if ignored, it can get worse.

So, immediately seek medical attention from our best IVF doctor in India if you gain weight or experience unbearable pain in your stomach area.

Dealing with Some Chemicals or Products

Several studies show that chemicals present in cosmetics can negatively affect women’s hormones and their reproductive system. There are several EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals) that can be a cause of infertility, disturbance in ovarian functions, and even miscarriages. So, here’s a tabulated list of products you need to be careful with.

Consuming Unhealthy Beverages and Foods

Diet is one of the crucial factors affecting successful pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to be careful of what you consume after embryo transfer. It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol, sodas, and beverages containing alcohol as it can affect embryo implantation. You should also avoid eating processed food, junk or fast food, and soft cheese as they contain enhancements and preservatives, which are extremely harmful to your health after the embryo transfer.

Instead, consume healthy fat and protein. Lastly, make sure to have a detailed discussion about your diet with our nutritionist.

A Note from Sunflower Infertility & IVF Clinic

Small actions and choices can affect your dream of becoming a parent. Avoiding the five things discussed above rather than complicating the case is best. Also, remember that every woman’s pregnancy and IVF journey is different, and what works for others might not be the best option for you. So, make sure to consult the best IVF specialist in India at Sunflower Hospital.

How Does Meditation Help with Fertility?

Every woman has a dream of becoming a mother. However, some might find it difficult to conceive due to several factors, which include overall physical, mental, and emotional health.

It is common for people to seek medical help for issues concerning their physical health. Still, they often ignore emotional and mental health issues, leading to the buildup of negative emotions like stress, frustration, anger, and more. These emotions adversely affect the quality of the sperm and egg. Additionally, it can create hormonal imbalance, all of which ultimately affects fertility.

So, the question, “How can I relax?” arises in many of your minds, and the one-word answer to it is meditation. As infertility specialists in Gujarat, we understand your curiosity to know the relationship between meditation and fertility, thus this blog.

How Does Meditation Facilitate Fertility?

Hormonal Balance

In the human body, the brain is in charge of regulating hormones. Every month, it controls certain hormones contributing to the process of ovulation. However, with excessive stress, the level of cortisol increases, ultimately increasing the amount of glucose present in the blood.

The release of stress hormones creates imbalance and thus hinders the brain’s normal signaling to the hormones that lead ovaries to release ovum. On the contrary to stress, meditation can balance the cortisol level and release hormones that reverse the health of your damaged cells, including eggs. Additionally, it helps the brain release oxytocin – a happy hormone that aids with good mood, production of milk, birth, and establishing your bond with the baby.

Stress Reduction

For a lot of females, tracking ovulation and menstrual cycle while planning to conceive is a monthly activity, and it may leave you anxious and stressed. As discussed above, stress will lead our body to release more cortisol which can shut down fertility hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Meditation has long been used as a relaxing activity to calm the mind full of jumbled thoughts. Therefore, meditating while trying to conceive can help you reframe and accept ideas in a better way, ultimately helping your body strike a balance with cortisol.

Increases Self-Empathy

It is not uncommon for females to blame themselves and stress for not being able to conceive. However, it affects your overall emotional and physical state to an extent, and that is where you need to begin your meditation journey.

It will help relax your thoughts and emotions while opening doors to self-compassion, confidence, and inner strength, ultimately helping with the stress and, in turn, with conception.

Longevity of Female Eggs

The number of eggs a female carries decreases as she ages. Therefore, it is essential to care for the ones left. A woman’s overall physical and emotional state affects her eggs’ quality and life, so dealing with patience and positivity is crucial.

Meditation not only relaxes the mind but also slows the process of cell aging and death, ultimately increasing the time your biological clock allows you to conceive.

Have You Started Meditating?

The entire blog talks about how meditation helps reduce stress, further improving your body’s functioning and overall health. While you plan to proceed with a life-changing decision of embracing parenthood, it is vital to take time for yourself, enjoy and understand the process, remain positive, and seek help when required to ensure your baby is developing in a happy place.

Lastly, meditation helps every female trying to, planning to, or even dreaming to conceive, and as the best IVF specialist in India, we advise each of our patients to practice it.

ICSI, an acronym for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, is another infertility treatment in the field of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) that our best gynaecologist in India performs. It acts as a hope for several couples struggling to conceive due to infertility issues. Whether you are seeking knowledge or looking forward to choosing ICSI as a treatment, this blog aims to develop an overall understanding of the procedure. So, without further due, let’s begin.

What is ICSI?

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is an infertility treatment undertaken in the laboratory wherein our professionals retrieve eggs and inject sperm into the egg. It results in fertilization, which in turn forms an embryo. ICSI is generally advised in case of male infertility issues.

Even though ICSI is one form of IVF, the primary difference between the two is egg fertilization. In ICSI, a sperm is injected into the egg, whereas in IVF, the egg and multiple sperm are left to fertilize in a petri dish. Check here to know the difference between IVF and ICSI.

Who Needs to Undergo Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection?

Medical professionals generally recommend ICSI for couples unable to conceive because of male infertility. However, some indications for the procedure are.

• Decreased sperm count
• Unable to ejaculate, i.e., Anejaculation
• Reduced sperm quality
• Blocks in the male reproductive system
• Retrograde ejaculation, wherein the sperm flows back to the bladder
• Unexplained failure of the IVF process
• Couples suffering from HIV, HCV, or HBSAG
• To conduct embryo biopsy for PGD/PGS
• Couples intending to use frozen sperm or eggs

What Happens Before the ICSI Procedure?

Before the procedure, the professional will collect the sperm and eggs. The following steps are undertaken for egg retrieval;

Ovarian Stimulation

This process is also known as ovarian induction, wherein women are given medications for eight to fourteen days to increase the number of eggs produced during ovulation. Finally, HCG injection or lupron will help in maturing the eggs.

Egg Retrieval

The medical professional will use transvaginal ultrasound technology to assist the needle inserted through the vaginal wall into the ovaries. It is generally performed with mild anesthesia, resulting in no to minimal pain. Lastly, eggs are collected with the help of suction equipment attached to the needle.

What Happens During the ICSI Procedure?

When you undergo the procedure at the best gynecologist hospital in India, professionals will;

• Use a tiny tube of glass with a suction bulb, also known as a pipette, to clasp the mature eggs
• Use a thin, hollow, and sharp needle to immobilize and choose single sperm
• Insert a needle to reach the cytoplasm via egg
• Inject the sperm in the cytoplasm
• Take out the needle carefully and check the eggs for fertilization in intervals

What Happens After the ICSI Procedure?

After performing the procedure, the professional watches out for signs of fertilization. In five to six days, the fertilized eggs divide into cells, ultimately leading to blastocyst. The professional will then analyze the cell mass and size of the blastocyst to determine when pregnancy is most likely to occur.

The medical professional will discuss the timing of the embryo transfer and will then use ultrasound technology to place the embryo in the uterus. At last, they will advise taking a pregnancy test after a while.

Wrapping Up

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an infertility treatment that primarily caters to factors affecting male fertility and improves the chances of conceiving. However, you should consult a gynecologist to determine which infertility treatment suits your case.

While some amount of stress is a part of everyday life, don’t be surprised if you find yourself more stressed while undergoing IVF treatment.

The treatment certainly affects physical health but could also add some stress. So, it is only natural to feel blue and expect mood fluctuations to be in full swing.

Grounding yourself during this phase could be daunting. Hence, this blog. As a hospital offering IVF treatment in India, we understand the struggle, so we want to highlight five ways to cope with stress through this blog.

Create a List of Priorities

Before you take on new commitments, evaluate whether now is the time you want to add something else to your plate. This is the time to put your needs first and say No to requests from family, friends or work to ensure you don’t get overwhelmed. Take some time out and create a list of priorities, marking flags to the urgent ones.

Get to Know Yourself, again

What are your hobbies? What are the things that genuinely bring you joy? Who are the people you can rely on? How did you handle a stressful situation in the past? Asking yourself these questions will give better insights into dealing with the situation and help you learn about yourself. Feel free to experiment with ways to know yourself. After all, there’s no one-size fits all self-care plan for everybody.

Practice Breath Work

Breathing exercises are known to have a profound effect on your overall health. Find some exercises that feel good to you. You can even use mindfulness apps for guided meditations and put your mind at ease. Make it a ritual to practice conscious breathing after some time gaps during the day.

Trust Your Care Team

Remember to rely on your doctor and not on Google. It’s a natural urge to look up to Google to find solutions to your problems. Hold back that urge. Make a phone call to your doctor if required. Your care team will be able to offer the right advice and support specific to your situation.

Seek a Professional’s Help

You don’t have to do everything on your own. With the guidance of a good therapist, navigating through this phase will only make it easier for you. You can opt for individual counselling or couple’s counselling too. It’s time to make the best use of the resources available.

Final Words

Since we’ve already talked about how to combat stress when undergoing IVF treatment for women, it should give you a fair idea of what works and what doesn’t. If you have any queries or concerns or want to know more about infertility treatment options, please get in touch with us. As a trusted IVF hospital in India, we will help you identify the issue and suggest the proper treatment based on the case and your budget. We’re only a call away.

Many women often delay starting a family for social, educational, or professional reasons, until their late thirties. It is commonly known that as a woman ages, her ability to conceive successfully and the quality and quantity of her eggs both declines. Even from an IVF treatment, successful pregnancy outcome declines with advanced age.

Egg freezing offers women the potential to freeze healthy eggs at a young age when they are not ready for pregnancy, however, can preserve fertility. Apart from social egg freezing, we can freeze eggs for cancer patients to preserve their fertility.

Women’s biological clocks can be frozen through egg freezing or oocyte vitrification. By delaying pregnancy through egg freezing, you can live life on your terms without worrying about the quality of your eggs deteriorating as you get older. Then, when you’re ready to grow your family, you can have your eggs fertilized and have the resultant embryo placed in your uterus for implantation.

What is the Ideal Age for Egg Freezing?

Women can freeze eggs at a young age when there is a good ovarian reserve and response. It is the late 20s to early 30s

Process of Egg Freezing:

Step 1: Investigation

If you are thinking of egg freezing, go to a fertility expert. Get yourself checked for ovarian reserve and general health check-ups. That would give us an idea of how the success of the egg-freezing process.

Ovarian reserve check-up includes some blood tests including AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) and an ultrasound scan to see antral follicle count in the ovaries. That will give us an idea of possible how many eggs we can get through the process.

Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation

Your ovaries will be stimulated with injections to create a lot of eggs. You will be monitored by doing an ultrasound scan to see the number of follicles and size of the follicles.

Step 3: Egg Retrieval

The next step is the egg retrieval process, which is done usually 10-12 days after ovarian stimulation. The egg retrieval process involves the use of ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration. This process is done under anaesthesia/sedation.

Step 4: Freezing

The unfertilized mature eggs are frozen in a process called vitrification. The process involves rapid cooling to prevent the formation of ice crystals on the eggs.

How Long We Can Freeze Eggs?

Although eggs can be preserved for a number of years, but the duration for which they can be stored will vary with each hospital. we store eggs for up to 10 years. However, if a patient is going for cancer treatment, her eggs can be stored for 10 years after requisite permission from the National ART Board.

How Successful Is Egg Freezing?

Frozen vitrified eggs have a survival probability of between 80 and 85%. This implies that some of the eggs in storage might not endure the freeze-thaw cycle. The frozen eggs are defrosted and fertilized with your husband’s sperm when you are ready to get pregnant. The resulting embryos are then put inside your uterus.

Not all eggs fertilize, but about 80 to 90% do.

What are the Factors Determining the Success of Egg Freezing?

With the evolving vitrification techniques, the post-warming results have improved.

The success of the egg freezing and thawing procedure depends on factors including:

• Age at the time of freezing the eggs
• Sperm quality
• Facilities at the clinic where you have frozen eggs
• The number of eggs

As studies suggest younger patients (<30) have better quality eggs as compared to patients with advanced age (>35).

Reasons to Preserve Your Fertility Today

• Do you want to postpone your marriage and pregnancy? Egg freezing could reduce your risk of future fertility problems. Although egg freezing cannot guarantee a pregnancy, it is a useful technique for saving good-quality eggs for younger women.
• To allow for educational pursuits
• To have time to develop a professional career or business.
• Give your relationship time to mature.
• To achieve control over your fertility.
• To preserve fertility for cancer patients who needed chemotherapy for treatment.

So, if you are planning any of the above and want to play safe to preserve your fertility, you can go ahead with egg freezing a new technology in Assisted Reproductive Technology with the help of IVF Center in India.

IVF (In-vitro Fertilization) is an assisted reproductive technology used to treat infertility in couples having problems conceiving naturally. It involves extracting female eggs from a mother and combining them in a laboratory with the father’s sperm samples. IVF treatment in India has become very popular in recent years, with many couples opting for it to fulfill their dream of a happy family.

Despite its popularity, people still have a lot of misinformation about the actual procedure. This blog will explore the different aspects of IVF treatment, including the procedure, success rates, and costs.

The Procedure of IVF Treatment in India

The very first thing to understand is that IVF is not a solution for every infertile couple. There are many reasons for infertility, and IVF is a procedure that caters to many but not all reasons. The IVF procedure is generally a recommended option for couples suffering from the following:

• Ovulation disorders
• Fallopian tube complications
• Uterine fibroids
• Impaired sperm production
• As a part of the fertility preservation process for some patients who underwent an ovarian cancer treatment
• Endometriosis

The treatment, though, is not limited to the above issues and may be helpful in some other unexplained infertility issues. Your doctor is the right person to guide you in the right direction.

Moving ahead, let us have a look at the step-by-step IVF procedure.

Fertility Medication

After the initial consultation, if your doctor finds you suitable to undergo the IVF treatment, he starts you on a regime of fertility medicines for a duration of a few months. This medication helps your ovaries produce a large number of mature eggs that are ready to fertilize. The medical term for this procedure is ovulation induction.

Regular ultrasounds and blood tests are done at his stage to monitor hormone levels and egg production.

Retrieval of Eggs

When your doctor is satisfied with the ovulation, they extract your eggs. Egg retrieval is a simple process that is carried out in the fertility clinic or your doctor’s office.

Sperm Retrieval

After egg extraction from the mother, the next step is collecting the semen sample from the father. After the collection, sperms are separated from the fluid in a lab.

Fertilization

Now that the doctor has both the healthy eggs and sperm, the next step is to combine them for fertilization. For this process, the eggs and sperm are stored together in a specific container. Sometimes, a sperm with weak mobility is directly injected into the egg to promote fertilization.

Embryo Transfer

The embryo transfer occurs after 3-5 days of fertilization. More than one embryo is implanted in the mother’s uterus, and if any embryo sticks to the uterus lining, it results in conception.

Success Rate of the Procedure

According to fertility experts in leading women’s hospitals like Sunflower Hospital, the success rate of an IVF treatment depends on various factors. The significant factors affecting this rate include age, the cause of infertility, and the number of embryos transferred. It is seen that the success rate drops with an increase in the mother’s age and is maximum in females of up to 35 years of age.

Cost of the Treatment

Again, the cost of the IVF treatment is subjective to many factors, including the clinic, treatment plan, and the doctor. The price significantly increases if you need to undergo more cycles for conception. It is best to discuss the financial aspects of the treatment with your doctor beforehand.

Wrapping Up

Choosing to undergo infertility treatment is a difficult decision and should not be taken lightly. It has a definite impact on your finances, physical health, and emotions. If you decide to undergo the treatment, research properly and choose a suitable facility like Sunflower Hospital for the best results.