One in six couples suffers from some form of infertility issue globally. If you have been trying for a baby unsuccessfully for over a year, it might be best if you talk to a fertility expert. In recent years fertility treatments have enabled millions of couples all over the world to create families they would have otherwise been unable to. Depending on your unique set of circumstances some fertility treatments may be better for you than others. Here we’d like to discuss a few of the most popular fertility treatments available to help you better understand your options.
The infertility treatments available today include-
- Medical treatments or drugs to treat the lack of ovulation or irregular ovulation.
- Surgical procedures that treat endometriosis, fibroids, removal of tubal blockages or the repair of fallopian tubes, and the removal of scarring in the womb and abdominal cavity.
- Assisted conception methods like IUI, IVF, ICSI.
The first thing we must discover is the cause of a couple’s infertility. Samples from both the women and men are analyzed and examined to reveal the root of the problem. Roughly ⅓ of infertility factors lie within the woman, ⅓ are found in the male, and the final ⅓ are unfavourable conditions in both partners or the exact cause of infertility is unclear. There are many options for couples, ranging from drug therapies to more serious surgical options. It is so important to choose the best option for your specific conditions because unnecessary fertility treatments can be expensive and unsuccessful.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
The sperm is placed into the womb with a catheter. This improves the chances of conception.
Success rates– Up to 15-20% for women under 40 years of age.
Side effects– No side effects except those induced by the drugs used to treat ovulation disorders.
Who should Opt – Couples who have low sperm motility, couples who have unexplained infertility issues, where the male partner has azoospermia i.e. no sperms in the ejaculate …
Fertility Drugs
Fertility drugs are prescribed for ovulation disorders. They can also be given at the start of an IVF cycle. Most drugs work by stimulating or suppressing certain hormones to help regularize ovulation.
Success rates– The success rates depend on the drugs prescribed.
Side effects– Bloating, headache, nausea, breast tenderness, mood swings. Hormone injections can also cause a rare complication called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertility drugs can also increase the risk of twins and multiples.
Who should opt– women with ovulation issues like PCOS, to enable OI and increase the success rate of IUI.
Natural Cycle IVF
In Natural cycle IVF, you bypass the hormone injections given to help multiple eggs grow. The doctor will keep an eye on the natural cycle of the woman and will extract the mature egg before it is about to ovulate. The rest of the process will be similar to IVF.
Success Rate– 20 to 25%
Side Effects– Lesser side effects than the usual IVF treatment.
Who should opt– If the female partner gets regular menses and OI and IUI have not worked but the couple is against subjecting their bodies to hormones or if she has an extremely poor ovarian reserve.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In IVF, the egg and the sperm are fertilized outside the body in the fertility clinic. One or more of the fertilized eggs can be transferred into the womb to implant and grow into a successful pregnancy.
Success rates- Success rates are as high as 50% in women under 35, 38 to 40% for a woman from 35 to 37, decreases for women older than 42.
Side effects- The hormone injections can lead to side effects. The process of extracting eggs and implanting the embryos can be invasive too. If you end up with twins or multiples, the chances of complications also multiply.
Who should opt– Woman with fallopian tube blockages, ovulation problems, low ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, PCOS, severe endometriosis or if the male partner has subnormal semen parameters.
ICSI
ICSI is very similar to IVF except that fertility doctors use special tools to physically inject a single sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg cell. This method ensures that sperm and egg will meet and is used most successfully.
Success rates- Similar success rates as IVF
Side effects- May impose higher egg damage unless performed by an experienced and skilful Embryologist.
Who should opt– ICSI initiates insemination in case of unexplainable fertility problems and poor surviving sperm cells
At Aaradhya Fertility Center, we choose the best assisted reproductive technologies based on the results of the tests we perform. If you and your partner are having difficulty creating your family, schedule an appointment today. Call us at 8886592229.
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