IVF Treatment

Medical knowledge is continually being expanded and day by day new methods are being researched in order to solve the various problems faced by people. Cures and treatments have been discovered for major diseases like small pox and cancer and will continue to do so. One of the most disheartening disorders for any person is being declared infertile. It causes deep anguish within the person and makes him or her feel incomplete. But now there is a solution even to this problem and thanks to doctors and researchers all over the world who have worked relentlessly for this cause, the world now has the option of In vitro fertilization or IVF Treatment.

In vitro is a Latin term meaning “in glass” and thus in In vitro fertilization the egg cells are fertilized by the sperms outside the body in a glass tube. It is a major treatment for infertility and has proved rather successful whereas other methods like assisted reproductive technology have failed. This type of process is also referred to as “test-tube baby” method since the fertilization takes place in a test tube in a fluid medium. It is a complex process which involves other medical tests and procedures prior to the actual process.

The IVF Treatment process involves transferring the ova i.e. the eggs from the woman’s ovaries and then letting the sperms fertilize the eggs in a fluid medium outside the body. It is thus a hormonally controlling process and it does not take place within the body. Once the egg is fertilized that is once the zygote is formed it is transferred back into the mother’s womb with the sole intention of establishing a successful pregnancy. In order that the IVF Treatment is successful the ova and sperm should both be healthy and the uterus in which the pregnancy takes place should be able to maintain the pregnancy. It is an expensive treatment and thus should be undertaken only after thorough tests are done to ensure cent per cent results. These tests include oocyte selection test which determines the eggs to be removed for optimal chances of successful pregnancy. Similarly in order to ensure fertilization the sperm washing process is done wherein the semen is prepared for the process by removing the inactive sells and seminal fluid. The sperm and ova are then incubated at a specific ration in the culture medium for a period of time. The egg begins to fertilize during this period and zygote formation is visible.

The In vitro fertilization method is a remarkable discovery and has known to complete many incomplete families. It is a major medical breakthrough and research is still continuing to increase its efficiency and widen its scope.

Delhi IVF | IVF Treatment

IVF Delhi

Delhi has developed as a major power in the recent past and emerged as one of the technologically advanced cities in all respects.be it science, medicine, agriculture or any field, Delhi has evolved into an advanced city. One of the major and important discoveries in medicine over the past years has been the innovation to treat infertility among men and women. IVF or in vitro fertilization has been known to be a boon in the lives of many and has rekindled the dying hopes of many childless couples. It is an advanced medical procedure and can be undertaken by couples declared infertile.

Infertility is a problem which occurs in both males and females. When a woman cannot carry the foetus in her womb or if the ovaries or eggs cannot be fertilized in the fallopian tube, the woman is considered to be infertile as it is not possible for her to undergo a successful pregnancy. Similarly a man is considered infertile if the sperm count is low that is he does not produce enough sperms to facilitate the process of fertilization. It is thus a disheartening thing to be declared infertile as it causes problems in a marriage and many a times ends up in divorce. This has been the cause of many Indian couples separating from each other. Since treatment was not available and the only way to have children then was to adopt, it became difficult to bear such circumstances.

But now with almost all cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata adopting the IVF treatment it has provided a new avenue for the childless couples to regain their incomplete life by having and raising their own child. The process is a technologically and medically advanced procedure and involves the hormonal controlling of the ovaries. The ovaries or eggs to be fertilized are removed from the uterus and fertilised in a petri dish or test tube by the sperms. This process of fertilization outside the body is termed as ‘in vitro’. This technique has been adopted by many childless couples through the many specialized clinics in Delhi and other major cities in India.

There are many Non-Governmental Organizations also that work for the cause and help in arranging for surrogate mothers if there is a need to do so, since it becomes difficult to do so in a traditional setting like India. Many foreign nationals also come to IVF clinics in Delhi and Bangalore to get the treatment done as surrogate mothers are available at a much cheaper bargain than abroad. Delhi has been a major hub for foreign and national IVF Treatments and has proved to provide efficient service to help many couples complete their incomplete lives by filling it with little bundles of joy and happiness.

Delhi IVF | IVF Treatment

Who might opt for Surrogate ?

Some women are unable to carry a child to term. A variety of causes account for this, including failure of the embryo to implant, repeated miscarriage, hysterectomy or a pelvic disorder. Some women experience problems such as dangerously high blood pressure, a heart condition or liver disease, so that pregnancy would entail a serious health risk for them.

Who can Opt?

IVF Surrogacy

1. Women whose ovaries are producing eggs but they do not have a uterus. For e.g., in the following cases:

a) Congenital absence of uterus (Mullerian agenesis)

b) Surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) due to cancer, severe hemorrhage in Caesarian section or a ruptured uterus.

2. Woman whose uterus is malformed (unicornuate uterus, T shaped uterus, bicornuate uterus with rudimentary horn) or damaged uterus (T.B of the endometrium, severe Asherman's Syndrome) or at high risk of rupture, (previous uterine surgeries for rupture uterus or fibroid uterus) and is unable to carry pregnancy to term can also be recommended IVF surrogacy.

3. Women who have repeated miscarriages or have repeated failed IVF cycles may be advised IVF surrogacy in view of unexplained factors which could be responsible for failed implantation and early pregnancy wastage.

4. Women who suffer from medical problems like diabetes, cardio-vascular disorders, or kidney diseases like chronic nephritis, whose long term prospect for health is good but pregnancy would be life threatening.

5. Woman with Rh incompatibility.

Traditional Surrogacy

1. A Women who have no functioning ovaries due to premature ovarian failure. Here Egg Donation also can be an option.

2. A woman who is at a risk of passing a genetic disease to her offspring may also opt for traditional surrogacy.

Some people may come to terms with their childlessness. Others may find adoption or fostering an acceptable alternative, although this option is limited by the number of babies and children offered for adoption. For others surrogacy may be seen as a possible solution. Because surrogacy involves another person taking on the risks of pregnancy, it is only acceptable as a last resort, where it is impossible or very dangerous for the intended mother to carry a child herself.

Sometimes people speculate about women taking part in surrogacy arrangements, although capable of bearing children themselves, because they wish to avoid the physical, social, psychological or financial drawbacks of bearing a child themselves. There is no evidence to suggest that this happens in India and it would not be seen as an acceptable use of a surrogacy arrangement.

IVF versus adoption: Which is better?

For couples who want children but can't conceive naturally, this is a personal crisis and its every hard to deal with it.

Of course there is no one right answer. Adoption and in vitro fertilization both carry financial, medical, and family dynamic risks.

With Hollywood luminaries like Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie going the adoption route, and other late-in-life parents risking medical intervention to see their own genes replicate in a biological birth, the debate continues about what is best for the individual, our culture, and the planet.

Let's start with economics. The average cost of in vitro is nearly $3,000 per cycle and adoption costs anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000. Also many cycles of in vitro are often required to create a pregnancy that goes full term. The success rate is to 20-30 percent for women aged 38-40, and if you opt it early it may have better chances and for women over forty, it is as low as 5-10 percent. Then there are the medical complications that can rack up more costs. Laparoscopy used to extract eggs carries risks related to the anesthesia. Then there are risks of infection, bleeding, damage to the bowel, bladder, or a blood vessel. Surgery to repair damage can also be costly.

And then there are the emotional factor, risks and rewards. Some people believe that there is no greater joy and meaning in life than to watch one's own genes blend with a loved one’s and prosper. Others think -- a parent is the person who raises a child, not the one who throws genetic material their way.

Indeed, recent studies on non-biological caregivers and adoptive parents point to hormonal changes in the adult that occur through the acts of bonding and nurturing. And with steady rates of one in five women over the age of forty being childless, a case can be made that nature's intention was for a village of caregivers to nurture any given child.

Then there are Legal Issues. If you are NRI and adopting a child, the process it self take around 2 year and lot of Legal things.

Ivf is good if you plan this early and properly, and come with great satisfaction. It may cost you high but worth spending. But if you already crossed 40, then adoption is good idea coz that help you not to fight with your health and low performance of IVF cycle.

New Fertility drugs and IVF treatments

Fertility drugs and treatments

Fertility drugs are often the first thing and alternative treatment for women who aren't ovulating. They work in the same way as the body's own hormones, triggering the ovaries to release eggs.

This method, known as ovulation induction, can sometimes lead to conception after a few months without further intervention. Possible side effects include premenstrual symptoms such as nausea, headaches and weight gain.

Such drugs are also used as part of other more complicated treatments, such as in vitro fertilisation and intrauterine insemination (see below). Other drugs - to help control the menstrual cycle or thicken the lining of the womb to prepare it for pregnancy, for example - may also be used. These can also cause side effects, such as hot flushes, headaches, nausea and swollen breasts.

There are other methods:

Assisted reproduction treatments

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination, involves inserting sperm into the womb at the time of ovulation using a catheter (a very fine needle or probe). The woman may need to take fertility drugs to stimulate egg production. The sperm used may be her partner's or donated.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Women Eggs and sperm are collected and fertilised in the laboratory before the resulting embryo is transferred to the womb. The woman takes fertility drugs to stimulate the production of eggs. Once these are mature, they're collected by the doctor, using ultrasound to guide the collecting tube. The man produces a sperm sample, which is prepared before being put with the eggs in a Petri dish and left for a few days to see if fertilisation takes place. If a healthy embryo develops, this is placed in the womb using a catheter (a very fine needle or probe). Usually, no more than one or two are placed. Any remaining embryos suitable for freezing may be stored for future use. The sperm and/or eggs used may be the couple's own or donated.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

When a men has less spem that are good for fertilisation then A single sperm is injected into the cytoplasm or centre of a single egg. This is then transferred to the womb using the same process as IVF.

Why it's used: to treat male factor infertility, such as low sperm count or poor motility (mobility or movement) or abnormally shaped sperm. ICSI may also be used following previous unsuccessful attempts at fertilisation using IVF and when sperm has been retrieved directly from the epididymis or the testicles (see 'Sperm extraction', below).

Success rate: as for IVF, about 25 per cent per cycle, sometimes more.

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)

What is it? Gametes - eggs and sperm - are collected as for IVF. Instead of mixing sperm and eggs together in the laboratory, they're immediately transferred to one of the woman's fallopian tubes so fertilisation takes place inside the body. Only a few clinics offer this in the UK.

Why it's used: unexplained infertility.

Success rate: lower than IVF, but it’s difficult to be certain as sometimes it’s offered to couples for whom IVF has already failed.

Sperm extraction

What is it? A small operation that removes sperm from the epididymis (the tube where sperm mature in the man's body) or the testicles (where sperm cells are made) for use in ICSI or another treatment. There are several different methods of sperm extraction like:

PESA (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration) involves guiding a small needle into the epididymis to draw out fluid containing sperm.

TESE (testicular sperm extraction) MESA (microsurgical sperm aspiration) uses a small needle to extract mature sperm from the epididymis.

Why it's used: when a man can't produce sperm - for example, after a vasectomy or failed reversal.

Success rate: when used in ICSI, about 25 per cent per cycle.

Embryo freezing

What is it? The HFEA stipulates that (with certain strict exceptions) only two embryos may be transferred to the womb at a time in fertility treatments. However, because IVF often creates more embryos than can be transferred in a single cycle, most clinics will freeze any remaining healthy embryos for use in future IVF treatments, with the patients' consent.

Why it's used: to avoid the need for further fresh IVF cycles involving invasive processes of egg stimulation and collection.

Success rate: normally only 60 per cent of embryos survive the freeze/thaw process and those that do survive have a lower rate of implantation and so a lower pregnancy rate than fresh embryos.