Posts Tagged ‘ fertility specialist ’

What to Expect During Your IVF Process

Friday, June 9th, 2023

Infertility can be a challenging journey for couples longing to conceive. In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a ray of light to those struggling with infertility. This groundbreaking fertility treatment has revolutionized reproductive medicine, enabling countless individuals to achieve their dream of starting or expanding their families. IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a kind of fertility treatment where eggs are combined with sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting. IVF treatment plays a vital role in helping individuals and couples overcome various fertility issues. It offers a solution for a range of conditions, including tubal factor infertility, endometriosis, male factor infertility, unexplained infertility, and genetic disorders. With IVF, individuals who would otherwise be unable to conceive naturally can have the opportunity to fulfill their desire for parenthood. If you’re considering IVF as an option to start or expand your family, understanding the step-by-step process can help alleviate any anxiety and provide you with a clear roadmap to success.

Stages of IVF

Our health experts help explain each stage of IVF in simple terms and help guide you through the journey of an IVF treatment:

  • Step 1: Initial Consultation and Evaluation
    The IVF journey begins with an initial consultation with a fertility specialist. During this appointment, the doctor will review your medical history, perform a thorough physical examination, and discuss any previous fertility treatments you may have undergone.
  • Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation
    Once you and your fertility specialist have determined that IVF is the appropriate treatment for you, the next step is ovarian stimulation. This involves taking fertility medications to encourage your ovaries to produce multiple eggs, rather than the usual one egg that is released during a natural menstrual cycle. The more eggs you produce, the more chances you’ll have of a successful fertilization later on in the treatment.
  • Step 3: Egg Retrieval
    When your follicles have reached the optimal size and maturity, a minor surgical procedure known as egg retrieval is scheduled. Using ultrasound guidance, a thin needle is passed through the vaginal wall to collect the eggs from the follicles in your ovaries. The procedure is performed under sedation or anesthesia to ensure your comfort.
  • Step 4: Sperm Collection and Preparation
    On the same day as the egg retrieval, your partner will provide a fresh semen sample, which will be processed in the laboratory. Alternatively, if you’re using donor sperm, it will be thawed and prepared accordingly. The sperm sample undergoes a series of laboratory techniques to isolate the healthiest and most motile sperm for fertilization.
  • Step 5: Fertilization and Embryo Development
    This is the most important process where the best sperms are combined with the best eggs. This stage is called insemination. There are two main methods for fertilization: conventional IVF, where the eggs and sperm are placed together in a culture dish, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is directly injected into each egg. The embryos are then incubated for several days, during which time they undergo cell division and development.
  • Step 6: Embryo Transfer
    About three to five days after the fertilization process, your doctor will place the embryos in your uterus using a catheter. The embryo transfer procedure is usually performed without anesthesia and involves passing a thin catheter through the cervix into the uterus, where the embryos are carefully deposited. This step is generally painless and does not require any downtime. Multiple embryos are transferred back into you in the hopes that at least one will implant itself in the lining of your uterus and begin to develop. The IVF process basically replicates natural reproduction. In some cases, more than one embryo ends up implanting, which is why multiples are common in women who use IVF.
  • Step 7: Pregnancy Confirmation
    Waiting for the pregnancy test following the embryo transfer, you will enter a period of anticipation as you wait for the pregnancy test. Your fertility clinic will ask you to come in for a blood test to measure the levels of pregnancy hormone (hCG) in your system. If the test confirms pregnancy, congratulations!

Fertility care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai

Are you looking for a fertility treatment in Mumbai? Consult Mumbai’s best fertility specialists at our Department for Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility (CREF). Our team of specialists provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options to address various fertility issues, including assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and egg and sperm donation. CREF is staffed by a highly experienced team that includes a full-time consultant reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, embryologist, IVF coordinator, and specially trained nurses. Please find our link below for more details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/reproductiveendocrinologyfertility.html

Understanding Endometriosis

Friday, March 25th, 2022

Many women experience excruciating pain and fatigue during their periods every month. In India, over 25 million women are affected by this debilitating condition. If left untreated or undetected, this endometriosis can lead to serious consequences such as a cyst that can grow or rupture, infertility, uterine enlargement, and extreme pain. Many women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years old are affected by this ailment and are unaware of it. Delayed diagnosis due to a lack of understanding, result in unnecessary pain and a lower quality of life. This is a progressive condition, which is rarely spoken about and seldom understood owing to the taboos around menstruation. March is observed as Endometriosis Awareness Month, let us discuss, ask questions and seek medical care for endometriosis.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium (the tissue that lines the interior of the uterus or womb) grows outside of it. Endometriosis most typically affects the lower abdomen and pelvis, however it can manifest itself everywhere in the body. The normal tissue surrounding the endometriosis implants becomes inflamed, swells, and scars as a result of this. This condition affects nearly 10% of women in their reproductive years. Some of the common symptoms include:

  • Excessive menstrual cramps.
  • Abnormal or heavy menstrual flow.
  • Painful urination during menstrual periods.
  • Pain during intercourse.
  • Painful bowel movements during menstrual periods.

It’s crucial to remember that the amount of pain a woman feels isn’t always proportional to the severity of her sickness. Some women with severe endometriosis have no symptoms, however others with a milder type of the illness may have severe pain or other symptoms.

Endometriosis and Fertility

Endometriosis affects 20 to 40% of women who are unable to conceive. Endometriosis is thought to influence fertility in two ways: first, by distorting the fallopian tubes, making them unable to pick up the egg after ovulation, and second, by generating inflammation that can affect the ovary, egg, fallopian tubes, or uterus’s function. Consult a fertility specialist for further care and asisatnce.

Risk factors of Endometriosis

These factors highly increase your risk of getting this condition:

  • Family history.
  • Late pregnancy.
  • Women with an abnormal uterus.
  • No children.
  • Menstrual periods that last more than seven days.
  • Short menstrual cycles.

Diagnosing Endometriosis

Do not hesitate to seek medical assistance for painful periods. A gynaecologist will evaluate your medical history, complete a pelvic examination and conduct additional tests as required. Here are a few simple ways to ease the pain of endometriosis:

  • Rest, relax and meditate.
  • Take warm baths.
  • Prevent constipation.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen.

Endometriosis: Myths and Facts

Let us dispel some of the most common myths around Endometriosis:

Myth: Severe menstrual pain is normal.
Fact: It’s not normal to have painful periods that interfere with your regular activities. This could be a symptom of endometriosis, a disease in which tissue that normally lines your uterus develops elsewhere in your abdomen. Consult a doctor for further diagnosis.

Myth: No one with endometriosis can get pregnant.
Fact: That is not true. This condition affects over 40% of women who are unable to conceive. Some women with endometriosis are able to conceive on their own, without the assistance of a doctor. Others may be able to conceive with medical assistance.

Myth: Hysterectomy treats endometriosis.
Fact: Hysterectomy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for endometriosis treatment. Although uterine excision may provide comfort for some persons with this illness, it is not a cure. Endometriosis symptoms may remain or reappear following a hysterectomy.

Myth: Pregnancy can cure endometriosis.
Fact: Pregnancy does not cure endometriosis. During pregnancy, some women see improvements in their symptoms, while others do not, and still others may have a worsening of symptoms. This may happen due to hormonal changes. Seek medical attention.

Endometriosis care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Stop suffering in silence, seek medical care for painful periods. Experts at our Endometriosis Clinic believe that women with endometriosis have specific needs and deserve specialist care and support throughout diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management. Our gynaecologists will talk to you about your symptoms and conduct tests as required. The team provides a compassionate and personalized treatment plan to suit you, your lifestyle and whether or not you are trying to get pregnant. Depending on your symptoms our team will suggest medical or surgical treatment options. Please find below our website link for further details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/endometriosisclinic.html