Several couples are struggling to conceive a baby naturally. IVF is designed for those so that they can enjoy parenthood. In this procedure, your specialist first performs a regular check-up to know the reason behind your condition. In this blog, you will learn everything about In-Vitro fertilization.

IVF stands for In-vitro fertilization, this is designed for infertile couples, who are unable to conceive a baby naturally, even after unprotected sexual intercourse. This is caused due to several factors, such as old age, cancer, drugs, medications, and so on. In this case, only IVF can help you to conceive a baby. To get a check-up you need to visit the IVF centre in India because after a proper check-up doctor can tell what the problem is?

To undergo this treatment, you need to understand the history of this procedure. This article is specially written for you so that you can get knowledge about the stages of the In-Vitro fertilization treatment. Let’s start.

Stages of IVF.

Stage 1-: Ovarian stimulation

According to the IVF centre, every woman is born with a limited number of eggs, and the number of eggs starts to decline after 30 years. In this case, they will be unable to produce healthy as well as quality eggs for conception. This condition leads them to infertility, and in ovarian stimulation, your doctor gives you hormone supplements so that you can produce healthy eggs for fertilization. But if you are still unable to produce healthy eggs, then your specialist may make a different plan for you.

Stage 2-: Egg retrieval

Once a lady has done with egg production, the doctor calls her to a facility for the check-up and egg retrieval process. In this stage, he gives her a maturation injection for the maturation of the eggs. And after a day, he performs the egg retrieval process with the help of a thin needle.

Stage 3-: Sperm collection and preparation

On the same day of egg retrieval, a specialist collects the sperm from the male partner for the fertilization process. And then collected sperm is prepared in the lab to produce quality embryos.

Stage 4-: Fertilisation

This is additionally known as the In-vitro process, in which eggs and sperm are combined in a clinical lab to develop embryos. Additionally, developing embryos monitored almost for 5-7 days to ensure that they are of good quality. During this stage, your doctor gives you regular updates about everything. So, you do not take tension about anything.

Stage 5-: Embryo Transfer

Once embryos developed properly, then your doctor calls you to the facility to transfer developed embryos to the woman’s uterus. Not all the embryos are transferred, if you want to freeze them, then you can talk to your specialist. Frozen embryos will help you to conceive a baby in the future.

IVF is the best infertility treatment, which is designed for those with fertility issues. If you are suffering from certain fertility issues, then you must undergo this treatment option. But you must get information about single embryo transfer or multiple embryo transfer prior to getting treatment.

If you are planning to undergo IVF treatment, then you need to find the best IVF doctor to get successful results. During your visit to the IVF centre, you must talk to your specialist and get knowledge embryo transfer, how much embryos can transfer at one time. Let’s have detailed information about single and multiple embryos for conception.

Single versus Multiple Embryos

A single embryo transfer during In-vitro fertilization is normal because it leads to a healthy pregnancy.

Whereas, if you go with multiple embryos, it will increase your chances of having twins or multiple births. Having twins in the pregnancy period may affect your health badly or negatively.

Challenges associated with multiple births

• If you go with multiple embryos, it will increase your chances of multiple births. And almost 70 of the twins and 90% of triplets are delivered preterm.
• If you are going with multiple pregnancies, the risk of life-threatening maternal complications increases. Or it may lead you to maternal death.
• As we stated above, having multiple embryos at one time leads you to premature birth and increases the risk of certain other pregnancy complications.

So, it is good to discuss everything with your doctor prior to undergoing the treatment in order to reduce the risk of complications.

Success rates of single embryo transfer versus multiple embryo transfer

Transferring a single embryo for IVF increases your chances of success, where if you go with multiple or double embryo, it will increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

A recent study shows that there are higher chances of success almost 46% with single embryo transfer. And almost 35% chances with double embryos.

But according to another study, going with single or multiple embryos have the same success rates in certain cases. It depends on the health of the couple, their age, and embryo quality too.

When is the right time to get a single embryo transfer?

• If you have not yet attempted IVF therapy before.
• Have a favorable prognosis for IVF therapy
• If you have good quality eggs, then it is helpful to develop good quality embryos
• If you are 38 years old or younger

When is the right time to get multiple embryo transfer?

• If you are over the age of 38
• You are not undergoing IVF first time and had multiple IVF cycles previously with no success

Finally, summer is around! It means time to enjoy the ice drinks and enjoy your favorite scoop of ice cream. But, this is also true your kid can catch infection very easily with weather changes like flu, throat infection, and cold. This guide will help you learn the immunity-boosting food for kids.

With the weather change, it is very common for the kids to fall ill. No doubt, the kids are carefree and stay outdoors. This is what makes them more vulnerable to infection and health issues. To stay healthy, their body needs antioxidants which are rich in Vitamin C. Additionally, if you had a baby then you should talk to your gynecologist to determine the right type of diet for them. Dr Neelu Koura – Gynae Punjab believes that parents need to take extra care to build stronger immunity for their kids from the start. Given below are some of the food options which build kid’s immunity.

• Fresh Fruits and vegetables

Make your kids eat all the seasonal fruits & vegetables which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. They are low in calories and packed with Vitamin C and A which is great for building immunity. Here are some of the food options which you must include in your diet are:

Oranges, berries, papaya, guava, dark green leafy vegetables, onions, pumpkin, and mushrooms.

• Increase the intake of protein

Animal sources are packed with protein along with essential amino acids which are essential for making the immune system strong. It is found in cheese, eggs, milk, poultry, and fish. In case, you are a vegetarian then you can get it from grains, soybeans, chickpeas, and rajma.

• Yogurt

In the summer, we all know how important it is to consume yogurt. Not only does it provide immunity but it also works as an anti-infection agent. Increasing the intake of yogurt is great for fighting against immune-related diseases like an infection. The yogurt is great for bone health as it is full of calcium.

• Nuts

Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and flaxseed are full of omega-3 fatty acids and it helps to prevent illness. One of the studies has shown that omega-3s are very effective in limiting the problem of respiratory infection in kids.

You should give your kids a handful of nuts and tell them to eat it all day long. Moreover, you can add it to the cereal or sprinkle it on the snacks.

• Indian spices

Indian Spices are great as they have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Some of the best options are turmeric, ginger, and garlic.

Add a pinch of turmeric in the milk and give them before bedtime. Additionally, you can add saffron as it increases the taste and enhances the healing properties of the milk.

For more information, you can schedule your appointment with our doctor and get a better understanding of what needs to be done.

Healthy body and mind are very important for a person’s well-being. It is even more important if you are undergoing or planning to get IVF treatment. For the patient, it is very essential to focus on her health. In this guide, we are going to tell you the basics of exercise during In-Vitro-Fertilization.

Parenthood is one of the most important phases of any couple’s life. But, at times, things do not go as we plan. The fertility issue can make it hard to conceive. This is where IVF treatment can improve the conception chances drastically.

However, while undergoing the treatment at the IVF centre patient’s often ask whether they can do their workout routine or not. To make patients aware, our IVF doctor has mentioned the basics of exercise during IVF:

• Never put pressure on your body

While undergoing the treatment, the patient should not put stress on her body. You might get into a high-active workout in the early stages of the treatment. However, as the treatment progresses you need to avoid high-impact exercise and cardiovascular activity as they can affect the success rate.

• Do not get into High-impact Cardiovascular workout

Well, there are different reasons you need to avoid high impact cardiovascular routine. This is because it can lead to ovarian torsion. During the treatment, the ovaries can get enlarged and strenuous activity can make the ovaries get twisted. This is very crucial for a successful outcome. Additionally, a serious fall or injury can affect reproductive health. So, you should avoid it for a certain time.

• Avoid doing exercise in certain IVF stages

Patients need to avoid exercise before egg retrieval and after embryo transfer for 10 weeks. If more pressure is put on the legs and arms, the ovaries and uterus will not get proper blood supply. You should talk to your doctor as they will let you know according to your condition, what is best for you.

• Do not exercise for more than 4 hours a week

One of the studies named ‘Obstetrics & Gynecology study’ has clearly shown that exercising for more than 4 hours a week can lead to a negative effect on the treatment. It is better to plan a 30-minute cardio session. Additionally, give your body some rest by relaxing and meditation.

• Do the low-impact exercise for Stress relief

The best option is to focus on low-impact exercise so that the stress levels do not increase. Some of the type of exercise you can include:

• Tai Chi
• Walking
• Yoga (Prenatal Yoga)
• Low-Intensity swimming and water aerobics
• Light Stretching

You can also include stress-relieving practices like acupuncture, reading, meditation, or fertility massage.

If you have any doubt in your mind then feel free to consult the fertility doctor for improving the success chances.

Undergoing any treatment can make us feel nervous and anxious which is very normal also. The same goes for the patients who are getting fertility treatment or going to get it. If you are in the same situation then this guide will apprise you about the top relaxation tips during the IVF treatment.

Fertility treatment is super relaxing! It is quite difficult to think anyone would have said this thing. Well, there are different reasons stress can come across while undergoing the IVF. The number of tests and procedures can make you feel frustrated. Do not worry as our IVF doctor has shared some informative tips to relax yourself during In-Vitro-fertilization.

Does stress affect conception chances?

The coping behavior you adopt the following stress can lead to negative effects. It means, if you smoke, eat in excess, or indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle then fertility issues can rise and conception chances will decline. This is the reason, when the patient visits our fertility doctor at the IVF centre we give them proper advice and support throughout the treatment to make this journey easy and smooth. Let’s explore the tip to relax during the treatment:

• Set the time to worry

No doubt, it is stressful as you have faced problems in the past and now the treatment. In that case, it is best to designate a time frame to worry instead of getting stressed all day long. Worry for 10 or 30 minutes in a day but once the time is done do not think anything negative.

• Get into the exercise regime

Relax by doing mild to moderate exercise. This is the best approach to take away all the anxiety and nervousness. But, make sure you exercise in your comfort zone.

• Progressive relaxation technique

This is the best practice that you can do anywhere as it helps you store muscular tension. You should start with one of the body parts like toes. Slowly tighten up each area, relax, and let the tension go away. Make sure to take deep breaths along with it. Hold muscular tension for 5 seconds and relax for 20 seconds.

• Do 10 slow breaths

Do large and belly-filling breaths to calm yourself. Studies have shown that it helps in stabilizing the blood pressure and slows down the heartbeat. So, take 10 deep and slow breaths in the afternoon and evening. It is best to do it every day for 10 to 20 minutes.

• Choose a self-care activity

Along with the above-mentioned tips, you should include self-care activity to make you feel happy and delighted. Some of the options are yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, adult coloring, reading, listening to music, prayer, cooking, painting, or playing games.

If at any point you have doubts in your mind then talk to the fertility doctor right away.

Couples who are trying to conceive but not able to get the results can get frustrated and heart-broken. Every couple wants that they should find the best method to conceive. Around 50% of the cases have infertility issues with both partners. In this guide, we are going to tell you about semen analysis for the male partner.

The semen analysis is an essential test for an infertile couple. This test is also referred to as a sperm test or seminogram. With this test, the male partner fertility is evaluated based on sperm count and semen quality. Before the IVF process, the male partner will also be examined for the semen evaluation.

What is the need for semen analysis?

Infertility issues are common for both men and women. Semen analysis is the first fertility test because it is an easier and affordable test. This way the doctor will have a better understanding of the infertility problem and you will have better chances to conceive. Studies have shown that with semen analysis the conception chances are improved by overcoming infertility. Patients will have a better treatment plan of IVF, by undergoing the semen test.

How is semen analysis helpful?

• Sperm count

Total sperm count in each milliliter of fluid. If the sperm count is less than 15 million sperm per milliliter then it can affect the conception chances. This test will help to identify certain conditions like:

– Azoospermia (no sperm)

– Aspermia (No Ejaculation)

– Retrograde Ejaculation (Sperm does not go to the penis but goes to the bladder)

• Sperm motility

Sperm motility is an essential factor that helps to know that the sperm is moving. Around 50% of the sperm must move properly. Movement type is in Grade 1 to Grade 4. The fertility doctor will do the motility index which is evaluated with grade and percentage of sperm movement.

• Morphology

Total number of sperm percentage with a normal shape.

• Viscosity

Semen fluid thickness.

• Volume

The sample helps in calculating the semen fluid total amount Ideally, it should be around 2 to 5 ml.

• White blood cell count

If the semen has white blood cells in large amounts then it can be abnormal and it might be due to an infection.

How do I prepare for semen evaluation?

Your fertility doctor is going to tell you what you need to do. Make sure that you follow their guidelines. The men should not ejaculate for 2 to 5 days before the evaluation this way the sperm count is the highest. If you are collecting the semen sample at home then make sure to deliver it within 1 hour. If you have any doubt then talk to the doctor for a better understanding and get the right treatment plan.

Sadly, many people have trouble conceiving naturally. The sorrow of infertility brings frustration and misery to it. However, modern fertility treatments have helped many couples in making their dream of parenthood come true. Modern science has brought about many treatment options for infertile patients. IVF is the most popular among them. If you want to undergo the IVF process, you must visit the nearest infertility centre. You will come to know what chances you have of succeeding once you are at the IVF centre.

Stages of IVF

The IVF process usually has four stages. At the start, you will deal with ovarian stimulation. In this stage ,the woman is given medications to enable her ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs are released and they are mature enough to be fertilized, are retrieved by the doctor. The male partner is requested to provide his sperm sample at around the same time. The eggs are then made to interact with the sperm in a lab setting. Usually, the eggs get fertilized and an embryo is formed. This step is followed by embryo transfer in which  the doctor places a viable, stable and healthy embryo into the womb of the woman. After some weeks, it will be clear if the procedure has been successful or not. The process is considered a success if the woman tests positive for pregnancy.

IVF Embryo Transfer

The transfer of embryos is carried out on the fifth day or, the sixth day, depending on the development rate of the embryo. You will have to take care of your body during this time by ensuring that you :

• Take all the fertility medications or supplements suggested by the doctor
• Opt for fertility massages and yoga
• Include some light exercise in your daily routine which will increase the  blood circulation and keep your body warm
• Eat a balanced and nutritious diet and avoiding junk food
• Ensuring that you efficiently manage your  stress and get plenty of sleep

What to expect during the IVF embryo transfer?

IVF embryo transfer process may differ with every individual. You might need the services of an egg donor or a surrogate carrier. In case you don’t need these services, the doctor will chart out the plan for you which you should follow. You will have to take fertility medications and uterus relaxing medications. You will be asked to come on a full bladder on the day of the transfer for making the process easier. The transfer is carried out using a sonogram which ensures that the embryo gets attached to the uterine lining.

We all know that women under 35 should contact the infertility specialist after 1 year of trying to conceive. According to IVF doctors, women who are above 35 should do the same after 6 months. However, earlier consultation can be done if they have irregular periods or either partner has a history of cancer. Women who face infertility issues must visit their nearest IVF centre to get treated. IVF is a technique that has brought smiles to thousands of infertile couples.

Medical issues that affect your fertility 

The following issues can increase a couple’s chances of infertility:

• Advanced maternal age gives way to infertility as the quality of eggs goes down considerably.
• Women with irregular menstrual cycles
• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal imbalance or  premature ovarian failure
• Women who suffer from abnormal thyroid function as it may lead to infertility, miscarriage, and mental ability of the fetus.
• Extremely underweight and obese women are also at a higher risk for infertility. They can also face complications during pregnancy.

Women with endometriosis and scarred or blocked fallopian tubes are likely to have problems with their fertility.

What to do if you are aware of your reproductive issues?

Women who know about their reproductive issues should approach their gynecologist as soon as they want to start a family.

Women with PCOS will have to undergo medication for the induction of ovulation. Women with endometriosis should undergo an evaluation of their fallopian tubes so that scarring can be ruled out. It should be taken seriously as a woman with scarred fallopian tubes can end up with ectopic pregnancy.

Women who have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease should undergo evaluation for the presence of anatomical changes or scar tissue. These features can obstruct pregnancy.

Couples with the male partner having medical problems, abnormalities in the testicular or endocrine system, and exposure to chemotherapy should also consult the fertility specialist for semen analysis.

Recurrent miscarriage

Recurrent pregnancy loss may be due to many medical conditions therefore couples with such problems should get themselves checked by the fertility specialist. The problem may be caused due to abnormalities of thyroid function, intrauterine scar tissue or uterine septum. Toxicity in the body due to exposure to environmental toxins can also lead to recurrent miscarriage.

What to expect after meeting a specialist?

• Be sure of carrying your test results and documents related to your and your partner’s medical history.
• Your meeting with your reproductive endocrinologist will be initiated by the evaluation of your reports and questions related to how long you’ve been trying to conceive.
• The doctor will check for medical conditions that could affect your fertility. He will also review the gynecological and pregnancy history of the woman.
• It will be followed by a discussion of your lifestyle and family history and physical examination of both the male and the female partners.