Author: Dr. Ritu Agarwal

  • What is Ovarian Stimulation in IVF?

    What is Ovarian Stimulation in IVF?

    There are a lot of things about in vitro fertilization (IVF) that help it work, or lead to a good baby. One of these parts is the process of ovarian stimulation, which tries to make ovulation happen before other methods are used. The goal of stimulating the ovaries is to make it more likely that a woman will get pregnant.

    Let’s talk more about how ovarian stimulation works to help you and your partner know what to expect during your IVF treatment.

    What is the Goal of Ovarian Stimulation?

    The goal of ovarian stimulation is to make it work like the body’s normal ovulatory cycle, in which chemicals make the eggs develop and release them.

    IVF stimulation is done with pills or hormone shots or injection to help more than one egg develop at the same time, which increases the chance of getting pregnant. When hormones are used to stimulate the ovaries, they also help improve the quality of the eggs.

    Ovarian stimulation is often used to get eggs during the second part of IVF treatment. You can use these eggs right away or save them for another time. This method is mostly used for people who have been told they have a problem with ovulation because it helps them ovulate.

    Stages of IVF Stimulation of the Ovaries:

    There are two main kinds of ovary stimulation:

    1. Long Protocol
    2. Blocker Protocol

    Long Protocol

    The usual way to do things is to follow a long routine. It starts about a week before the next period is supposed to start. GnRH-analogue, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone, is given to stop the ovary from doing anything on its own. This is done to stop the eggs from getting out so that a medical team can get them. Once the menstrual cycle starts, the patient gets hormone shots every day and is watched for two weeks. At the end of that time, the eggs are taken.

    Blocker Protocol

    Once the monthly cycle starts, the antagonist procedure begins. At this point, hormone shots are given to speed up egg maturation so that more eggs can be collected during the extraction stage. When the long plan doesn’t work, this is often the next step. It is also done when a woman has polycystic ovaries or a small number of eggs left in her ovaries.

    Ovarian Stimulation Process

    During ovarian stimulation, chemicals called follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) are used to help make more eggs, make them mature, and release them. To start the process, these hormones are given over the course of two weeks.

    Depending on how long it takes the eggs to grow, this stage can last longer for some women. One study in the Journal of In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer found that women who didn’t respond well to a certain dose of FSH did respond well to a higher dose of the hormone the next time around.

    The goal of using FSH is to raise estrogen levels and help ovaries grow since some of them die when the body’s FSH levels go down. It is important that these amounts stay high so that more eggs can be made. To raise LH, the amount of estrogen needs to be high since this hormone helps start menstruation. In order for IVF to work, the eggs have to be taken out before the woman ovulates.

    What to Look For

    As you might expect, time is very important when it comes to stimulating the ovaries with hormones. Every step of the process needs to be done carefully and at the right time. The process can have to start over if there is even a small problem or delay.

    The physical parts of the whole process can also be stressful, but they can also give people hope. During the process of stimulating the ovaries, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are a few things to remember.

    Taking Care of Your Medicines

    The hormone shots are just one of the ways that the IVF procedure is treated with medicine. Most people have to give themselves the shots and take pills and patches that are given to them. Again, just like with IVF shots, it’s important to time all of your medicines right so that your body can respond to the treatment.

    Along with taking normal medicine, it’s important to keep track of hormone levels with blood tests. With these tests, the practitioner can figure out when and how to make changes. Appointments to look at an ultrasound are also a part of the treatment.

    Tests and Touring

    Some people may have to drive a lot for regular tests and meetings, especially if the treatment place is in a different city or town. During the IVF process, it should be easy to stay in touch with the medical team by phone and email, but you’ll need to be there for any physical tests.

    Stress and Changes in Mood

    During the process of stimulating the ovaries, the hormones and medicines that are needed can make a person feel bad. Even though it may seem like the treatment to stimulate the ovaries is causing these mood changes, research has shown that this is not the case.

    Problems and Harmful Effects

    In addition to stress, fear, and worry, the medicine and hormone shots used in ovarian stimulation can have physical side effects. A rash or swelling at the treatment site can be a sign of mild illnesses. People have also said that their breasts hurt, they feel full, and they have stomach pain.

    Some patients have had more than one kid, usually twins or more because the treatment can cause more than one egg to mature at the same time. This means that more than one egg can be fertilized. There can also be problems like babies being born early or even losses.

    Services from Ritu IVF

    Ritu IVF Center is the best place in the Jaipur area for fertility care, treatment, and therapy. Some of the best infertility care experts in India work at our state-of-the-art center. The RITU IVF Fertility team uses a medical method that is backed by proof and combines it with caring treatment and individual care at every step. Our treatment plans can be changed to fit your needs. Contact us today to talk about your fertility questions and let us help you find hope on your IVF path.

  • IUI Treatment Procedure – Intrauterine Insemination Infertility Treatment

    IUI Treatment Procedure – Intrauterine Insemination Infertility Treatment

    The medical treatment known as intrauterine insemination (IUI) is used to treat infertility. IUI increases the likelihood of becoming pregnant by implanting specially prepared sperm directly into the uterus, the organ in which fetal development occurs. The process is also referred to as artificial insemination in certain circles.

    During an IUI procedure, sperm are introduced into the uterus while an ovary releases one or more eggs. The fallopian tube, which links the uterus to the ovaries, is where it is hoped that the egg and the sperm count will eventually fuse together to form a baby. If this does occur, it will result in the chance of pregnancy.

    The timing of an intrauterine pregnancy may be coordinated with a woman’s menstrual cycle. One of the two ovaries will release an egg at some point throughout the monthly cycle. Or, in conjunction with intrauterine insemination (IUI), fertility medicines may be injected to stimulate egg production in the ovaries. The specific procedure used is determined by the underlying causes of infertility.

    Why was the IUI Procedure Executed?

    Whether or not a couple or a person can conceive rests on many things. Most of the time, intrauterine insemination is used on women who have:

    Donor Sperm: This is sperm that was given to you by someone you may or may not know. It’s a choice if you’re single, your partner doesn’t have sperm, or the sperm isn’t good enough for you to get pregnant. Intrauterine insemination is the method most often used to get pregnant for people who need to use donation sperm. Donor sperm comes from labs that have been approved, and it is thawed before the IUI process.

    Unexplained Infertility: IUI is often the first treatment for people who can’t get pregnant for no clear reason. Usually, it is taken with medicines that help the ovaries make eggs.

    Infertility related to endometriosis: When tissue that looks like the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, it can make it hard to get pregnant. Endometriosis is the name for this. When this is the reason for infertility, the first step in treatment is often to use medicine to get a good-quality egg and do IUI.

    Mild Male Factor Infertility: This is also called subfertility. Semen, the fluid that has sperm in it, can make it hard for some couples to get pregnant. A test called “semen analysis” looks at the number, size, shape, and movement of sperm to see if there are any problems. These problems are checked for by analyzing sperm. Some of these problems can be solved by IUI. This is because getting the sperm ready for the process helps separate the good ones from the bad ones.

    Cervical Factor Infertility: Problems with the cervix can make it impossible to have a baby. The cervix is the thin part of the uterus at the bottom. It gives the vagina and the uterus a way to connect. During ovulation, the cervix makes mucus when the ovary releases an egg. The mucus helps the sperm move from the uterus to the fallopian tubes, where the egg is waiting. But if the mucus in the cervix is too thick, it could get in the way of the sperm. Sperm can also be stopped from getting to the egg by the cervix. The cervix can get thicker if it gets scarred, which can happen after a biopsy or other treatments. IUI skips the cervix to make it more likely that you will get pregnant. It puts the sperm right into the uterus and makes more of them ready to meet the egg.

    Ovulatory Factor Infertility: IUI can also help people who can’t have children because they can’t get their eggs to mature. Some of these problems are not ovulating or not making enough eggs.

    Semen Allergy: Proteins in sperm rarely cause a reaction in people who are allergic to them. When the penis sends sperm into the vagina, the area where the sperm hits the skin starts to burn and swell. A condom can keep you from getting sick, and it can also keep you from getting pregnant. IUI can make it possible to get pregnant and stop the allergy symptoms from being painful. Before the sperm is put in, many of the proteins in the sperm are taken out.

    Your Level of Preparation

    Before beginning the real treatment, there are a few essential tasks that must be completed, including the following:

    Keep an eye out for Ovulation: Because the timing of IUI is so important, it is essential to look for indicators that the body is getting ready to ovulate. You might do this by making use of a urine ovulation predictor kit that is designed for at-home usage. It is able to identify when an increase or release of luteinizing hormone (LH) occurs in your body. LH is the hormone that induces the ovary to release an egg. You might also have a procedure known as transvaginal ultrasonography, which captures pictures of your ovaries and the development of your eggs. An injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or other medications may also be administered to you in order to induce ovulation at the optimal period. This may result in the release of one or more eggs.

    Performing the surgery at the optimal time: IUI procedures are often performed one or two days after ovulation has been confirmed via diagnostic testing. Your physician will most likely have a strategy outlined for the time of your treatment as well as what to anticipate prior to the appointment.

    Getting the sample of sperm ready: At the recommendation of your physician, your spouse brings in a sample of his sperm. Alternatively, one may thaw and prepare a vial containing frozen donor sperm. The sample is cleaned in such a manner that it separates the sperm that are highly active and healthy from the sperm that are of poorer quality. In addition, washing eliminates components that, if introduced into the uterus, might result in adverse responses such as severe cramping. If a small but highly concentrated quantity of healthy sperm is used, there is a greater chance of the couple getting pregnant.

    During the procedure

    You insert your legs into the stirrups while lying down on the exam table. The vaginal walls are opened using a speculum, a hinged instrument made of plastic or metal. Medical staff do the following throughout the procedure:

    • Places a vial of viable sperm at the end of a catheter, which is a long, thin, flexible tube.
    • Intravaginal catheter insertion; cervix pierced; uterus reached.
    • Introduces the sperm sample into the uterus by forcing it via the tube.
    • The catheter is withdrawn, then the speculum is taken out.
    After the procedure.

    You’ll lay on your back for a short while after the sperm has been implanted in your uterus. After the operation is over, you may go home and change into your regular clothes. After the operation, you may have some mild spotting for up to two days.

    Results for Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Treatment

    Do not take a home pregnancy test for two weeks. The results of premature testing might be:

    False-negative. Even if you could be pregnant, the test turns out negative. If pregnancy hormones are not yet detectable, you may obtain a false-negative test.

    False-positive. The test will show a positive result for pregnancy even if you are not pregnant. Taking fertility drugs like HCG that are still in your system might cause a false-positive result.

    About two weeks following the results of your at-home pregnancy test, you may be scheduled for a follow-up appointment. A blood test, which is more sensitive to the presence of pregnancy hormones after an egg has been fertilized by sperm, may be performed during the visit.

    You may attempt IUI again before moving on to other fertility treatments if you don’t get pregnant the first time. In order to increase the likelihood of conception, the same medication is often administered for three to six cycles.

    Conclusion:

    Infertile couples might find hope and potential through IUI. Working with healthcare specialists to discover the best strategy for unique situations requires patience and persistence.

     

  • Whose Sperm Is Used in IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) Process

    Whose Sperm Is Used in IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) Process

    IVF, which is also called “in vitro fertilization,” is a breakthrough in the area of “assisted reproductive technology” that has changed the way people have babies. It makes artificial breeding possible for partners who can’t have children on their own. IVF gives many people a spark of hope, but it also brings up important questions about whose sperm is used in the IVF Process, the role that sperm motility plays, the minimum number of sperm that is needed, and the use of donor eggs is also an option. This article will talk about these important parts of in vitro fertilization (IVF), and it will also explain how sperm is collected.

    In IVF Treatment, Whose Sperm Is Used?

    IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a medical treatment that helps couples overcome a variety of reproductive challenges. The procedure includes fertilizing an egg with sperm outside of the body. There are a few different scenarios that might play out in the process of deciding whose sperm will be utilized in – vitro fertilization (IVF)

    Sperm from the Male spouse:

    In vitro fertilization (IVF) often makes use of the sperm of the male spouse. Because of this, if a heterosexual couple decides to pursue in vitro fertilization, the fertilization process will normally include the husband’s sperm.

    Donor Sperm:

    If the partner’s sperm (male) has a low sperm count, poor motile sperm, or any other sperm-related difficulties that make fertilization difficult or impossible, using donor sperm may be a possibility. Donor sperm may also be an alternative when donor sperm may be necessary. This method entails fertilizing many eggs with sperm obtained from a donor who has been chosen with great consideration.

    In ivf whose sperm is used

    How to Collect Sperm for In Vitro Fertilization

    The technique of collecting sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is an essential stage. The collection of sperm directly for use in in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be broken down into the following steps:

    Sperm Collection in a Fertility Clinic:

    In the vast majority of cases, the collection of sperm for in vitro fertilization takes place at a fertility clinic. In this stage of the process, the male partner will produce a sample of his semen by masturbating. The sample is brought to the laboratory, where it is processed to isolate the sperm from the other components of the sample.

    Sperm Extraction for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):

    In certain instances, where natural ejaculation is not feasible owing to medical issues or physical constraints, sperm extraction procedures such as testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) or epididymal sperm aspiration (TESA) may be utilized. These procedures are used when natural ejaculation is not possible. These techniques include extracting sperm straight from the testicles or the epididymis, depending on the procedure being used.

    Donor Sperm Is Collected:

    Sperm banks collect donor sperm from donors after they go through a screening process and then keep it. Individuals or couples can choose a donor according to certain criteria, such as the donor’s physical traits, medical history, or genetic heritage.

    IVF Success Rates and Sperm Quality

    The quality of the sperm utilized in the process directly correlates with the viability of an in vitro fertilization cycle. The following are some considerations to take into account:

    Sperm Motility:

    People refer to the capacity of sperm to move around effectively as sperm motility, and it is an important element. Even though in vitro fertilization can fix certain motility problems, having a greater motility rate will almost always improve your chances of a successful pregnancy

    Minimum necessary Sperm Count for IVF:

    There is no predetermined minimum necessary sperm count for in vitro fertilization, as this number might change based on the clinic’s procedures and the person or couple’s circumstances. On the other hand, a greater number of sperm in the sample will often boost the chances of success.

    Minimum Sperm Motility for IVF:

    In the same way, there is no rigorous minimum need for sperm count. There is also no stringent minimum requirement for sperm motility in IVF. Having greater motility, on the other hand, is desirable since it increases the odds of fertilization.

    IVF Treatment with Donor Sperm in India: Cost and Other Considerations

    Couples struggling with male infertility treatment should consider IVF using sperm from a donor as an option. The cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in India with a donor can vary greatly from clinic to clinic, based on location as well as the number of extra treatments necessary. It is necessary to conduct research on as many different fertility clinics as possible and make comparisons between them to pick the one that best meets your needs and offers the best value.

    FAQs Regarding The Process of Collecting Sperm for IVF Process:

    Is it possible to harvest sperm at home for the IVF process?

    The collection of sperm for in vitro fertilization should normally take place at a fertility clinic. On the other hand, several medical facilities could let patients collect their sperm at home provided they meet certain requirements and adhere to certain protocols.

    How much sperm does in vitro fertilization (IVF) require?

    The quantity of sperm required for in vitro fertilization might vary but is often rather low. Fertility clinics can fertilize eggs effectively with very little sperm even if there is only a small amount of sperm.

    Can a specialist conduct an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure even with a low sperm count?

    Even with a low sperm count, undertaking IVF is possible, but it likely decreases the odds of leading to a pregnancy. In such circumstances, experts may suggest various methods of assisted reproductive technology, like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), as alternatives.

    How are sperm selected for IVF?

    In IVF, sperm are selected through a process called sperm washing and sorting. This involves separating the healthiest, most motile sperm from the semen sample. Techniques like density gradient centrifugation and swim-up methods are commonly used. The selected sperm are then evaluated under a microscope to choose the best ones for fertilizing the eggs.

    What type of sperm is needed for IVF?

    For IVF, high-quality sperm are needed, characterized by strong motility, normal morphology, and healthy DNA. These sperm must be capable of swimming effectively to fertilize the egg. The best sperm are selected through rigorous screening processes to ensure successful fertilization and embryo development.

    Conclusion

    In vitro fertilization (IVF) gives couples who are struggling with infertility reasons to have hope. It is essential to understand the many methods for sperm collecting. IVF success is highly dependent on the quality that is used as well as the motility of the sperm, regardless of whether the sperm comes from the spouse or a donor. In addition, the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in India with donor sperm can vary greatly. Thus, individuals who are considering this alternative need to give it significant thought and conduct extensive studies. Consult a Ritu IVF fertility Center expert for fertility treatment if you have any further questions or concerns. They can give you individualized counsel and support throughout the IVF process.