Frequently Asked Questions
What is Infertility ?
A) Infertility refers to the inability to conceive naturally despite a year of regular unprotected intercourse.
What causes infertility in men ?
A) The major cause of infertility in men is the routine lifestyle, which at times affect the number and quality of sperm. Alcohol and drugs can temporarily reduce the sperm quantity. Other problems are environmental toxins, severe medical illness and some sexually transmitted diseases.
What causes infertility in women ?
A) There are several reasons that cause infertility in women such as hormonal imbalance, severe illness, problem in the reproductive system and some diseases such as Pelvic Inflammatory disease and Polycystic ovary syndrome.
How is Infertility Tested ?
A) Couples are advised to ask for medical help if they are unable to bear a child through natural intercourse. The physical examination is the first step in diagnosing the infertility problem. Blood tests and semen analysis are conducted for the couple. On the other hand, ultrasound examination and exploratory surgery are conducted for the women.
What are the treatments available for infertility ?
A) Depending upon the outcomes of the test, different treatments are recommended. Most of the cases are generally solved with medication and surgical repair of reproductive organs.
What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?
A) In Vitro Fertilization is the process wherein an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body. During the IVF procedure, the ovary of the fertile women is removed and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilized ovary is later placed in the woman's embryo, thus bypassing the Fallopian tubes.
What are the assisted reproductive technologies for infertility treatment ?
A) Gamete intrafallopian transfer: Unlike IVF, it is used when the woman has at least one normal Fallopian tube. Around 3 to 5 eggs are placed in the tube, along with the male sperm, for fertilization inside the female body.