What is Infertility?

Ans(1) - If a woman after marriage, with unprotected intercourse does not become pregnant she is called infertile.

Is it related to age of the woman?

Ans(2) - Yes, The woman is most fertile between age of 18-24 (60-80%), The fertility goes down as age advances & becomes as low as 10-5% after the age of 40.

Is it related to time period after marriage?

Ans(3) - Just after the marriage, due to more frequency of intercourse ,chance of pregnancy is more. More the years of marriage the couple has more unexplained infertility.

When should the couple see the infertility specialist?

Ans(4) - After marriage, if the couple is unable to get pregnancy within one year of their expecting it, they should see the infertility doctor immediately & should not waste time.

What is Superovulation?

Ans(5) - In this treatment medicines like Clomiphen Citrate, Letroze & hormonal injections of FSH & LH or recombinant FSH are given daily to get more than one follicle which then are made to rupture by giving injection of HCG. This process increases chances of pregnancy by 30-40%. The risk of multiple pregnancy & ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome ( OHSS) is there, so this is to be done judiciously.

What investigations does a couple have to undergo in infertility work up?

Ans(6) Routine investigations include blood counts including HIV & HbsAG in both partners.

• Tests for checking tubal patency- HSG, SSG

• HSG- hysterosalpingography : In this, a radioopaquedye is injected inside the uterus and X- ray is taken to see the tubes and uterus.

• SSG- Sonosalphigography saline is injected into the tubes and checked by 3D color Doppler ultrasound machine.

• Tests for ovulation

  • BBT- Basal body temperature chart, urinary LH, Serum Progesterone on 21^st day of the menses, ultrasound follicular monitoring, and endometrial biopsy on 2^nd day of the menses to see the ovulation.

• Special Investigation

  • Hormone assays- On 2nd day of the menses – FSH, LH, E2 (estradiol) serum Prolactin, TSH

  • Videoendoscopy

  • Hysterolaparoscopy - In this, we inspect uterus, tubes ovaries and tubal patency with the help of endoscopes.

  • Transvaginal Ultrasonography

Ans(7) - Diagnostic & SOS therapeutic hysterosaparoscopy is a small operation ( Procedure ) done under anesthesia ( CA ). It is a day care procedure and patients is discharged on the same day. In this operation a laparoscope is introduced. In the abdomen the uterus, tubes, ovaries, pouch of douglas and bowel is visualized. Tubal potency is confirmed by injection of dye. Small corrective operations are also done through laparoscope such as ovarian drilling, adhesionolysis excision of myomas, endometriomas, cauterisation etc. Through hysteroscope the uterine cavity is visualised. Polyps, fibroids, septum etc is diagnosed & treated. Tubal osteas can be visualized and can be treated if necessary. At the end of a hysteroslaparoscopy the diagnosis of infertility is definitely established and a treatment plan is made. It is better to do a hysteroslaparoscopy in all cases of infertility before strong treatment. However it may be differed or delayed in some cases such as :

A good diagnostic hysteroslaparoscopy is the gold standard basic investigation in infertility work up.

Ans(8) - A good work up at a good centre pays in the long run, results will come faster and cheaper in the long run. Incomplete work up will result in half hearted treatment which will delay pregnancy and total cost will go up.

Ans(9) - Usually during a hysterolaparoscopy, undergoing problems are diagnosed and treated. The following treatment options are available to the patient :

1) Planned Relations

2) Super ovulation with intra uterine insemination. In super ovulation with IUI the woman is given hormones (oral and injectables) to stimulate her ovaries to produce more eggs. follicular developments is monitored using serial ultrasonography when the follicles are mature, a hormonal injection is given to help them rupture. Then an intra uterine insemination is done using washed capacitated sperms. If the sperm count is good then this procedure has a 40-50% success rate and the patient has a good chance of getting pregnant in 3 cycles.

Ans(11) - ICSI is Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection. In this, a single sperm is injected into the oocyte using an robotic micro manipulator. Other steps are same as IVF.

Indication of ICSI include:

a. Severe Oligospermia

b. Azospermia where sperms are retrieved from epididymis or test.

c. Failed fertilization in IVF

In fact ICSI has revolutionized treatment of male factor infertility.

What are the other options for patients with nil sperms or very low count of sperms?

Ans(12) - The other options apart from ICSI are :

a. Donor insemination

b. Adoption

Donor may be brought by the patient ( relative, friend etc) or may be from sperm bank. Many case of donor sperm donor must be screened for VDRL, HIV, HbsAg, genetic disorders, Blood Group, caste, educational status, built color of skin, hair, eyes and any other specific features are also taken into consideration.