FAQ

No type of food is related to infertility not even so called healthy foods, but foods which are rich in fats and carbohydrates can lead to obesity which in turn can cause ovulatory problems in women and sperm problems in men.

Seminal fluid consists of secretions from testis, seminal vesicles and prostate. Producing a good volume or thick semen does not mean that the semen is normal. Semen examination should be done for sperm count & motility.

No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. Both women and men can have problems that cause infertility. About one-third of infertility cases are caused by women’s problems. Another one third of fertility problems are due to the man. The other cases are caused by a mixture of male and female problems or by unknown problems.

Painful periods do not necessarily mean infertility. Regular painful periods are an indication of ovulatory cycles. However progressive pain before the menses or during the sexual act may signify endometriosis. Irregular menses should be investigated especially if you are obese.

There is no simple medication or treatment that can help in improving your semen quality. You need to consult a fertility specialist for evaluation.

If your Body Mass Index (weight in Kg/ height in meters) is below 26 then it is normal. 26-30 BMI is overweight and above 30 is obesity and a cause of concern. Obesity is related to PCOS and can cause ovulatory problems. Thus weight loss of at least 10% of your body weight is advised.

Although there are no scientific studies to prove that stress causes infertility, but all infertile patients are under stress. It is important to note that many patients have conceived if they were able to relax and practixe mindfulness.

For most men, a 2-3 day break is ideal. This period gives the “sample” an opportunity to regenerate. Too “old” a sample raises the risk of poor motility, white cells, and other problems of “old” sperm. (An “old” sample would be one that is taken after more than 7 days of abstinence).

Fertilization rates for ICSI: Most IVF programs see that about 70-85% of eggs injected using ICSI become fertilized. We call this the fertilization rate, which is different from the pregnancy rate.Pregnancy success rates for in vitro fertilization procedures with ICSI have been shown in some studies to be higher than for IVF without ICSI. This is because in many of the cases needing ICSI the female is relatively young and fertile (good egg quantity and quality) as compared to some of the women having IVF for reasons other than male factor infertility. Another way to say this is – average egg quantity and quality is usually better in ICSI cases (male factor cases) because it is less likely that there is a problem with the eggs – as compared to cases with unexplained infertility in which there is more probability of a somewhat reduced egg quantity and quality (on the average, since some women in this group have egg related issues).ICSI success rates vary according to the specifics of the individual case, the ICSI technique used, the skill of the individual performing the procedure, the overall quality of the laboratory, the quality of the eggs, and the embryo transfer skills of the infertility specialist physician performing the procedure.

The miscarriage rate is about the same for ART as the general population.

You can carry on your normal activities (including working) during IVF stimulation program. But once the embryo is transferred back, you should have more rest. Heavy lifting, climbing and long journey if possible should be avoided. No bed-rest is required unless advised by your doctor.

Admission is not necessary for IVF cycle as both egg-pick-up and embryo transfer, are outpatient procedures.

A routine gynecology examination does not provide all the probable causes of infertility. So you will need a schematic work up. Since infertility can also be due to a male factor, a simple semen examination will rule out a male factor. Later on, hormonal assays, a trans-vaginal sonography, a hysterosalpingography and if required a laparoscopy/hysteroscopy is advised.

For the male partner a semen examination with 4 – 5 days abstinence. For the female partner a day 2 or day 3 hormonal evaluation i.e. FSH, LH, AMH, TSH, Prolactin. A sonography in the form of ovulation studies is done from Day 9 of the cycle. However in some patients due to some clinical findings the doctor may ask for a laparoscopy/ hysteroscopy.