Fertility Services

About Fertility

Getting pregnant (fertility) depends on both the woman and the man. A couple might not be able to get pregnant (infertility) because of an issue with the man’s body, the woman’s body, or both.

Infertility evaluation should be undertaken for couples who have not been able to conceive after 12 months of unprotected and frequent intercourse, but earlier evaluation should be undertaken in women over 35 years of age. Research has shown the frequency of primary infertility or no previous successful pregnancy outcomes in newly married women by age groups was: women 15 to 34 years (7.3 to 9.1 percent), 35 to 39 years (25 percent), 40 to 44 years (30 percent).

In India infertility rate is higher among women in urban areas compared to women in rural areas as per studies done by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). This data also showed that with an increase in age at first marriage, the capacity for women to bear children also decreases.With an increasing level of educational attainment among women, infertility rate has been shown to increase. This can be related to the fact that with aspirations for attaining higher educational level, marriage is delayed as a result higher age at marriage, urban living style etc, cause a higher infertility rate in this sub group of the population. Standard of living has inverse relation with infertility rate and working women also have a high infertility rate.

When a couple has trouble getting pregnant, doctors often do tests in both partners to try to figure out the cause. The tests include:
Blood tests Estimation of male and female hormone levels. Blood tests to assess ovulation (Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. It needs to occur for a woman to get pregnant).

Radiological imaging (Ultrasound scan, Hysterosalpingogram) This scan reveals pictures of the inside of the body and can check if a sex organ is abnormal. (Eg:) – Problems in the testes, semen pathway, uterus, fallopian tube, ovulation assessment, etc

Biopsy A biopsy might be done if a sperm test shows that a man has zero or a very small amount of sperm. During a biopsy, a doctor collects a small tissue sample from inside the testicle. Then the doctor can look at the sample under a microscope to check if sperm are present.

Majority of the times the treatments include education, correction of hormonal imbalances, ovulation induction in a controlled way with medications etc. However, further advanced treatments including assisted reproductive techniques (ART) may be needed in a select population of infertile couples. These include an

• Intra uterine insemination (IUI)
• In vitro fertilisatiion (IVF)
• Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

IUI is a treatment for infertility in which a man’s sperm is selected and inserted into the woman’s uterus at the appropriate time after controlled ovarian stimulation to assist egg production (ovulation).

IVF/ICSI is a treatment for infertility in which a woman’s eggs (oocytes) are fertilized by sperm in a laboratory dish. One or more of the fertilized eggs (embryos) are then transferred into the woman’s uterus, where it is hoped they will implant and produce a pregnancy.In cases of severe male factor infertility, fertilization is achieved by ICSI. ICSI is an option for all men with severe male factor infertility, regardless of their sperm count. Only mature oocytes can be injected. Fertilization rates with ICSI range from 50 to 70 percent.