Fertility Evaluation – How to get started
Best Fertility Hospital In Indiranagar, Bangalore | The Life+ Hospital
It can be quite intimidating to make that first phone call to a fertility hospital to seek advice on your fertility issues. Our friendly team at Life Plus are trained to help answer your initial questions and provide you with relevant information to help you make decisions.
Fertility Investigations
According to a recent medical study, out of the 60-80 million couples suffering from infertility every year worldwide, 15-20 million (25%) are in India. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in every four couples is affected by infertility.
Various factors associated with primary infertility were sociodemographic status, literacy, occupation, family history, age, obesity, irregular menstruation, stress, etc. Both male and female factors exist in 20-25% of couples. Female factors such as insufficient ovarian reserve, problems in ovulation, problems with fallopian tubes, endometriosis, PCOS, etc. are responsible for the rest.
In India, we often find that fertility treatments are handled by general physicians and others, too, who have training in infertility management. Life Plus fertility specialists are doctors who have completed a post-graduate qualification in obstetrics and gynecology and then have completed a formal specialization infertility management with a fellowship program.
About 80% of healthy couples achieve pregnancy with unprotected intercourse within one year. Couples who are unable to conceive beyond one year must get evaluated. This helps increase their chances of conceiving. The first step is usually to arrange an initial fertility test. For a female, this would include a pelvic ultrasound scan. Also, an Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood test helps. This procedure helps to check a woman’s ability to produce eggs that can be fertilized for pregnancy. For the male partner, a semen analysis is usually conducted to assess the quality of his sperm.
A detailed check-up, along with a few laboratory tests, are conducted to evaluate the couple and diagnose underlying problems causing infertility issues.
Some patients could have conceived but may have had to lose the pregnancy due to an underlying medical problem. A fertility specialist carries out ultrasound scans and laboratory tests to pinpoint the medical condition.
You will meet one of our specialists who will take a detailed medical history of each partner and review all your previous test results. The doctor will then discuss your fertility and any further tests or treatment options you may need to consider.
Once a diagnosis is made, the fertility specialist can plan the mode of treatment that would be best suited for the couple. The procedure could involve surgery for conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis. Sometimes the patient may require specialized treatments. Assisted reproductive techniques such as ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, or IVF is recommended.
Best Fertility Hospital In Indiranagar | Life Plus has been a pioneer in affordable and safe fertility treatment. Treatment can take place with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of up to 35. Your specialist will be able to help you to determine the best diet possible for you to reach your target BMI and recommend available resources you may wish to read.
Our team of specialists will counsel you and provide you with all the required information. This will help you relax and be at peace
First Visit:
Once you arrive at the hospital, you need to finish a formal registration procedure, and then you will be guided to your fertility specialist.
A discussion with the fertility specialist will help the doctor understand your problem better. A simple ultrasound scan may be conducted to check the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. These are simple check-ups and do not take much time.
Standard tests advised include:
Male fertility tests: These tests include semen analysis, sugar-level, thyroid disorders, liver or kidney disorders, complete blood count, hormones, and tests for infections.
Female fertility tests: Tests for ovarian reserve, normal ovulatory function, hormones, diabetes, autoimmunity, thyroid disorders, blood counts, etc
Along with the above mentioned primary initial tests that are conducted to rule out any medical conditions, tests, such as glucose and homocysteine, must be done after 8-10 hours fast. Hormones such as Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), (LH), estradiol (E2) must be done on specific days of the menstrual cycle. Your fertility specialist will inform you of these details accordingly.
Follow-up visit:
Once you come back for a follow-up visit, your records are already ready. Hence you will be guided to your fertility specialist. The doctor will study your complete medical records and history and decide on a personalized treatment plan for you accordingly. The specialist will understand everything about your family history, diet, stress levels, lifestyle, and suggest tests accordingly.
We also have a financial counselor who can help you in understanding the costs of the treatment options. Life Plus also offers financial support programs that will help in your decision-making process.
Post discussion
After your discussions, tests, and counseling, it will be easier for you to make a decision. Some of the ways infertility could be dealt with are
- Simple Lifestyle changes– based on your BMI, your doctor will suggest you make the required dietary changes. It may also include destressing techniques such as meditation, yoga, and others.
- Underlying medical conditions: If you have diabetes or hormonal imbalances.
- Gynaecological abnormalities: Some conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, etc. need to be treated.
- Ovulation stimulation: In this process, the specialist would prescribe medicines that stimulate ovulation. The doctor will also guide you on the right time to have intercourse to enhance your chances of conception.
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)– A procedure where the specialist would stimulate the ovaries with medicines to stimulate ovulation with constant monitoring. The sperms would be processed adequately and placed into the uterus to enhance the chances of conception.
- IVF/ICSI– A procedure where the specialist would retreive multiple eggs by stimulating the ovaries and sperm to form embryos in the laboratory. The embryos are grown in the laboratory for 3-5 days and then introduced back into the uterus.
Fertility treatments are very safe; it is very little to no risk. The procedures for diagnosis and treatment are relatively painless and without any side-effects. You must be aware that with age, fertility in both women and men declines. Hence it is always advisable to seek help with a specialist and get an evaluation done at the right time. With a thorough assessment and professional advice, a couple is better informed to make the right decisions
One Step Ahead
Why We Are The Best
At Life Plus, we are committed to helping our patients have a healthy baby, using treatments that are safe, effective, and affordable. The expert team at Life Plus specializes in providing a personalized treatment program designed with a healthy baby and healthy mother in mind.
Our state-of-the-art facilities include on-site laboratories and theatres managed by a dedicated and highly specialized medical team.
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