Hepatitis contributes to male infertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

World Hepatitis Day falls on 28 July 2017 and the theme given by World Health Organization for 2017 is “Eliminate Hepatitis” 

Hepatitis as we all know is the inflammation of the liver and prove to be deadly in the long run if ignored. According to the World Health Organization, there are 400 million people worldwide who are living with Hepatitis B or C. Globally, every year 1.4 million people die from viral hepatitis. There are five viruses that can cause hepatitis - A, B, C, D and E. Out of these, hepatitis A, B & C cause over 90% of the diagnosed cases of the disease. While viral hepatitis can be acute or chronic, hepatitis A and E do not cause chronic illness. Hepatitis B and C are the most common disease viruses and can cause chronic illness.  According to WHO Viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally and, given the size of the epidemic, anyone and everyone can be at risk. 

Let’s look at the risk factors hepatitis has brought: 

You are at the risk of infertility if you are found with Hepatitis Virus. The hepatitis virus negatively impacts spermatogenesis in males thereby significantly lowering sperm count, its motility, viability and morphology. We can say that Hepatitis contributes to male infertility

Still not Pregnant? Then you should consider these facts

By Dr Shobha Gupta 

You are planning to conceive for long and not getting results. This problem is very common now. I see at least 40 to 50 patients in a day coming to me for their infertility issues. This is because conception is process that calls for more trials before you finally succeed. You should know that there are some medical facts which keep coming on your way of getting pregnant. 

According to ICMR Bulletin it is estimated that globally around 60 to 80 million couples suffer from infertility annually, of which probably between 15 to 20 million are in India alone. 

When everything else fails and you think that the in vitro fertilization or IVF may be the only option for you to opt, but before considering anything know some facts that can hinder your chances of conception: 

1. Abnormal Periods: 

Abnormal or irregular periods is one sign that can point towards a woman’s infertility. A menstrual cycle that is too long (35 days or more) or too short (21 days or less) could indicate problems with ovulation. 

What you can do: Sometimes a healthy diet, exercise and medication can regularise your periods and help you conceive. But first do consult a good doctor who can also prescribes few medicines and tells you the way to modify your lifestyle. 

2. You age and decline in the number of healthy eggs has a direct relationship: 

You are born with a fixed number of eggs. But the number gets declines as you age and so does the health of those eggs. According to The American Society of Reproductive Medicine, even a healthy and fertile 30-year-old woman’s chances of getting pregnant reduces by 20% with each passing month.  

What you can do: Optimize the health of your eggs. To do so help yourself stay healthy, maintain a good optimal weight and give up your vices. Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake while planning for a baby. Get in touch with a good fertility centre if you need help, and try to complete your family before 35 years of age without delaying the process to avoid future complications. In case you want to delay pregnancy and want to keep your eggs in good health till conception, you should probably try freezing your eggs for future use. 

3. Your partner might have a problem/ Male infertility: 

Remember your partner’s health plays a significant role in conception after yours. Male infertility is responsible for up to one-third of infertility cases. If your partner is overweight, an alcoholic or a smoker, it could be affecting your chances of getting pregnant. An infection or inflammation of the prostate glands might also stand to be a probable cause if you are not getting pregnant. 

What you can do: Talk to your partner and be open about it but

Fertility and Age – a direct link

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

There is no denying that the delay in pregnancy has become a trend especially in urban states. Women delays pregnancy to pursue careers, doing business etc. And, it is unlikely that this trend of delaying parenthood is not going to change anytime soon. But what can you do to assess your fertility health, what really are your chances of having a baby in your late 30s and is there anything you can do to preserve your fertility?

The key to fertility is a woman’s ovarian reserve i.e. the availability of healthy eggs. A decline in ovarian reserve means that not only do the ovaries have fewer eggs to offer, but the eggs they do have are of poorer quality. The challenge for many women choosing to have their first child mid-30s or later is that as part of the body’s natural aging process, a woman’s eggs age too. This can lead to infertility and/or miscarriage.

Achieving a natural pregnancy after 40 years of age is a challenge for many women, but getting pregnant is only half the journey. Miscarriage rates over 40 are 50% and rise quickly with each advancing year.

Hormone testing to assess egg quality and number:

Three simple blood tests can check hormone levels and reveal more information about egg quality and number. These tests may also help diagnose infertility in a younger woman, who ordinarily would not be experiencing diminished ovarian reserve or poor quality, but may be living with an undiagnosed condition:

1. Basic FSH Test: FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) is the main hormone involved in producing mature eggs in the ovaries. If this test reveals excessive

Does Irregular periods hampers IVF Treatment?

By Dr. ShobhaGupta

If you are having irregular periods for a while then please do not ignore it. Today, in this blog I am gonna right whether irregular periods hamper your IVF treatment or not and what you need to know about what are irregular periods. Menstrual cycle normally ranges from 21 days to 35 days. Some people get periods after 21 days and some after every 35 days, which is considered normal. However, if you are getting periods beyond that time frame or if the gap between periods is more than two weeks, it is known as irregular. Also, if menstrual cycle is shorter than that (get after 15 days) or longer than that (after 40 days, 50 days), it means your periods are irregular.

This could mean two things either you have PCOS or few eggs are left inside your body. Also, if you get a period after a gap of 40 days between periods, it does not necessarily indicate PCOS.  It could also mean that you are approaching menopause. So, it is important to know why you are getting irregular periods.

As far as IVF treatment is concerned, irregular periods are not likely to affect IVF cycle. This is because, in IVF, medications are given from outside to grow