Indirect causes of female infertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Women being infertile are still a taboo but at the same time our technology is so advanced that it doesn’t let it untreated for a long time. There are several issues which are accountable for female infertility. Today, I will list out some of the indirect causes of female infertility. 

1. Obesity: Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterized by too much body fat Being overweight affects everything.  Yet another growing problem in today’s time among the population is infertility caused due to Obesity. I see at least 30 to 35 patients in a day coming to me for infertility out of which 10% are obese.  

2. Smoking: Cigarette smoking is harmful to the ovaries, and the degree of damage is dependent upon the amount and length of the time a woman smokes or is exposed to a smoked environment. Female smokers also have decreased rates of fertility and decreased fallopian tube function.  

3. Overworking: Getting in to the office early, staying till late. Always working on the computer. Working too much regularly can have negative effects on your physical as well as mental health as all these factors bring ever increasing stress. Stress in your life can lead to unhealthy body conditions like upset stomach, elevated blood pressures, poor sleep patterns, slowing of metabolism etc. which can actually throw your life out of gear and these

5 things to know about IVF Treatment

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

IVF or in vitreo fertilization is a method to treat infertility worldwide. As we all know all that infertility is a common modern day problem which means when you are unable to conceive naturally despite of one year of trying. As you age your fertility levels will decline and then you opt for IVF treatment to conceive So, it is very important to know things about IVF treatment before jumping into it: 

1. When women's and men’s fertility really starts to fall

First and foremost you should know about the time or age when a woman's fertility starts to drop dramatically. It starts declining from the age of 30 onwards. Diminishing egg numbers along with diminishing egg quality is also one issue. A simple blood test, known as AMH, will tell a woman if she has a normal number of eggs for her age but tells us little about the quality of the eggs remaining. On the other hand, men's fertility can also reduce with age. While women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, men are continually producing new sperm. However, as men age, the quality of the genes in their sperm deteriorates from 40 onwards. 

2. Success rate of IVF treatment 

There are ‘N’ numbers of fertility clinics and infertility specialists in the world and many have achieved the highest success rates in IVF in the world. However, an individual couple's chance of success depends on a number of factors such as the cause of infertility, age and lifestyle. As a general guide, there is a 50 percent chance of conception per IVF treatment if aged under 30. This goes down to a 20 percent chance for your first IVF treatment over the age of 40. 

3. Cost of IVF treatment

Infertility is increasing at a fast paced and IVF is becoming a common option for all. So, as a result IVF has become more affordable in India than in other

Above 40 and still fertile, what’s the secret?

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Age is always one such issue which tops the list if you want to become pregnant because you can’t do anything about age. Though the cosmetic procedures are very much in and may holds your age over your face but there’s no medicine, no cure for old age and the disabilities that come with it. The only thing you can do is plan your future well and make the best of today. The ideal age for pregnancy is the mid-to-late 20s. If you want to wait, then you can push that limit up to 35 only and not beyond. After 35, the chances of a successful pregnancy start declining. 

IVF or In vitreo fertilization treatment, for so long considered the only hope for women who are unable to fall pregnant on their own but I believe that IVF isn't the only answer for women wanting to get pregnant. 

There are other options too that needs to be considered and that many could find their fertility better boosted through acupuncture, making simple lifestyle changes and, actually, just having more sex. I've known many patients who wanted to go for IVF treatment and aren't regularly having sex. Often people are looking for every possible option not but sex. Physical intimacy between couples is of utmost importance. In today’s busy world couples have created a

When to seek out fertility treatment?

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Infertility or unable to conceive is a common problem in today’s modernized society. Sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol consumption, little or no workout, placing laptops over lap, wearing too tight pants etc are the few reasons for being infertile. But thanks to the modern science, today, the fertility treatment is a gift to us which has helped millions of couples worldwide to conceive. 

Time and again the question arises when should we seek out fertility treatment? Please go by the following points if:

• You haven’t conceived even after having one-year of regular unprotected sex, see a fertility specialist
• You are under 35 who find it difficult getting pregnant after having regular unprotected intercourse for a year must seek medical help. 
• You are over 35 and having difficulty conceiving after having six months of regular unprotected sex must opt for fertility treatments. 
• You are having irregular menstrual and ovulation patterns poses a high risk for infertility. If you are going through these issues, then it is highly recommended to see a fertility specialist to increase your chances of getting pregnant. 
• Either of the partners has been diagnosed with cancer and if they are still trying to protect their ability to conceive, they need to take a fertility treatment in time. 
• Either of the partners is suffering with any hormonal or endocrine disorder like high thyroid or diabetes, the couple must seek fertility treatment. 
• Women having the previous history of any gynecological or abdominal surgeries are also recommended to opt for fertility treatment once they decide to have a baby. 
• After the age of 35, fertility rate declines in women and they cannot get pregnant easily. As the risk of infertility increases with ageing. 

The sooner you opt for fertility treatment, the faster the treatment and results. Infertility can be a symptom of many medical conditions and may get worse as the time passes. So, the delays in seeking help from a fertility specialist make fertility treatment less effective for you. Receiving fertility treatments at right time also helps you to reduce the potential risk of getting pregnancy complications while trying to conceive.

What are the other treatment options for infertility apart from IVF

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

There has been immense change in the IVF technology itself. New methods for treating infertility have been introduced in recent years like; 

1) Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), is an assisted reproductive technology used to treat male infertility. This technique involves washing of the sperm and injecting the specially prepared sperm into the egg obtained from IVF 

2) Intrauterine Insemination (IUI); a procedure in which sperm is washed, concentrated, and then placed directly into the uterus. It is a relatively simple form of infertility treatment. It might be used unexplained infertility in males and females. 

3) Frozen Embryo Transfer(FET) It is a part of IVF process. Main part of IVF is the ET which is called Embryo Transfer which usually takes 10 to 15 days to be injected in woman’s womb. Spare embryos from your IVF treatment can be frozen for future use, depending on their quality. Embryos can be stored for up to ten years for future treatment if your first cycle was unsuccessful or for siblings. 

4) Hormone Replacement Therapy in which some of the hormones like estrogen and progesterone gets replace that are reduced during and after the menopause;

Important things to know about your fertility

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

India has a population of over 1.2 billion; the number of Indians suffering from infertility is huge. An estimated one in seven couple in India have fertility problems and mostly there is no known medical explanation and it is also believed that 10% of the general population suffers from some form of infertility. So, get educated and take control of your fertility. 

Do take note of the following points: 

1. Don’t be too fit to be pregnant: Yes you heard it right, do not be too fit; It is indeed very important to be healthy, but excessive exercise can negatively affect fertility in both men and women. A recent research conducted in US examining 2,232 women undergoing IVF treatment found that women who engaged in cardiovascular exercise for four hours or more per week prior to the treatment had a 40 per cent decrease in live birth rate. Men need to be aware of testicular heat negatively affecting their fertility, too. 

2. Don't rely on your pee. Be cautious when relying on urinary LH detection (ovulation) kits alone. The quality of cervical mucus falls rapidly as progesterone rises in response to the LH surge. Hence by the time the LH is detected by urinary ovulation kits, the cervical mucus quality may

Treatment options for PCOS

By Dr. Shobha Gupta     

HT City: Treatment for infertility

PCOS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome as we all know is an incurable disorder in which woman’s levels of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone gets out of balance and most women do not know that they have it unless and until they go for a checkup. It mostly affects women of reproductive age from puberty to menopause i.e. 12-45 years old.     

PCOS leads to growth of ovarian cysts. To elaborate; in PCOS, the ovaries produce higher levels of androgen than normal, and this interferes with egg development and release. Some of the eggs develop into cysts which are little sacs filled with liquid and instead of being released during ovulation, these cysts build up in the ovaries and even get enlarged , hence the name poly cystic ovaries or Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome     

Every second patient, I treat in Delhi has PCOS. In PCOS patients there are sufficient number of eggs which helps in conceiving but PCOS patients do not have that capacity where their eggs develop itself for pregnancy. In a research by USA, few years ago it was found out that via laparoscopy or key-hole surgery the ovaries are punctured with a small needle carrying an electric current or using laser to voluntarily breech the ovarian capsule. This surgery can lower male hormone levels and help with ovulation. But it indeed needs lot of alertness by the doctors as there are various risks are associated with it like infections from the incision, bleeding from the incision, pain after the procedure etc.                                                         

But the biggest risk associated with the ovarian drilling surgery is that it could destroy too much of the ovary and causes your egg supply to diminish at a young age, sending you into early menopause.    

So, it is very important for women to know and get aware that they should not go for ovarian drilling in PCOS treatment especially if they have not been

Do’s and Don’ts while undergoing IVF treatment

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Today in this blog I will talk about what you should do and what you shouldn’t do during IVF treatment.  There are a few things that you need to keep in mind to better your chances of conception. 

1.Stay stress free and think positive.  As High stress levels are known to reduce fertility in both men and women and compromise on the outcome of an IVF cycle. 

2. Eat good balanced diet. Getting wholesome diet is vital for producing healthy eggs and promoting implantation of the embryo. Your diet should consist of 4-6 small meals each day and each should consist of  fresh fruits and vegetables. 

3. Staying hydrated is very important. Some women during IVF process suffer from OHSS (Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome) so drink lots of fluids during this time. Drinking 3-5 liters of water per day can prevent OHSS in some cases. N

4. Stop alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, as it can reduce a woman's chance of conceiving by more than 50%, so why take a chance. 

5. Communication is the key. Maintain proper communication with your doctor and as well as your partner too as it will help in making your