THE ONE STOP SOLUTION

NEED FOR CONSULTANCY

Our body is the abode of GOD. Here each and every cell of the body is entwined with each other. Any problem faced by any part of the body, does affect the rest of it. Not only physically, but the negativity percolates down to our emotional and psychological well-being too.

DR KULDEEP JAIN, who heads the IVF CENTRES, is the person whom you must approach whenever you face any gynaecological/obstetrics issues. From simple to complex, any such problem is dealt with deftly and with a lot of dexterity.

WHEN DOES THE FEMALE NEED A CONSULTANCY?

All through the evolutionary story of mankind, procreation of the species has been its sole thrust. No species can survive without increasing its number. How and why, nature has chosen a particular method of procreation, is a mystery which man has yet to unravel. The art of procreation for mankind unveiled itself as human beings evolved. Before science spearheaded all the technological marvels of this era, humans had learnt how to create a new life.

New life begins when an egg from a woman is fertilised by sperm from a man. Ovulation occurs around 14 days before the start of the menstrual period, when an egg (ovum) is released from one of the ovaries. 

The egg is swept into the nearby fallopian tube and ushered towards the uterus (womb). If the egg is fertilised on its journey, it lodges in the womb lining (endometrium). Pregnancy then begins. 

Sometimes, hindrances occur in this normal process of pregnancy.

WHAT ALL CAN GO WRONG

*AGE RELATED OVULATION PROBLEM- --Manifests itself as irregular or absent periods. The menstrual cycle functions by several glands and their hormones working in harmony. For ovulation to occur, a part of the brain called the hypothalamus prompts the nearby pituitary gland to secrete hormones that trigger the ovaries to ripen eggs. This is the normal process of ovulation. Due to age this process gets disrupted as the number of viable eggs a women is born with is pre-determined at birth.

*POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME--- At ovulation, the ovaries produce small cysts called follicles. Typically, one follicle ripens to release an egg. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the follicles fail to ripen, forming little cysts at the periphery of the ovary and often releasing male sex hormones. Unaided this hampers the normal process of fertilization.

*BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE(S)---This prevents the normal passage of the sperms via the fallopian tubes, resulting in failed fertilization.

*UTERINE PROBLEM--- The fertilised egg lodges in the lining of the uterus. Some uterine problems that can hamper implantation include:

• Fibroids – non-malignant tumours inside the womb
• Polyps – overgrowths of the endometrium, which can be prompted by the presence of fibroids

*ENDOMETRIOSIS-- Endometriosis is a condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) migrate to other parts of the pelvis. It can damage the fallopian tubes and the ovaries, and significantly alter the movement of the egg and sperm. 

Treatment for female infertility

Treatment options (assisted reproductive technologies, or ART) for female infertility depend on the cause, but may include:

• *Surgery
• *Ovulation induction (using hormone therapy)
• *In vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Surgery for female infertility

Female infertility can be caused by obstructions within the reproductive organs. Some of the problems that can be addressed by surgery include:

• Fibroids – non-malignant tumours growing inside the uterus
• Polyps – overgrowths of the uterine lining (endometrium)
• Endometriosis – the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which can block the fallopian tubes
• Salpingitis – inflammation and scarring of the fallopian tube due to bacterial infection
• Abnormalities of the uterus – such as uterine septum
• Ovarian cysts – which can be drained or removed.

These days, most reproductive surgery is performed by ‘keyhole surgery’ using an operative laparoscope (through the abdomen) or an operative hysteroscope (through the cervix and into the uterus).,

Ovulation induction for female infertility

Irregular or absent periods may indicate that ovulation is also irregular or absent. However, even women with regular periods may skip ovulation every now and then. 

Ovulation can be induced with a range of medications in tablet or injectable forms. Oral medications such as clomiphene citrate can dull the response of receptors in the brain to naturally occurring oestrogens in the body. This leads to an increase in the release of hormones from the brain which stimulate ovulation.

Injectable forms of synthetic gonadotrophins, the hormones released by the pituitary gland in the brain that prompt the ovaries to release an egg, can also be used to stimulate ovulation. The response to these medications can be unpredictable and close monitoring of the women is necessary while on them.

Sometimes, the response to synthesised gonadotrophins may be excessive, leading to a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The symptoms include oedema (fluid retention), abdominal pain and bloating. Regular monitoring is used to help fine-tune the dosage and minimise the risk of OHSS and multiple pregnancy from occurring.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) for female infertility

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is conception outside of the human body. The woman undergoes ovarian stimulation using a hormonal agent and at the right time, the eggs are collected. This is done through the vagina under light sedation and ultrasound control.

The collected eggs are mixed with sperm previously collected from the woman's partner or they may be injected with a single sperm (ICSI). They are then placed in special incubators and allowed to develop into embryos. The embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus using a thin tube that is inserted through the cervix under ultrasound guidance. 

EGG RETRIEVAL TECHNIQUE

INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI)

SOLUTIONS AT HAND

So dear friends, whether your problems are simple or complex, do not hesitate to approach DR KULDEEP JAIN. From surgical solutions to assisted reproductive procedures, all your problems find a solution under one roof at the KJIVF CENTRE.