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.
