Frequently Asked Questions
IVF was originally developed to help women with blocked or missing fallopian tubes, and it remains one of the most effective treatment options for these conditions. Today, IVF is also commonly used to treat other fertility challenges such as endometriosis, male factor infertility, and unexplained infertility, where no specific medical cause can be identified. Our specialists carefully review your medical history and guide you toward the most suitable diagnostic tests and treatment options based on your individual needs.
About one-third of infertility cases are related to male factors. Male infertility can also contribute to an increased risk of miscarriages. Some of the most common causes of male infertility include:
• Low sperm count or poor sperm motility
• Chronic illnesses, such as cancer and other long-term health conditions
• Environmental factors, including exposure to radiation or harmful chemicals
• Lifestyle factors, such as being overweight, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption
Infertility is not limited to one gender; it affects both men and women. Approximately one-third of infertility cases are related to female factors. Globally, an estimated 50–80 million people experience infertility.
Some of the most common causes of female infertility include:
• Age-related fertility decline
• Endometriosis
• Hormonal imbalances that affect ovulation
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Uterine fibroids
• Lifestyle factors, such as being overweight, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and an unhealthy diet
• Unexplained infertility, where no specific medical cause can be identified
Women are born with about two million eggs in their ovaries. Even before puberty begins, a large number of these eggs are naturally lost, with around 11,000 eggs disappearing each month. By the time a girl reaches her teenage years, she typically has 300,000 to 400,000 eggs remaining.
From then on, approximately 1,000 eggs are lost every month as part of the natural reproductive cycle. This gradual decline is a natural biological process and is not influenced by birth control, pregnancy, hormone levels, lifestyle, health, or nutritional supplements.
Over time, the number of remaining eggs continues to decrease until a woman eventually reaches menopause, when there are no viable eggs left in the ovaries.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects many women of reproductive age. In this condition, the body produces higher-than-normal levels of male hormones (androgens), which can disrupt the normal functioning of the ovaries. As a result, ovulation may not occur regularly, often leading to irregular menstrual cycles.
Because ovulation is unpredictable or absent, women with PCOS may find it more difficult to conceive. In fact, PCOS is considered one of the most common causes of female infertility.
Endometriosis is a common condition in women in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. This gynecological disorder can affect areas such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissues lining the pelvis. In rare cases, it may also develop in other parts of the abdominal cavity.
• Pelvic pain
• Abnormal bleeding
• Painful urination
• Painful sex
• Nausea or Vomiting
•
Difficulty in getting pregnant
• Low immunity
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, is a non-invasive assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure. It is a simple and relatively easy treatment that does not require significant physical effort from the couple and is more affordable compared to advanced fertility treatments such as IVF and ICSI.
IUI is usually recommended for couples who have a good ovarian reserve and normal or near-normal semen parameters, but may be facing conditions such as PCOS, minimal endometriosis, borderline sperm count or motility, or unexplained infertility.
• Ovarian Stimulation: Fertility medications are given to stimulate the ovaries so they can produce multiple eggs.
• Egg Retrieval: Eggs are collected from the ovaries using an ultrasound-guided procedure. The embryologist then evaluates the number and quality of the retrieved eggs.
• Fertilisation and Embryo Culture: The best-quality eggs are fertilized using either conventional IVF or ICSI. The resulting embryos are carefully monitored as they develop in the laboratory.
• Embryo Transfer: After assessing the embryos, the embryologist and fertility specialist decide the appropriate time for transfer. The fertility specialist then transfers the selected embryo into the uterus.
• Embryo Freezing and Storage: Any remaining healthy embryos can be frozen and stored for future use if the pregnancy is not successful or for future family planning.
Oocyte cryopreservation, commonly known as egg freezing, is a procedure in which a woman’s eggs are retrieved, frozen, and stored for future use. This technique can be especially beneficial for women who have been diagnosed with cancer and need to undergo treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which may affect fertility.
Egg freezing is also an option for women who are not yet ready to have children, such as those who are unmarried or in circumstances that are not suitable for starting a family at the moment. By preserving their eggs, women may have the opportunity to pursue pregnancy at a later stage in life.
In the general population, about 3% of babies are born with major birth defects, and around 6% may have minor defects. Over the past two decades since the birth of Louise Brown, the first IVF baby, extensive research has shown that babies conceived through IVF do not have a higher risk of birth defects due to the IVF procedure itself.
Any slight increase in abnormalities is usually linked to underlying infertility issues or the age of the parents, rather than the IVF technique. Long-term studies also show that children born through IVF perform as well as, or sometimes better than, their peers academically and do not have higher rates of behavioural or psychological problems.
• Avoid fast foods. Eat more home cooked meals instead
• Use more of vegetable oil for cooking
• Include more vegetable proteins such as fresh beans and nuts • Avoid pasta, rice and sweets
• Choose full-fat milk, yogurt over skimmed ones
• A multivitamin with folic acid and vitamin B helps
• Avoid red meat. Increase intake of fruits and bean for iron
• Avoid beverages and drink more water
• Aim for an ideal body weight
• Some form of exercise is always good
Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) is a genetic test performed on embryos to detect abnormalities in the number of chromosomes. This testing is carried out before the embryo is transferred into the uterus during an IVF cycle.
By analyzing the embryos created during IVF, specialists can identify those that have the correct number of chromosomes and are free from aneuploidy. Selecting these healthy embryos for transfer can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
PGT-M involves testing of embryos for specific monogenic disorders like thalassemia, haemophilia and certain types of muscular dystrophy. It helps couples who have a family history or those who have had a child affected with these disorders to have an unaffected child. All embryos formed as a part of an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) are tested for this specific monogenic disorder. Only unaffected or career embryos are transferred to have a disease free child. This can also be combined with PGT-A to further improve success rates.
PGT-SR (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Structural Rearrangements) is used for individuals who have chromosomal rearrangements, where the structure or arrangement of chromosomes is not normal. People with these rearrangements may produce embryos with unbalanced chromosomal structures.
Such embryos are often not viable and may lead to repeated miscarriages. PGT-SR allows specialists to test embryos for these specific chromosomal abnormalities and helps identify healthy embryos with balanced chromosomes for transfer during IVF.