Female Infertility

An alternative to surgery:

The following are some common and reliable treatments for female infertility:

• Freezing eggs: Oocyte Cryopreservation, also known as Egg freezing, is a technology that offers women the option to delay pregnancy until a time that suits them. As a woman gets older, her fertility decreases. This can make it challenging for some women to conceive in their 30s. Egg freezing provides an excellent solution for those who are not currently planning to start a family but would like to have the option in the future. The procedure involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries, freezing them, and storing them to use at a later time when desired. In some cases, egg freezing can be combined with IVF (in-vitro fertilization). It is recommended for women to undergo this process in their late 20s or early 30s for best results.

• Freezing embryos: The process is comparable to egg freezing, except it entails freezing embryos rather than eggs. It enables couples to preserve their embryos for future use. The physician harvests eggs from the woman's ovaries and combines them with the male partner's sperm in a laboratory setting to facilitate fertilization. Once the embryo is formed, it is placed in sub-zero temperatures for storage. This approach is typically suggested for those undergoing imminent chemotherapy, individuals with genetic conditions affecting reproduction, or those taking medications that impact fertility. Furthermore, this technique provides the opportunity for same-sex couples and members of the LGBTQ community to plan pregnancies.

• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): Multiple infertility treatments utilizing sperm and eggs are included in ART, or Assisted Reproductive Technology. In case a woman's fallopian tube is blocked or sperm cannot fertilize the egg, ART may be used. ART can include treatments through medicine as well as surgical procedures.

• IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization: In Vitro Fertilization, also known as IVF, is a proven ART technique that has enabled numerous couples to become parents. It is typically recommended in cases where a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, or when the male partner experiences fertility issues. With IVF, the laboratory procedure mimics the natural fertilization process that typically occurs within a woman's body. The first step involves stimulating the woman's ovaries with medication to stimulate egg production. Once the eggs have matured, they are removed from the ovaries and combined with sperm in a petri dish to initiate fertilization. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the woman's uterus by a doctor who will monitor for pregnancy.

• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): IUI, also known as intrauterine insemination, is a highly reliable and cost-effective treatment for infertility. During the procedure, doctors directly implant the sperm from the male partner or donor into the woman's uterus. Unlike IVF, fertilization takes place inside the woman's body. Typically suggested for unexplained fertility issues or low sperm motility, this treatment involves washing and concentrating the sperm before injecting it near ovulation time. After the procedure, women must wait approximately two weeks before taking a pregnancy test.

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection): With this assisted reproductive technology, a single sperm cell is introduced into an egg cell and the embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube. When IVF fails or there are serious problems with the sperm, this ART is generally recommended.