Female Infertility Treatment in Delhi, India

These are categorised into two types:

1. Primary infertility when a woman is incapable of conceiving after at least one year of having sex without using precautionary methods of birth control.
2. Secondary infertility includes couples who had conceived at least once but now cannot conceive.

There are many possible causes of infertility. However, it can be challenging to specify the exact cause, and some couples often suffer from "unexplained" or "multifactorial" infertility. A few of the various possible factors associated with female infertility include:

• Problems with the uterus: These include polyps, fibroids, septum, or adhesions inside the uterine cavity.
• Problems with the fallopian tubes: The most common cause of tubal factor infertility is a pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes blocked tubes.
• Problems with ovulation: Hormonal imbalances, a past eating disorder, substance abuse, thyroid conditions, severe stress, and pituitary tumours all contribute to the problems in ovulation.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS results in hormone imbalance, affecting ovulation. In addition, PCOS is linked with insulin resistance, obesity, abnormal growth of hair on the face or body, and acne.
• Hypothalamic dysfunction of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Enormous physical or emotional stress, irregular body weight, or loss can disrupt the production of these hormones and affect ovulation.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this is caused by the premature disappearance of eggs from the ovary, possibly due to genetics or chemotherapy. As a result, the ovary cannot produce eggs, which decreases oestrogen hormone production in women.
• Excess prolactin: The pituitary gland causes excess production of prolactin which reduces oestrogen production and can cause infertility.

If a woman is incapable of getting pregnant within a considerable period, it is advisable to seek help from the doctor for evaluation and treatment of infertility. The doctor will take a detailed medical assessment and conduct a physical examination. For the diagnosis of female infertility, fertility tests are carried out. These are as follows:

1. Ovulation testing - The ovulation prediction kit helps detect the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs before ovulation. A blood test for progesterone, produced after ovulation, can also document that you're ovulating.
2. Hysterosalpingography - During hysterosalpingography, contrast dye is injected into the uterus and accordingly, an X-ray is performed to look for the problems present in the uterus. The test also depicts if the fluid passes out of the uterus and spills out the fallopian tubes. It is done on the 7th day of the period.
3. Ovarian reserve testing - This test helps determine the quality and the number of eggs accessible for ovulation.
4. Imaging tests - A pelvic ultrasound depicts uterine or fallopian tube disease. Sometimes a sonohysterography or hysteroscopy is needed to check the details inside the uterus, which otherwise can't be visible on a regular ultrasound.

Depending on the patient's condition, testing also includes:

1. Laparoscopy - This minimally invasive surgery involves a small incision beneath the navel and a thin device to examine and view various structures like fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus. It helps to identify endometriosis, scarring or blockages of the fallopian tubes, and issues related to ovaries and the uterus.
2. Genetic testing - Genetic testing helps determine whether any changes to your genes may be causing infertility.

1. Medications For Fertility

Medications that stimulate ovulation are termed fertility drugs. These are the main line of treatment for infertile women due to ovulation disorders. Fertility drugs generally work to accelerate the ovulation process. They're also prescribed for ovulating women to stimulate multiple follicles - IVF cycle.
Fertility drugs include:

• Clomiphene citrate
• Gonadotropins
• Metformin
• Letrozole

2. Surgery to restore fertility

Several surgical procedures can treat infertility issues or improve that to a greater extent. Moreover, surgical treatments are rare these days due to the success rate of several other treatment options. These are as follows:

• Laparoscopic or hysteroscopic surgery- Surgery involves the removal of endometrial polyps and certain types of fibroids that misshape the uterine cavity or removing adhesions in the uterine and pelvic areas.
• Tubal surgeries- If the fallopian tubes are filled with fluid or are blocked, the doctor may recommend laparoscopic surgery to dilate a tube, remove adhesions or create a new tubal opening.

3. Reproductive assistance

The most frequently used techniques of reproductive assistance include:

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): During IUI, several healthy sperm are deposited in the uterus during ovulation after sperm washing; it is meant for mild male factor or unexplained infertility.
• Assisted reproductive technology: This technology involves recovering mature eggs and fertilising them with sperm in a dish in a laboratory, then shifting the embryos in the uterus post-fertilization. IVF is the most effective assisted reproductive technology. However, an IVF cycle takes several weeks and needs frequent blood tests and daily hormone injections.

Many factors contribute to female infertility. General health conditions, certain genetic traits, lifestyle options, and age contribute to female infertility. Risk factors generally comprise of:

• Age
• Hormone issues
• Abnormal menstrual cycle
• Obesity
• Having a low body-fat content results from a hardcore exercise regime
• Endometriosis
• Structural problems
• Fibroids in the uterine cavity
• Cysts
• Tumours
• Autoimmune disorders
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
• Excessive substance use and alcohol consumption
• Smoking

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• Role Of Laparoscopy In Treating Infertility
• Does Age Matter in Fertility and Pregnancy?
• PCOD and PCOS - Symptoms, Causes, Differences & Treatment