FAQ

Gender selection can be done during IVF treatment by experts using different techniques like Preimplantation genetic diagnosis which will help the doctor to pick the embryo with the required gender for transferring to a uterus. This process is 100% accurate if it’s done by a qualified specialist.

Women under 35 years of age have higher chances of achieving pregnancy with IVF, and the success rate decrease as the age advance.

It depends upon several factors and varies from patient to patient, some of the major factors are:

1. Age of woman – Women below 35 years are more likely to conceive during their first cycle of IVF which is completed in 2 months.
2. Associated predisposing factors – Underlying cause of infertility can delay the pregnancy as some cases may take a bit longer to get treated than others. 
3. Obesity – A delay in pregnancy can occur in obese females.
4. Egg and Sperm – Impaired quality of gametes can impede progress. 

Couples who aren’t able to conceive after regular, unprotected intercourse for 1 year should book an appointment with a gynecologist to know about their options for infertility treatment. Women aged 30 and above shouldn’t wait longer as the ovarian follicle pool can significantly decline once women cross their mid-thirties.

The 5 main steps involved in IVF are:

1. Screening & Evaluation: At first different lab and Imaging tests are done to diagnose the cause of infertility, to assess the treatment options available for the couple.
2. Ovarian Stimulation: Hormonal injections and medications are given to stimulate the ovaries for follicle production and maturity.
3. Embryo retrieval & Sperm retrieval: Once the follicles are mature they are retrieved directly from the ovaries. While, the sperms can be collected by a male partner through masturbation, and in some cases, sperms are aspirated directly from the testes via a needle.
4. Fertilization: Once the retrieval of male and female gametes is done they are now fertilized in the laboratory in the petri dish either conventionally or through Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
5. Embryo transfer: Lastly. on the 3rd to 5th day of fertilization, the embryos formed are now ready for implantation, 1-2 best picked by the specialist are transferred to the uterus via a catheter guided under ultrasound.

The difference between IVF and natural babies is that: During In Vitro Fertilization, the fertilization of egg and sperm takes place artificially in Laboratory in Petri dishes. While normal process fertilization occurs naturally in the fallopian tube from where the embryo descends down to get implanted inside the uterine wall, while during IVF the embryo formed in a petri dish is transferred via a catheter inside the uterus.

When treating infertility, both male and female factors are considered as they are equally affected, with a risk of 35% for each. Male infertility can result from low or absent sperm production, poor sperm quality, the inability of sperm to swim, or blockage that prevents the delivery of sperm. The 4 most common causes of male infertility are: 

• Genetic and congenital- Azoospermia, Cystic Fibrosis, undescended testes, Y Chromosome Microdeletion.
• Infections – Mumps, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia.
• Health problems- Diabetes, Celiac Disease 
• Others- Obstruction, Erectile dysfunction, ejaculation problems, Varicocele.