Fertility problems can be unpleasant and anxiety-inducing. Fear about in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy is mainly triggered by a lack of understanding of the procedure.
Several people have chosen to freeze their eggs, inspiring many others to do the same, making in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a household term.
It entails mixing sperm and eggs outside the body within a lab. It is the most popular assisted reproductive technology used to help individuals with problems conceiving.
According to Dr. Hrishikesh Pai from Babies & Us Fertility IVF & ICSI Centre, an excellent IVF centre from Mumbai, IVF treatment is never the initial step in infertility treatment, except in situations of complete tubal blockage.
It is instead reserved for situations in which alternative approaches, such as:
- Fertility drugs
- Surgery
- Artificial insemination hasn’t worked
It can be challenging to learn that you or your partner may be having fertility problems, making you feel apprehensive.
This anxiety about IVF treatment stems from a lack of understanding about the procedure, but asking the right questions can help reduce your concerns and make your IVF journey much more manageable.
Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, an impressive fertility specialist from Mumbai, spills the beans on 12 significant questions to ask before beginning an IVF treatment.
- What is the purpose of IVF?
Consider a couple who has been advised to undergo IVF. As a result, the first question they should ask the IVF professional is:
- Why are they undergoing IVF?
- Is it because the tubes are endometriosis, blocked, or advanced age?
- Is it due to sperm factor since the sperm count is low?
- Is it the consequence of several unsuccessful attempts or what we name unexplained infertility?
- What tests must be completed before IVF treatment may begin?
- Blood sugar level
- Check blood group
- Presence of sexually transmitted infections
- Liver damage, among others.
“The doctor will check to see if their bodies are healthy enough to carry a pregnancy to term for women,” says Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, a leading gynecologist from Mumbai.
They might have to go through a series of tests to rule out:
- PCOS
- ovulation status
- ovarian reserve
Before beginning IVF treatment, men may be subjected to several tests and semen studies.
- What type of IVF procedure will be used?
Is it a short-cycle or long-cycle IVF procedure? Different sorts of stimulation exist. The stimulation is quick, fewer eggs are generated, and IVF is performed in a short cycle.
The lady takes the medications longer and produces more eggs in a lengthy process.
- What is your facility’s success rate in live births and pregnancy rates?
Based on the following, the IVF expert will give you a general idea of whether or not the treatment is possible to work:
- Disease history
- Fertility rate
- Blood tests
- Weight
- Overall health
- Which Is Better: Fresh Embryos or Frozen Embryos?
According to Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, an ideal infertility specialist from Mumbai, It’s a matter of figuring out which choice is the most practical for you. Depending on the circumstances, any method can result in a clinical pregnancy.
- Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of an IVF cycle going well?
Based on your medical history, your doctor will give more specific advice, but there are a few things you may do to improve your odds. Consider the following scenario:
- Doing low-intensity exercise
- Eating well
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- BMI for your age and height
- Will you perform a pre-genetic analysis on the embryos?
This means that the embryo is genetically tested before being implanted. Will you perform pre-genetic testing on the embryos? When will you make a pre-genetic diagnostic if there is a genetic or inheritable disorder or if the mother is old?
- Will you implant the embryo in the same cycle that you’re stimulated, or will you freeze and transplant the embryos later?
FET, or frozen embryo transfer, is the common name for this procedure. Currently, most patients get FET but do not transfer the embryo within the same cycle.
- Are there any additional lifestyle adjustments that should be made?
The following things wreak havoc on reproductive health:
- Increased intake of alcohol
- Tobacco
- Smoking
As a result, it is strongly advised to abstain from smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages. Maintain a low-stress level, as high cortisol (stress hormone) levels, can make it difficult to conceive.
- Are there any potential side effects or difficulties to be aware of, or is IVF treatment making my situation worse?
In women with PCOS, ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) is possible.
Minor side effects may also occur in some women, including:
- Fluid discharge
- Mild cramps
- Bloating
- Constipation due to regular hormonal injections
If you experience any unusual symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Severe abdominal discomfort
- Headache
- Swelling
- Redness in your legs
You should see your doctor right away.
Is it going to make you more likely to get ovarian cancer, or are the hormonal effects permanent? To put it another way, what are the long-term consequences of IVF?
- What if the treatment is unsuccessful?
According to Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, among the best IVF doctors from Mumbai, while advances in technology have resulted in more couples conceiving in the first cycle, IVF does not have a 100% success rate.
If the first IVF cycle fails to produce a pregnancy, you may be allowed to try again at a later time, depending on the reason for the treatment’s failure.
- How much does IVF treatment cost?
Inquire with your doctor about the specifics of what is covered in each treatment cycle, as well as any additional fees for medications or surgeries, and see if they offer any payment plans or other financial assistance.
