Hayat MedTour is a medical tourism facilitator in Iran that has specialized in providing fertility assistance, infertility treatment and IVF in Iran at the best quality and affordable prices
Showing posts with label fertility treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fertility treatment. Show all posts
Hayat MedTour is a
medical tourism facilitator in Iran that has specialized in providing assisted reproductive technologies like IVF in Iran and infertility treatment at the best quality and affordable price
for foreign couples who have infertility problems. Through cooperating with a wide network of health centers, hotels, and travel agencies, HayatMedtour
provides the best and high quality of health care, travel, and accommodation
services at affordable prices to international infertilecouples.
Many infertile couples have more than one cause of infertility, so it's likely you will both need to see a doctor. It might take a number of tests to determine the cause of infertility. In some cases, a cause is never identified.
Infertility tests can be expensive and might not be covered by insurance — find out what your medical plan covers ahead of time.
Diagnosing male infertility problems usually involves:
General physical examination and medical history. This includes examining your genitals and asking questions about any inherited conditions, chronic health problems, illnesses, injuries, or surgeries that could affect fertility. Your doctor might also ask about your sexual habits and about your sexual development during puberty.
Semen analysis. Semen samples can be obtained in a couple of different ways. You can provide a sample by masturbating and ejaculating into a special container at the doctor's office. Because of religious or cultural beliefs, some men prefer an alternative method of semen collection. In such cases, semen can be collected by using a special condom during intercourse.
Your semen is then sent to a laboratory to measure the number of sperm present and look for any abnormalities in the shape (morphology) and movement (motility) of the sperm. The lab will also check your semen for signs of problems such as infections.
Often sperm counts fluctuate significantly from one specimen to the next. In most cases, several semen analysis tests are done over a period of time to ensure accurate results. If your sperm analysis is normal, your doctor will likely recommend thorough testing of your female partner before conducting any more male infertility tests.
Your doctor might recommend additional tests to help identify the cause of your infertility. These can include:
Scrotal ultrasound. This test uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images inside your body. A scrotal ultrasound can help your doctor see if there is a varicocele or other problems in the testicles and supporting structures.
Transrectal ultrasound. A small, lubricated wand is inserted into your rectum. It allows your doctor to check your prostate and look for blockages of the tubes that carry semen.
Hormone testing. Hormones produced by the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, and testicles play a key role in sexual development and sperm production. Abnormalities in other hormonal or organ systems might also contribute to infertility. A blood test measures the level of testosterone and other hormones.
Post-ejaculation urinalysis. Sperm in your urine can indicate your sperm are traveling backward into the bladder instead of out your penis during ejaculation (retrograde ejaculation).
Genetic tests. When sperm concentration is extremely low, there could be a genetic cause. A blood test can reveal whether there are subtle changes in the Y chromosome — signs of a genetic abnormality. Genetic testing might be ordered to diagnose various congenital or inherited syndromes.
Testicular biopsy. This test involves removing samples from the testicle with a needle. If the results of the testicular biopsy show that sperm production is normal your problem is likely caused by a blockage or another problem with sperm transport.
Specialized sperm function tests. A number of tests can be used to check how well your sperm survive after ejaculation, how well they can penetrate an egg, and whether there's any problem attaching to the egg. These tests aren't often used and usually don't significantly change recommendations for treatment.
assisted conception – including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilizations (IVF)
Medicines
Common fertility medicines include:
clomiphene – encourages the monthly release of an egg (ovulation) in women who do not ovulate regularly or cannot ovulate at all
tamoxifen – an alternative to clomiphene that may be offered if you have ovulation problems
metformin – is particularly beneficial for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
gonadotrophins – can help stimulate ovulation in women, and may also improve fertility in men
gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and dopamine agonists – other types of medicine prescribed to encourage ovulation in women
Some of these medicines may cause side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches and hot flushes.
Speak to your doctor for more information about the possible side effects of specific medicines.
Medicine that stimulates the ovaries is not recommended for women with unexplained infertility because it has not been found to increase their chances of getting pregnant.
Surgical procedures
There are several types of surgical procedures that may be used to investigate fertility problems and help with fertility.
Fallopian tube surgery
If your fallopian tubes have become blocked or scarred, you may need surgery to repair them.
Surgery can be used to break up the scar tissue in your fallopian tubes, making it easier for eggs to pass through them.
The success of surgery will depend on the extent of the damage to your fallopian tubes.
Possible complications from tubal surgery include an ectopic pregnancy, which is when the fertilised egg implants outside the womb.
Endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS
Endometriosis is when parts of the womb lining start growing outside the womb.
Laparoscopic surgery is often used to treat endometriosis by destroying or removing fluid-filled sacs called cysts.
It may also be used to remove submucosal fibroids, which are small growths in the womb.
If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a minor surgical procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling can be used if ovulation medicine has not worked.
This involves using either heat or a laser to destroy part of the ovary.
Read more about laparoscopy.
Correcting an epidydimal blockage and surgery to retrieve sperm
The epididymis is a coil-like structure in the testicles that helps store and transport sperm.
Sometimes the epididymis becomes blocked, preventing sperm from being ejaculated normally. If this is causing infertility, surgery can be used to correct the blockage.
Surgical extraction of sperm may be an option if you:
have an obstruction that prevents the release of sperm
were born without the tube that drains the sperm from the testicle (vas deferens)
have had a vasectomy or a failed vasectomy reversal
Both operations take a few hours and are done under local anesthetic as outpatient procedures.
You'll be advised on the same day about the quality of the tissue or sperm collected.
Any sperm will be frozen and placed in storage for use at a later stage.
Assisted conception
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, involves inserting sperm into the womb via a thin plastic tube passed through the cervix.
Sperm is first collected and washed in a fluid. The best quality specimens (the fastest moving) are selected.
In vitro fertilizations (IVF), is when an egg is fertilized outside the body. Fertility medicine is taken to encourage the ovaries to produce more eggs than usual.
Eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. A fertilized egg (embryo) is then returned to the womb to grow and develop.
Egg and sperm donation
If you or your partner has an infertility problem, you may be able to receive eggs or sperm from a donor to help you conceive. Treatment with donor eggs is usually done using IVF.
Most Important Tips to Prepare for Fertility Treatment
Over 80% of the time, fertility drugs can stimulate ovulation—fertility treatments are being done now more than ever. Current technology offers fertility treatments to make pregnancy a reality for many couples who would otherwise struggle. Fertility treatments are a highly involved process and can be both emotionally and physically taxing. However, certain things can help you prepare for fertility treatments to alleviate stress and increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy.
7 Tips to prepare for fertility treatments
Quit unhealthy habits - When starting fertility treatments, quit smoking, drinking, and staying up late to help prepare your body for pregnancy while increasing the chances of getting pregnant.
Maintain a healthy weight- Being overweight can affect pregnancy. Excess weight increases the risk of a miscarriage and can affect outcomes with in vitro fertilization procedures (IVF). A high BMI also affects the safety of undergoing anesthesia or sedation, which is necessary with IVF.
Eat a balanced diet - Eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help you maintain a good weight while building up nutrition for better overall health.
Get quality sleep - Sleep is crucial for cellular repair, maintaining stress levels, and essential for fertility. Set a goal of getting between 7/ 9 hours of quality sleep each night.
Maintain stress levels- Stress can hurt the chances of successful fertility. Seek ways to maintain stress during this process. Try things like acupuncture, walking, journaling, and meditating to decrease anxiety.
Change workout routines - Exercise is great for increasing fertility. Replacing running and extreme exercising like bodybuilding to a gentler routine. Yoga, walking, swimming, hiking, and biking are wonderful ways to get gentle exercise during fertility treatments and pregnancy.
Begin taking a prenatal vitamin - It is recommended to increase nutrients during fertility treatments. Prenatal vitamins are an excellent choice to ensure the body has enough folic acid, which aids in developing the brain and spinal cord during pregnancy. Please discuss with your doctor what prenatal vitamins they recommend.
IVF is a common treatment for people who are unable to conceive naturally
Usually, in IVF, the woman has medicines (fertility hormones) to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs. The eggs are then collected and mixed with sperm in a laboratory.
IVF is carried out when the sperm quality is considered to be ‘normal’ If there are issues with the sperm quality such as low motility or numbers, a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may instead be used – this is where a single sperm is injected into the egg by an embryologist
If fertilization is successful, the embryos are allowed to develop for between two and six days. This helps the embryologist to select the strongest embryo, which is then transferred back to the woman’s womb to hopefully continue to a successful birth.
Often several good-quality embryos will be created. In these cases, it's normally best practice to freeze the remaining embryos because putting two embryos back in the womb increases your chance of having twins or triplets, which carries health risks. You can use your frozen embryos later on if your first cycle is unsuccessful or you want to try for another baby.
What does IVF involve?
This process outlines a single cycle of IVF following the most commonly used procedure. You may find that your treatment is slightly different depending on your history and what your clinic thinks is best for you.
Usually, the first step is to use medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. There are different ways this can be done. One way is to suppress natural hormones before taking hormone medication to stimulate the ovaries. This treatment often called a long protocol, involves taking a daily injection or nasal spray to suppress hormone production. A scan checks the woman’s natural cycle is fully suppressed. If it is, hormone treatment (usually gonadotrophin) is started to boost the number of eggs the body produces.
Some clinics may use the ‘antagonist protocol’. This involves taking medication (an antagonist) to suppress your hormones for a few days after you have taken the hormone medication (usually gonadotrophin) to boost the number of eggs the body produces.
Whichever way the ovaries are stimulated to produce eggs, you will be closely monitored for a few days by the clinic. This may involve having blood tests or ultrasound scans.
The eggs will be collected whilst under sedation or general anesthetic. The procedure takes around half an hour and you may feel a little sore or bruised.
Whilst the eggs are being collected, the man will be asked to come to the clinic to produce a sperm sample, or your donor sperm will be taken from the freezer, for mixing with your eggs.
Medication will help to prepare the lining of the womb. This is usually taken as a pessary or gel which you can insert yourself into the vagina/rectum.
The eggs will be mixed with the sperm in a laboratory. The aim is for the eggs and sperm to fertilize to create an embryo.
If fertilization happens, the resulting embryo(s), will be monitored to check how it’s/they’re developing.
Two to five days after fertilization, the embryo(s) will be transferred to the womb. You won’t need any kind of anesthetic for this unless you have a condition that would make the procedure painful. You’ll be given a date to do a pregnancy test. Although you’ll understandably be excited at this stage, try not to do this early as you may get a false result.
Women often ask if there is a natural or 'at home remedy' for boosting egg quality and improving fertility and the chances of pregnancy. Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron explains what you can do to ensure that your eggs can be the best when preparing for conception.
1. Stay Away from Cigarettes.
Smoking permanently speeds up egg loss in the ovaries. The chemicals in cigarettes mutate the DNA in a woman's egg cells, making some of the eggs unsuitable for conception. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, and the number of eggs reduces with age, so it is best to keep eggs healthy and free of unnecessary chemicals.
2. Manage Stress.
Stress can produce hormones such as cortisol and prolactin that can interfere with or halt ovulation, which also hinders egg production. Stress-reducing activities such as yoga, meditation, exercise, or a warm bath can help keep stress and frustration at bay.
3. Eat Healthily.
Healthy foods improve overall health, this includes helping your eggs stay healthy and high quality, as well as improve overall fertility. Eat plenty of leafy greens, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Stay away from trans fats, refined carbs, processed foods or meats, and excessive salt and sugar.
4. Achieve a Normal BMI (body mass index).
Obesity has been linked to reduced fertility and decreased egg quality due to alterations of mitochondrial function and increased oxidative stress. Being overweight can also alter the hormonal balance, disrupting ovulation. A body mass index (BMI) between 18.5-24.9 is recommended to achieve pregnancy. To give you an idea of what that looks like, a woman that is 5’6” falls within a normal BMI with a weight range of 115-154 lbs.
5. Boost Blood Flow.
Good egg health is aided by oxygen-rich blood flow to the ovaries. Blood flow in the body can quickly decrease from dehydration, so aim to drink 64 oz. of water each day. Yoga is a healthy and relaxing way to improve blood flow, with poses such as the lotus pose, child’s pose, reclining hero, and seated forward bend offering a specific fertility benefit.
6. Invest in Supplements.
There is no need to break the bank on vitamins, but three low-cost options can help with egg health: Coenzyme Q10, melatonin, and fish oil. CoQ10 can boost mitochondrial function as well as antioxidants, improving the quality of eggs (200 mg, 3x daily); melatonin can boost antioxidants, encourage ovarian function, and aid in sleep (3mg each evening); and fish oil (EPA/DHA) can help produce higher quality eggs and help reproductive function in advanced maternal age (1200-1500mg EPA + DHA daily, do not exceed 3000 mg/day).
7. Freeze Your Eggs.
If you are planning on delaying motherhood, the best way to protect your fertility future is to stop your biological clock and freeze your eggs. With time, a woman’s natural fertility declines, but frozen eggs remain the same biological age as when they are cryopreserved, boosting your chances of future success.
Egg donation is a process in which a fertile woman donates an egg, or oocyte, to another woman to help her conceive. It is a part of assisted reproductive technology, or ART.
The procedure typically involves a doctor removing an egg or eggs from the donor, fertilizing them in a laboratory, and then transferring the resulting embryos into the recipient’s uterus. Doctors do this using an implantation procedure, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Sometimes, specialists at the facility may freeze some or all of the embryos for later use or implantation in different women.
Egg donation frequently benefits women who cannot use their own eggs for various reasons, including ovarian failure, avoiding congenital anomalies in the fetus, or advanced age.
One 2014 entry in the journal Fertility and Sterility suggested that 93 percentTrusted Source of all fertility centers in the United States offer egg donation. The same study indicates that the procedure results in a successful birth 49.4–50 percent of the time.
In this article, we look at the criteria for selecting donors, the procedure itself, and legal ramifications following an egg donation.
The clinic will conduct a thorough selection process for potential donors.
Specialists at the fertility facility will conduct an intensive selection process to find a suitable donor and will carefully run through the legal procedures.
Before starting the procedure, most donors will need to take medication that stops their normal menstrual cycle.
Side effects of this medication might include:
hot flashes
headache
fatigue
body aches
The donor will then take a series of fertility drugs that stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs at once. This is known as hyperstimulation. Donors will need to self-administer this medication by injecting it under their skin or into a muscle.
Some women may experience mild side effects, such as bruising at the injection site, mood swings, and tender breasts. In rare cases, a woman may develop severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This occurs when too many eggs develop in the ovaries. Women who develop OHSS may require hospitalization.
Donors do have a risk of pregnancy before the eggs are retrieved, so it is a good idea to avoid intercourse or use a barrier contraceptive, such as a condom.
Throughout the donation cycle, a donor will undergo frequent blood tests and ultrasound examinations to monitor their reactions to the medications.
During extraction the eggs
Shortly before the retrieval of the eggs, the donor will receive a final injection in preparation for the procedure.
The doctor will perform a transvaginal ovarian aspiration to remove the eggs from the donor’s ovaries. They will insert an ultrasound probe into the vagina and use a needle to remove the egg from each follicle.
During the procedure, which lasts around 30 minutes, the doctor might give the donor painkillers, sedatives, or an anesthetic.
As this is a minor procedure, a donor will not need to stay at the clinic or hospital overnight.
After Egg Donation
Some women find they need several days of rest to recover from the transvaginal ovarian aspiration. Others return to normal activities the next day.
Some programs provide aftercare to donors, but others do not. As the egg donation process can have a psychological impact, some women may find it useful to work with a counselor or psychotherapist after the procedure.
The most common reason why single women and couples turn to egg donation is poor egg quality due to advanced maternal age. A woman’s egg quality lessens as she ages and significantly declines after age 37.
Who Uses Egg Donation?
Couples in which the woman has poor-quality or no eggs, but who want a biological child using the male’s sperm
Women with no ovaries but an intact uterus
Women with genetic factors that they do not want to pass on to their children
Women over the age of 42
There are many things to consider when thinking about using an egg donor. If you have a partner, start by exploring these questions.
Fact: The first known pregnancy achieved with a donated egg occurred in 1984. In 2016, the CDC reported approximately 9,000 births resulting from donor eggs.
Egg Donation Requirements
Egg donors undergo psychological and medical screening, which includes a thorough medical history, physical exam, and ovarian reserve assessment to determine if she is likely to be a good donor candidate. Egg donors are healthy young women, usually between ages 21 and 30.
Egg Donation Process
The egg donor gets hormone injections to induce ovulation of multiple eggs. Women naturally release one egg a month and the injections allow a large number of eggs to mature at the same time. Once her eggs are mature and ready for retrieval, her fertility doctor schedules the procedure.
The egg donor is put under sedation and her doctor uses an ultrasound-guided needle inserted into each mature follicle to retrieve each egg. The lab will attempt to fertilize several eggs in a laboratory using the recipient’s partner’s sperm or selected donor sperm. This process is in vitro fertilization (IVF).
An embryo (fertilized egg) is then transferred into the recipient’s uterus.
In a fresh transfer cycle, the donor and the recipient’s cycles are synchronized using medication.
In a frozen transfer, the embryos are frozen and typically transferred at a later time. Frozen transfers are sometimes utilized to perform preimplantation genetic screening for aneuploidy (an abnormal number of chromosomes).
If successful, the embryo will implant into the uterine lining and develop into a healthy baby.
Egg Donor Cost and Sources
Commercial egg donor agencies recruit, screen, and match healthy donors with couples and individuals. Many infertility clinics also offer donated eggs from couples who have produced excess eggs.
In some cases, the recipient may ask a close friend or relative to donate her eggs. Recipients may choose a fresh egg donation cycle or a frozen egg donation cycle (from a frozen egg bank).
Egg Donation Success Factors
Success depends on many factors, including the egg donor's age, retrieval process, quality of sperm, and the recipient’s overall health.
As with all third-party reproduction processes, recipients should seek counseling to explore emotional concerns and an experienced attorney to protect their, and their potential children’s, rights
Although its original intention was to treat women with tubal disease, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can help couples overcome various types of infertility. For some diagnoses or conditions, such as tubal factor, IVF may be the first-line treatment. In other cases, IVF may be recommended only if simpler treatment fails. Below is a list of common indications for IVF treatment:
Tubal Factor (Damage to Fallopian Tubes) / Pelvic Adhesions
There are two options to treat patients with significant tubal damage and/or pelvic adhesive disease. The first option is to surgically repair the tubes and either get pregnant naturally or use Artificial Insemination or IUI to get pregnant. In many cases, however, surgery is not a good option as it may be very difficult to surgically fix the damaged tube(s) and/or the surgery may cause a high risk of an ectopic pregnancy. In these instances where the surgical option does not pose a high chance for success, the second option is to by-pass the tubes completely by using IVF as the treatment plan. Advanced Fertility Care Physicians will individualize the treatment plan for each patient or couple at our Mesa, Scottsdale, and Glendale AZ offices, and if you have tubal damage, they will provide you detailed information on each option so that you can make an informed decision.
Endometriosis
Current scientific data about endometriosis show that mild to moderate forms of endometriosis may be effectively treated with a combination of surgical and medical therapy. For more stages of endometriosis, including the presence of endometriomas, IVF is the optimal first-line treatment and offers the highest pregnancy success rates.
Male Factor Infertility
One of the most significant advances in the treatment of infertility has been the ability of men with severe sperm abnormalities to achieve fertilization of the egg and successful pregnancy. IVF with the addition of ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) has enabled couples suffering from abnormal sperm, who would not otherwise be able to conceive, to be able to start a family. ICSI is often recommended if there is any suggestion of a sperm problem, if sperm are obtained surgically, or if there has been a prior failure of fertilization.
Diminished Ovarian Function & Age-Related Infertility
During the course of a woman’s normal reproductive life, her ovarian function decreases with age. In many cases, this reduced function can be overcome through the use of IVF alone, or in conjunction with techniques such as Assisted Hatching and ICSI. For some women, this decrease in ovarian function may start at earlier ages and requires aggressive treatment with IVF sooner rather than later.
Anovulation & Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
The majority of patients with an ovulation and/or PCOS often conceive using less aggressive treatments such as ovulation induction with IUI. For some patients who are “high responders” to gonadotropin therapy, IVF offers an excellent prognosis and reduces some of the risks of higher-order multiples.
Unexplained Infertility
Approximately 20% of couples will have no identifiable cause of infertility after completing a comprehensive evaluation. IVF is often successful even if more conservative treatments have failed, especially since some of these couples may have yet unidentifiable causes of infertility or sub-fertility.
Family Balancing (also known as Gender or Sex Selection)
For families that wish to have additional children of a particular gender after already having a previous child, PGD allows for the selection of embryos to transfer based on gender. While not perfect, embryo biopsy with genetic chromosome determination prior to the transfer of embryos can allow families to choice in how they expand the family. Read more about PGD.
Genetic Diseases / Preimplantation Genetic Screening or Diagnosis (PGS or PGD)
One additional indication for IVF is to provide genetic testing on embryos prior to implantation. PGD or PGS is used for patients who are at risk for passing on genetic disorders to their offspring as a result of one or both of the partners being carriers for the disease. Diseases such as Cystic fibrosis and Thalassemia are 2 examples of the hundreds of diseases that can be tested for prior to embryo implantation. In addition, IVF with PGS is indicated for women with recurrent pregnancy loss related to chromosomal abnormalities or repeated failed IVF attempts. Learn more about PGD.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps couples dealing with infertility conceive. The process involves extracting a woman’s eggs, collecting a sperm sample, and combining the egg and sperm manually. After the egg and sperm have been combined in the laboratory, the embryo or embryos are transferred to the uterus. Although more costly, time-consuming, and invasive than artificial insemination, IVF has excellent success rates for overcoming various types of infertility. Some of these include tubal factor, endometriosis, male factor infertility, age-related infertility, diminished ovarian function, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and unexplained infertility. Other implications for IVF are gender selection and preimplantation genetic screening for parents at risk of passing down genetic disorders.
There are additional options for IVF, like ICSI, PGD, assisted hatching, donor sperm, and a gestational carrier. Our goal is to help you have a healthy baby, the least invasive, most cost-effective way. The Advanced Fertility Clinic physicians will go over every possible option with you to guide you in making a more informed decision about the process that is right for you.
Sometimes, for male infertility treatment, IVF is the best treatment option. When the semen analysis is abnormal and identifies a malefactor, it’s important to look for the cause. If the low sperm count appears to hormone-related, caused by an infection, or related to a male anatomic abnormality, basic treatments may be used. If these do not work, or if it is a more severe case of male infertility, IVF is usually the treatment of choice.
Options other than IVF for male infertility
For hormonal imbalances like a low testosterone level, Doctors may choose medications like Clomid or fertility shots. The partners of men with decreased sperm counts and normal hormone levels will often undergo IUI. This is a simple and relatively inexpensive treatment for mild cases of male infertility.
Anatomical abnormalities that contribute to male infertility often require further evaluation by a urologist. Urologists are specialists regarding the male reproductive system. They will work with the Doctor to determine what treatment is necessary.
If the sperm count is too low for IUI, IVF for male infertility may be the best treatment option. This treatment is a very successful option for couples with male factor infertility.
When do we recommend IVF for male infertility?
If a semen analysis reveals a very low concentration of normal sperm, the Doctor often will recommend IVF for male infertility. This is because the chances of success are much better than timed intercourse or IUI.
IVF is also a good option when there are multiple fertility factors, such as a low sperm count in combination with a blocked tube, difficulty in ovulation, or advanced age of the woman. IVF can be the most effective treatment for couples in these situations by increasing the chance of fertilization of the egg.
The reason why is as follows:
Sperm with poor motility can still be used to fertilize eggs through IVF. By placing sperm and egg in close proximity in a petri dish, the poorly motile sperm do not have to travel far to reach the egg, and fertilization is controlled in the lab.
Low sperm counts can still achieve fertilization through IVF
Because the egg and sperm meet in the lab, the sperm have no chance of “getting lost” in the female reproductive tract. Normally, sperm travel along the specific path to reach the egg, but many fall off during the trip. If there isn’t enough sperm that can make the trek to the egg, fertilization never happens.
For the severe male factor, IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) will be performed.
ICSI involves carefully choosing a single sperm and injecting this sperm directly into the egg, which improves the chance for fertilization. ICSI is also performed when sperm is retrieved by performing a biopsy of the testicle, also known as TESE (testicular sperm extraction), or when a frozen sperm specimen is used.
If you are looking to increase your chances of conceiving during IVF, here are 8 tips from 5 different fertility doctors.
1. Maintain a healthy weight.
"Maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important infertility and IVF," says Linnea Goodman, MD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine. "We know that being obese (BMI >35) and underweight (BMI <19) increases the time of conception by 2 and 4 times respectively, and negatively affects IVF success rates. Being overweight also makes monitoring the ovaries during IVF more difficult and increases the chance of complications during egg retrievals."
This is best implemented with changes in diet and activity with professional help.
"Working with a dietitian, and in some programs enrolling in a cardiometabolic weight loss program can help achieve these goals," says Zaraq Khan, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
2. Optimize sperm health. "Use of multivitamins and maintaining optimal body weight, as well using boxers over briefs, could improve sperm quality," says Dr. Khan. "Under appropriate care, men can also be started on medications that can help boost sperm numbers and quality that can have a beneficial impact on IVF outcome. In certain cases, sperm aspirated directly from the testicle over ejaculate could also be beneficial. Involving a male infertility specialist for any form of abnormalities in semen analyses is key."
3. Partner with an excellent doctor and embryology laboratory. "Choosing an excellent reproductive endocrinologist is twofold: in addition to experience and commitment to evidence-based medicine, look for someone with whom you feel comfortable and connected. Your doctor will accompany you on this very emotional journey and it is important for you to feel supported and heard," says Elizabeth Fino, MD, fertility specialist at NYU Langone Fertility Center. "Asking for recommendations from friends and family who know you best can help guide you to a knowledgeable physician with whom you feel comfortable, but also be sure to do your research."
In a world of online reviews, it can be difficult to determine credibility.
"Be careful of online reviews—they are often completed by select patients who had an extreme experience for one reason or another and may not be universally applicable.
To find an excellent embryology laboratory, look for a long history of exceptional outcomes. One source is the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology which details the clinic's volume and live birth rate."
4. Reduce your stress. "Basal stress levels can influence natural and assisted conception rates," says Dr. Khan. "Reducing stress troubles during an IVF stimulation cycle can be one of the hardest things to achieve for couples. Several reports suggest improvement of pregnancy outcomes with the use of acupuncture and other stress-relieving techniques, like enrolling in mind-body programs, stress reduction, and resilience training workshops."
5. Quit smoking "Smoking can drastically decrease the chance of success while doing IVF because it affects egg and sperm quality," says Dr. Khan.
But you don't have to do it on your own.
"Quitting smoking is not an easy task and often requires a great deal of personal as well as professional support. Try to involve your friends and family to help encourage you in the process. For smoking cessation, structured programs and/or pharmacological assistance have proven to be most successful," says Dr. Fino.
6. Look into taking supplements "DHEA and CoQ10 are supplements that have shown some promise in association with an increase in egg quantity and quality," says Dr. Fino. "Talk to your doctor to see if he or she recommends them for you."
Multivitamins may also be helpful, adds Dr. Khan.
7. Ensure you have adequate levels of vitamin D "Over 40% of individuals are deficient in Vitamin D, and there is emerging data on its association with infertility and worse IVF outcomes," says Tarun Jain, MD, medical director of Northwestern Medicine Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Oakbrook Terrace. "Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level, and consider taking a vitamin D supplement."
8. Focus on persistence and patience. "Many patients require more than one cycle of IVF to achieve an embryo for transfer and outcomes may vary significantly from cycle to cycle," says Shannon DeVore, MD, at NYU Langone Fertility Center. "If your first cycle wasn't successful, your doctor may be able to adjust the medications to optimize a subsequent one. Other times, it just means keeping at it. Try not to be discouraged by sub-optimal outcomes and setbacks—you are doing everything right. The single biggest thing to remember is that most (or all) of this is out of your control. Nobody likes a lack of control, but sometimes letting go can help you endure the journey. Take care of yourself and don't blame yourself when things don't go well. You are not alone, it often takes a village to build a family."
suppressing your natural cycle – the menstrual cycle is suppressed with medication
boosting your egg supply – medication is used to encourage the ovaries to produce more eggs than usual
monitoring your progress and maturing your eggs – an ultrasound scan is carried out to check the development of the eggs, and medication is used to help them mature
collecting the eggs – a needle is inserted into the ovaries, via the vagina, to remove the eggs
fertilizing the eggs – the eggs are mixed with the sperm for a few days to allow them to be fertilized
transferring the embryo(s) – 1 or 2 fertilized eggs (embryos) are placed into the womb
Once the embryo(s) has been transferred into your womb, you'll need to wait 2 weeks before taking a pregnancy test to see if the treatment has worked.
The average cost of an IVF cycle in the U.S. is $12,400, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. This price will vary depending on where you live, the number of medications you're required to take, the number of IVF cycles you undergo, and the amount your insurance company will pay toward the procedure. You should thoroughly investigate your insurance company's coverage of IVF and ask for a written statement of your benefits. Although some states have enacted laws requiring insurance companies to cover at least some of the costs of infertility treatment, many states haven't.Costs-of-IVF
The cost of IVF in Iran is more affordable than in other countries. Also, in Iran, the infertility treatment services such as IVF have a high quality in the region and in the world. The low-cost of IVF in Iran is due to the low doctors’ wages and inexpensive services in the clinic. The medications cost are the same all over the world. Learn more about IVF cost in Iran: The cost of IVF in Iran
IVF success rate depends on a number of factors, including the reason for infertility, where you're having the procedure done, and your age.
The CDC compiles national statistics for all assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures performed in the U.S., including IVF, GIFT, and ZIFT, although IVF is by far the most common; it accounts for 99% of the procedures. The most recent report from 2016 found:
Pregnancy was achieved in an average of 27.3% of all cycles (higher or lower depending on the age of the woman).
The percentage of cycles that resulted in live births was 22.2% on average (higher or lower depending on the age of the woman).
The first step in IVF involves injecting hormones so you produce multiple eggs each month instead of only one. You will then be tested to determine whether you're ready for egg retrieval.
Prior to the retrieval procedure, you will be given injections of a medication that ripens the developing eggs and starts the process of ovulation. Timing is important; the eggs must be retrieved just before they emerge from the follicles in the ovaries. If the eggs are taken out too early or too late, they won't develop normally. Your doctor may do blood tests or an ultrasound to be sure the eggs are at the right stage of development before retrieving them. The IVF facility will provide you with special instructions to follow the night before and the day of the procedure. Most women are given pain medication and the choice of being mildly sedated or going under full anesthesia.
During the procedure, your doctor will locate follicles in the ovary with ultrasound and remove the eggs with a hollow needle. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes, but may take up to an hour.
Immediately following the retrieval, your eggs will be mixed in the laboratory with your partner's sperm, which he will have donated on the same day.
While you and your partner go home, the fertilized eggs are kept in the clinic under observation to ensure optimal growth. Depending on the clinic, you may even wait up to five days until the embryo reaches a more advanced blastocyst stage.
Once the embryos are ready, you will return to the IVF facility so doctors can transfer one or more into your uterus. This procedure is quicker and easier than the retrieval of the egg. The doctor will insert a flexible tube called a catheter through your vagina and cervix and into your uterus, where the embryos will be deposited. To increase the chances of pregnancy, most IVF experts recommend transferring up to three embryos at a time. However, this means you could have multiple pregnancies, which can increase health. risks for both you and the babies
Following the procedure, you would typically stay in bed for several hours and be discharged four to six hours later. Your doctor will probably perform a pregnancy test on you about two weeks after the embryo transfer.
In cases where the man's sperm count is extremely low or there is poor motility (movement of the sperm), doctors may combine IVF with a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In this procedure, sperm is taken from semen -- or in some cases right from the testicles -- and inserted directly into the egg. Once a viable embryo is produced, it is transferred to the uterus using the usual IVF procedure.
Hayat
medtour, as a Medical Tourism agency in Iran, provide high quality health care
to couples who need fertility treatment at affordable prices. Hayat medtour,
through a partnership with the best and high quality of health centers, medical
clinics and leading specialists in Iran, provides a network of doctors and
clinics which will make every effort to make sure you see your baby’s smile.
The
Hayat medtour leading network of Clinics and health centers along with
experienced specialists utilize the up-dated science to provide the most
effective and suitable infertility treatments services to infertile couples.
The range of Infertility treatments in Iran includes of IVF, ICSI, IVM, IUI, PGD, Egg
freezing, and Induction of ovulation, which all of them will be performed at
the clinics and health centers with the highest medical standards.
In
addition to health care services, Hayat MedTour agency offer custom travel
packages tailored to your medical and vacation needs. Transportation to and
from the airport, transportation from the hotel to the clinic and vice versa,
booking appointments with the doctor, hotel reservation, booking airline
tickets, escort interpreting (a translator by your side at all times) and
exploring the city are all the services which will be provided for you, so that
you may continue your treatment without of worry and stress.
Your
trip to Iran will be based on a transparent and scheduled program designed by
Hayat medtour and approved by your agreement. The clarity in all services
expenses provided will bring peace of mind to the patient about any hidden
costs or additional expenses, allowing the patient to focus only on the treatment
process.
Hayat
medical tourism makes the utmost effort to give you the best medical tourism
services with effective treatment, clarity and respect for your privacy. Our
mission in Hayat, is to provide a pleasant and memorable experience that
exceeds your expectation.
