A Guide to Alternatives when Faced with Infertility

Navya Frames

Motherhood is a beautiful phase and the birth of a baby is nothing short of a miracle. Many men and women look forward to being parents in their lives, and hence, it can come as quite a blow when problems crop up in the process. The problems can include infertility in both men and women, and the best way to handle this is by being patient, aware and considering the alternative options. Fortunately, there are many options for couples who are infertile and keen on having a baby.

The first thing that follows the infertility diagnosis is an overall checkup of the health history, sexual history, medication, and sex habits. This is the same for both men and women.  

For men, a physical examination along with a sperm analysis is needed, which focuses on testing the health of his sperm. For women, however, the process is more invasive, and hence, a good and trusted hospital for women care, the likes of Fortis La Femme, should be selected for the procedure.  

The testing begins with a medical history, coupled with a physical exam, which also consists of a pelvic exam. The doctor tracks her ovulation and whether the ovaries are releasing the eggs regularly or not. Additionally, several blood tests are also conducted to make sure that the hormone level is fine. An ultrasound can also be prescribed along with X-ray tests to check the condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes.   

When faced with a complication in any of the above tests, there are certain treatments that can be administered. When getting infertility treatment in Delhi, it is essential to make sure that your hospital has a good infrastructure, reputation and an experienced team of doctors. The following are some of the options couples can take in the case of infertility in either or both of them:  

In men, fertility can be treated by:

  1. Surgery: If the cause involves a varicoele, which means the widening of the veins in the scrotum, surgery can fix the problem. A blockage in the vas deferens can also be solved by surgery.
  2. Antibiotics: Often, antibiotics are prescribed to treat certain infections prevalent in the reproductive organs. Other medications and counselling can also help the problem.  But these should only be administered by a professional care-giver.
  3. Hormone treatments: Hormone treatments can be required if the problem includes a high or low level of hormones.

In women, infertility can be addressed by:

  1. Fertility drugs and hormones: This is done to improve levels of hormones in women and to help women ovulate more regularly.
  2. Surgery: Surgery can often be required to remove tissues that blocks fertility or to even unclog blocked fallopian tubes.

If these treatments fail to correct infertility, there are other ways to conceive a child:

  1. IUI: This procedure is called intrauterine insemination. In this method, sperm is collected and is placed inside the woman’s uterus during her ovulation.
  2. IVF: In vitro fertilization, also known as IVF, is a method in which the sperm and egg are collected in a lab. The fertilized egg is allowed to grow for 3 to 5 days. After that, the embryo is placed in the woman’s uterus.  
  3. GIFT and ZIFT: Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) are methods in which the sperm and eggs are collected, put together in a lab, and then transferred to a fallopian tube. The time duration differs for both the procedures.

For best results from the treatment, it is important that you consult only the experts available at reputed hospitals, the likes of Fortis La Femme.