The IVF Specialist's Blog for IVF patients
Helping IVF patients understand IVF treatment !
Saturday, December 07, 2019
Friday, December 06, 2019
The known and the unknown in IVF
One of the reasons IVF outcomes are so unpredictable and uncertain is because it's a complex biological system, and there are lots of factors which determine success.
It's useful to think of these in terms of known factors ; and unknown factors .
For example, we know that the quality of the embryo ; and the endometrial thickness and texture will influence the chances of embryo implantation.
However, we also know that not every perfect embryo transferred into a perfect endometrium will implant, which clearly means there are lots of other factors which determine success, which we don't know enough about !
These include: genetic factors; epigenetic factors; and immunological factors , all of which still need to be studied and analysed.
At present, we include these under the rubric of "luck" and "fate" - which aren't very accurate or helpful terms !
At present, we include these under the rubric of "luck" and "fate" - which aren't very accurate or helpful terms !
This is why research and development is so important, and advances in reproductive science will ensure that the number of known factors will increase , while the unknown factors will progressively decrease.
However, it's still not possible for us to be able to measure or improve all the unknown factors, which is why we still can't predict which IVF cycle is going to be successful , and which one isn't.
We try to use all the technological tools available at our disposal, but our answers are not perfect and we need to live with this !
What to find an IVF clinic which respects your time and intelligence ?
WhatsApp us at https://wa.me/919867441589/
Thursday, December 05, 2019
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
How IVF patients can use Dr Google intelligently !
A lot of husbands get worried because their wives spend so
much time on Google.
After all, being infertile can be stressful and infertile
women are hungry for information , which Dr. Google provides in abundance !
This is especially true when you're going for an IVF
cycle, but a lot of family members don't like women obsessing over IVF
websites.
For one, they are worried that they will start thinking of
themselves as being half doctors - after all, isn't half knowledge dangerous ? Yes,
it is , but this doesn't mean ignorance is bliss either.
Their bigger worry is that they will start worrying
needlessly, especially because so much of the information available online is
unreliable. All this worrying can't possibly be good for them , because it
increases their stress levels !
Yes, they have a valid point, and simply want to protect
them from anxiety.
However, we need to take a supporting attitude, rather
than being judgmental ! The good thing about
Dr. Google is it teaches you what you don't need to worry about , if you are a
smart user.
It helps you understand what's in your control - and
equally , what's not in your control, so you stop obsessing pointlessly over
stuff you can't do anything about. Knowledge is power when used well !
This means there's no need to stop using Google, but it's
important to learn how to use Google intelligently. The good news is that Google
can teach you how to do this as well, by helping you to identify which websites
are reliable, updated and accurate !
What to find an IVF clinic which respects your time and intelligence ?
WhatsApp us at https://wa.me/919867441589/
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
Why single embryo transfers are a better option
Many IVF patients want us to put as many embryos back as possible , because they want to get pregnant as quickly as possible, and they know that the more the embryos they transfer, the better their chances of conceiving. This is why some clinics will routinely put back three or four embryos at a time.
I actually think this is irresponsible , because it increases the risk of a multiple pregnancy. Some of these patients end up with premature labors, which means their babies spend months languishing in a NICU, and maybe handicapped because of the prematurity. Even worse, the doctor does a selective fetal reduction to "treat" a high order multiple pregnancy, and this causes the patient to miscarry and lose all her babies . You can imagine the amount of heartburn this causes ! This is why a single-embryo transfer is much safer.
Interestingly, the pregnancy rate is also better with a
single-embryo transfer, which means you can have your cake and eat it too !
Please remember that you can't compare apples and oranges , and you need to
compare a double embryo transfer with the cumulative pregnancy rate of two
sequential single embryo transfers.
Let me explain. Suppose you have two embryos, and suppose
the chance of each embryo implanting is 30%. Now suppose you put both the embryos
at one time, then yes, the chance in that cycle will increase to, let's say,
45%. However, if you don't get pregnant,
you will have no spare embryos left, and will need to start a fresh cycle all
over again. However, if you did only a SET, you can still transfer the single
embryo. The pregnancy rate with this will remain 30%, which means your
cumulative pregnancy rate is 30 + 30,
which is 60%, which is higher than transferring 2 embryos at a time !
Of course, this applies only to good IVF clinics, which
transfer only top quality blastocysts, and have a robust embryo vitrification
program.
What to find an IVF clinic which respects your time and intelligence ?
WhatsApp us at https://wa.me/919867441589/
Monday, December 02, 2019
Saturday, November 30, 2019
How IVF patients add to their stress levels
IVF patients are stressed out because they're not sure
whether their IVF cycle is going to work
or not.
And since everyone knows that stress is not good for patients,
they try to reduce their stress levels by providing them with a protective
environment. Many family members - especially the older ones - impose all kinds
of dietary restrictions after the embryo transfer, under the assumption that some foods are
"hot" or cold" and may harm the embryo. Many still insist that
patients remain on bedrest and not perform any physical activity, because they
think this will dislodge the embryo !
However, they fail to realize that their loving concern
can actually backfire ! This can have a counterproductive effect , and often ends
up increasing their stress levels.
Women who are forced to stay in bed often end up getting
sick ! An idle mind is a devil's workshop, and they keep on brooding about
whether they are going to pregnant or not. This just makes going through the
2ww a greater mental torture !
Also, bed rest causes the back to hurt; muscles become
stiff; and pelvic blood flow decreases.
Please remember that once an embryo is inside the uterus,
there's nothing we can do to influence the outcome either way, since implantation is a biological
process we cannot control. An embryo is the uterus is safe and secure - think
of it as being a pearl in an oyster !
Please remember that women going through IVF are not patients
- they are healthy women, and we are using IVF only to assist them to start
their family !
What to find an IVF clinic which respects your time and intelligence ?
WhatsApp us at https://wa.me/919867441589/
x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Get A Free IVF Second Opinion
Dr Malpani would be happy to provide a second opinion on your problem.
Consult Now!