Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Is non-clinical gender selection reliable?

Many couples resort to gender selection of the unborn child because they have all offspring of one gender and want to balance their family with an offspring of the opposite gender. Although clinical gender selection is performed by qualified doctors in infertility clinics, many people prefer non-clinical methods for selecting the gender of the fetus. However, these methods have no scientific basis and are at the most unreliable.

Gender selection by clinical methods performed at infertility clinics, on the other hand, is reliable. Clinical methods for selecting the gender of the unborn child include Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), Amniocentesis and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. All these methods are invasive methods and out of them pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is performed before the embryo is implanted in the uterus, whereas, CVS and amniocentesis are performed much afterwards. These methods also help in detecting genetic anomalies like Down’s syndrome, Trisomy, Thalassemia, Turner’s syndrome et al.

Monday, April 19, 2010

All you need to know about In-Vitro Fertilization

In vitro diagnostics require many tests which should be performed at the prescription of an infertility treatment specialist. Once these tests are done, it is ascertained that the patient is fit to undergo the in vitro fertilization treatment. There are four steps involved in in-vitro fertilization treatment.

After the in vitro diagnostics are performed, the infertility treatment begins. The first step involves medication which enhances multiple ovulations. The second step involves the monitoring of the egg growth and uterine lining development through ultrasound. This is when a trigger shot of human Chorionic Gonadotropin is administered. After this, the eggs are retrieved and placed in a dish along with the washed sperm specimen and left to incubate. Once fertilized the embryos are further incubated for development into multi-cell embryos. These embryos are then transferred into the uterus with the help of a catheter inserted through the cervix. The embryos can also be stored for future use.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

IVF Clinics - How Not to Get Exploited

Infertility is a sensitive subject. A large number of couples would like to go to fertility clinics to seek an end to their individual causes of infertility with the ultimate materialization of their hope of having a baby. You have to be cautious while selecting the right fertility clinic. You should firstly select a clinic with a consistently high success rate that is around 50%. Secondly the clinic should carry out invitro diagnostics efficiently. These techniques determine the cause of infertility and indicate the best method of treating it.

In vitro fertilization is achieved in four steps that must be carried out meticulously. These are ovarian stimulation, monitoring of eggs and uterine lining, retrieval of eggs and the final incubation with the sperm. The number of embryos is age dependent. Finally, the ivf cost is pertinent. The cost would of course vary depending on the number of ivf cycles and the age of the patient.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Tubal Ligation Reversal – Repairing the future

Choosing not to have any child or anymore child is a big decision that can be taken by a couple. And if this decision is taken a step further towards the operational route, tubal ligation is what seems to be the natural scientific measure available for them. But for those who want to retrace after thinking hard and want a child after all, there’s a remedy known as tubal ligation reversal. Also known as tubal reversal, it is a process, which reverses the blocked tubes by suturing the healthy parts of the fallopian tubes together.

Since it entails repairing the damaged fallopian tubes, the process is always very delicate and also quite complex. Only a highly qualified fertility doctor has what it takes to carry out the surgery smoothly. The process of tubal ligation itself is difficult and reversing it is even more complicated. It is therefore always best to think hard before taking a big decision like tubal ligation.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A brief on the Infertility Treatment Methods

Infertility can to be a major issue disrupting the functioning a family. And the modern stressful lifestyles do no help either. The number of childless couples has also been on the rise. Though on the brighter side, advancement in modern medical sciences have made it possible to treat infertility for both men and women. Many infertility clinics have mushroomed catering to these rising treatment requirements.

Infertility treatment includes drugs, surgery, and other assisted methods. Different treatment methods are recommended by infertility specialists depending on the nature and cause of your infertility. Drugs can help treat infertility to a great extent. In women it can normalizes irregular periods and other such issues; in men drugs can be administered for curing problems such as erectile dysfunction, less sperm count etc. Surgery can be successful if it can correct an internal flaw leading to infertility. More advanced methods include technologies includes IVF, artificial inseminations etc.

Friday, April 2, 2010

The in-Vitro Fertilization Procedure

In-vitro fertilization is the scientifically advanced method of fertilizing egg cells by sperms outside the womb. Genetically disordered and infertile couples can benefit from this procedure. To begin the treatment, a woman has to undergo laparoscopic surgery which is a part of in-vitro diagnostics. A laparoscope is inserted into the navel. More than one incision may be required for insertion of other instruments.

The in-vitro fertilization process is basically completed in five stages. The donor is given hormonal medications to retrieve multiple eggs to begin the process. Generally three classes of drugs are given during this period. The size of the egg follicles is determined using in-vitro diagnostics technique such as an ultrasound and blood testing. A needed is inserted into the vagina to suction out the mature egg follicles. A viable egg is placed in an incubator and later fertilized with the man’s sperm. The next stage of embryo transplant takes place after this procedure.