Aster's IVF and
Fertility Center

Infertility is defined as not being able to conceive naturally despite having regular intercourse for at least a year for most couples. It may result from an issue with either you or your partner, or a combination of factors that prevent pregnancy. In such a case, In vitro fertilization treatment may be recommended. IVF is a method of fertilizing egg with sperm outside the body to help women get pregnant.

You are recommended to consult an infertility specialist if you are a woman aged 35 or above, have irregular periods, painful periods, known fertile problems, undergone cancer treatment and had multiple miscarriages.

While men should talk to a doctor if they have low sperm count, undergone cancer treatment, small testiclesm, and family history of infertility problems.

The causes of male infertility include abnormal sperm production or function, problems with sperm ejection, overexposure to certain environmental factors and health problems affected due to cancer & treatments.

Some of the main risk factors of infertility in men and women are age, tobacco use, alcohol intake, being overweight, being underweight and lack of physical activity.

Infertility is not preventable in both men and women, but it can be managed with various strategies such as:

Limit drug, tobacco use and intake of too much alcohol, avoid high temperatures found in hot tubs and hot baths, do not take medications that affect fertility, exercise moderately, avoid exposure to environmental or industrial toxins, limit caffeine, quit smoking and manage ideal weight.

The causes of female infertility include ovulation disorders, uterine or cervical abnormalities, fallopian tube damage or blockage, endometriosis, cancer and its treatment, early menopause and pelvic adhesions.

Some of the side effects after IVF are Mild cramping, bloating, passing a small amount of fluid after the IVF procedure, breast tenderness and constipation.

The common risks associated with IVF procedure are nausea or vomiting, decreased urinary frequency, shortness of breath, faintness, severe stomach pain and bloating and weight gain within three to five days.

Egg retrieval typically takes under 30 minutes which is based on the number of follicles that are present. Since it is done under anesthesia, this process is not painful.

The procedure is usually painless and generally you might experience mild cramping. It is similar to intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure and you may feel only the speculum.

The success rate of IVF clinics depends on many factors including lifestyle, maternal age, reproductive history, the cause of infertility. However, pregnancy rates are not the same as live birth rates. IVF success rate for women under age 35 who start an IVF cycle is 40 percent, women above age 42 have 4 percent success rate.