| Q. |
What is
infertility? |
| Q. |
Is it
necessary to wait for 2 years before going for investigations? |
| Q. |
What
are the normal chances of getting pregnant? |
| Q. |
Is it possible
to know the cause in all patients? |
| Q. |
How
common is infertility? |
| Q. |
Is the
Male partner also responsible for infertility? |
| Q. |
How is
it confirmed that the problem is in male partner? |
| Q. |
What
are the causes which can lead to infertility in males? |
| Q. |
Is male
infertility a treatable condition? |
| Q. |
What
can be done if there is total absence of sperm? |
| Q. |
What
are the chances of success after Artificial Insemination (A.I)? |
| Q. |
What
are the causes of infertility in a women? |
| Q. |
How
are the causes diagnosed? |
| Q. |
What
treatment can be given to women? |
| Q. |
What
can be done if these treatments do not help or in cases of unexplained
infertility? |
| Q. |
What
is the age limit for treatment? |
| Q. |
Are
all the couples finally able to achieve pregnancy? |
| Q. |
What
Should be done for prevention of infertility? |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Q.
|
What is infertility? |
|
Ans.
|
Not being able to
get pregnant after trying for it for 2 years is taken as infertility. If
the age of women is more, even one year of unprotected intercourse
without getting pregnant is taken to be as a case of infertility. |
|
|
| Q. |
Is it necessary to
wait for 2 years before going for investigations? |
|
Ans.
|
If there are no
other problems then its is prudent to wait but if there are other
problems like menstrual irregularity, problem in intercourse then one
should go to a doctor sooner. |
|
|
| Q. |
What are the normal
chances of getting pregnant? |
|
Ans.
|
In a healthy young
couple, the chances of getting pregnant is 25% per month. |
|
|
| Q. |
It is possible to
know the cause in all patients? |
|
Ans.
|
No, depending upon
how intensively the couple has been investigated, the causes remain
unknown in 10-30% of cases and these are termed as cases of unexplained
infertility. |
|
|
| Q. |
How common is
infertility? |
|
Ans.
|
Almost 10% of couple
fail to produce a child after staying together for 2 years |
|
|
| Q. |
Is the Male partner
also responsible for infertility? |
|
Ans.
|
Yes. in almost 50%
of the patients suffering from infertility, the fault lies in the male
partner. |
|
|
| Q. |
How is it confirmed
that the problem is in male partner? |
|
Ans.
|
It is very easily
done with the examination of semen, in which the count of spermatozoa
tells about the males fertility potential. |
|
|
| Q. |
What are the causes
which can lead to infertility in males? |
|
Ans.
|
In most of the cases
the cause is unknown. In few it is due to infection like sexually
transmitted diseases (S.T.D), Mumps or Chicken pox. In some it is due to
trauma or surgery on abdomen or groins, in some it is congenital and in
few it is psychological. |
|
|
| Q. |
Is male infertility a
treatable condition? |
|
Ans.
|
There is no such
drug, which increases the sperm count though many drugs are tried as
shot in the dark. Only in a handful of cases giving hormones, which were
lacking in the male is helpful. In other cases help is taken from
artificial reproductive technique like Intra Uterine Insemination after
semen wash, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
or Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). |
|
|
|
| Q. |
What can be done if there is
total absence of sperm? |
|
Ans.
|
Bypass surgery is
helpful in occasional cases. Drugs are also successful in few cases, but
ultimately donor insemination is done as a last resort. |
|
|
| Q. |
What
are the chances of success after Artificial Insemination (A.I)? |
|
Ans.
|
10-15% women are
expected to get pregnant in each cycle of treatment. By the end of
sixth cycle of treatment 60% and by 12th cycle almost 80% of the women
do get pregnant. |
|
|
| Q. |
What are the causes
of infertility in a women? |
|
Ans.
|
The causes are many
ranging form decreased or total failure of egg production, block in the
fallopian tubes, tuberculosis of the genital organs, poor quality of
fluid at the month of womb and ignorance about the fertile period or the
sexual act itself. |
|
|
| Q. |
How are the causes
diagnosed? |
|
Ans.
|
Apart from history
and physical examinations, help is taken of Ultrasound, X-rays,
Laparoscopy, Cervical mucus test, Endometiral biopsy, Hormones etc to
know the cause. |
|
|
| Q. |
What treatment can be
given to women? |
|
Ans.
|
Treatment is
according to cause like giving egg producing drugs, treating tubal block
by microsurgery, antibiotics for infection etc. |
|
|
| Q. |
What can be done if
these treatments do not help or in cases of unexplained infertility? |
|
Ans.
|
IUI
with semen wash is done in these cases for 4 to 6 months. If
unsuccessful then IVF (Test
Tube Baby) is done. |
|
|
| Q. |
What is the age limit
for treatment? |
|
Ans.
|
Now there is no age
limit as even older women can be treated with oocyte donation from
younger women. But usually fertility decreases after 37 years so
treatment should be completed before that age. |
|
|
| Q. |
Are all the couples
finally able to achieve pregnancy? |
|
Ans.
|
No, about 10% of the
infertile couple fail to achieve pregnancy despite advance form of
treatment till the end of their reproductive life. Adoption is an
alternative in these couples. |
|
|
| Q. |
What should be done
for prevention of infertility? |
|
Ans.
|
Education about
reproduction and Sexually Transmitted Disease goes a long way in
preventing infertility. Very late marriage should be avoided. Too much
time should not be wasted before getting medical help and when
treatment is begun the therapy should be completed in a short
period of time. |
