Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common queries about our services, appointments, and patient resources for a seamless healthcare experience.
Laparoscopy
In most cases, yes. Laparoscopic surgery is often used to improve fertility. However, your chances of getting pregnant will depend on your specific condition and procedure, which your doctor will explain.
Yes, a follow-up appointment is typically scheduled about a month after surgery to ensure you are healing well and to address any concerns.
Risks are rare but can include infection, bleeding, or injury to surrounding organs. Your surgeon will take every precaution to minimise these risks.
Your abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide during surgery. It is then let out at the end of the surgery, but some amount of carbon dioxide may remain within the abdomen, which sometimes causes a bit of irritation to the diaphragm. This causes a referred pain to the shoulder. It is usually temporary and can be managed with medications and a change in position.
Most patients can return to light work within a week or two. However, it depends on the type of surgery and your job. Major surgeries may require you to resume heavy activities only after 3-4 weeks. It’s best to consult your doctor before resuming any activities.
You will be under anesthesia during the procedure, so you won’t feel pain. After the surgery, you may have some discomfort or mild pain, which can be managed with medications. Young patients may experience some shoulder pain.
Follicular Monitoring
Women with Irregular Menstrual Cycles: To determine if and when they are ovulating.
Couples Trying to Conceive: Particularly those experiencing difficulties with natural conception.
Women Undergoing Fertility Treatments: To optimise the timing for procedures like IUI and IVF.
Women with Conditions Affecting Fertility: Such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other ovulatory disorders.
Precision in Fertility Treatments: It allows for accurate timing of procedures like IUI and IVF, increasing the chances of conception.
Better Understanding of Ovulation: It provides detailed information about a woman’s ovulatory cycle, which is essential for planning conception.
Customised Treatment Plans: Monitoring helps in tailoring fertility treatments according to the individual’s response.
Early Detection of Issues: It can identify ovulatory problems early, allowing for timely intervention.
You will have access to a neat washroom where you can remove your lower clothes and a disposable covering sheet will also be provided. Once ready you will be requested to lie down on the examination table with your legs supported on stirrups. With your consent, the doctor will introduce the transvaginal probe and conduct the follicular monitoring. A secondary monitor is also available for you to watch the scan process.
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Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI)
During IUI, the procedure is quick and usually pain-free. You will lie on an exam table, and a doctor will use a thin, flexible catheter to insert the prepared sperm directly into your uterus. The process takes just a few minutes, and afterward, you may be asked to rest for a short period. You might experience mild cramping, but most women can resume normal activities shortly after the procedure.
The IUI procedure itself takes only a few minutes. However, the entire process, including preparation, takes around 1-2 weeks. This includes tracking your ovulation, preparing the sperm sample, and scheduling the insemination. After the procedure, you’ll wait about two weeks before taking a pregnancy test.
Yes, IUI can work, but its success depends on several factors such as age, the cause of infertility, and whether fertility medications are used. While IUI can improve the chances of pregnancy, success rates vary. For many, it’s a first-line treatment before trying more invasive options like IVF. Success rate of IUI ranges from 10-20% per cycle depending on the various factors mentioned above.
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination): Sperm is placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. It’s less invasive, simpler, and more affordable than IVF but often less effective.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation): Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilised with sperm in a lab, and the resulting embryos are placed into the uterus. IVF is more invasive, costly, and has a higher success rate, particularly for women with more severe infertility issues.
1. Ovulation Tracking: The first step is monitoring your ovulation through ultrasounds and blood tests. Some women may need fertility medications to stimulate egg production.
2. Semen Sample: Your partner will provide a semen sample on the day of the procedure, or donor sperm will be thawed and prepared.
3. Healthy Habits: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking or alcohol, can improve the chances of success.
IUI is generally not painful. Some women experience mild discomfort, cramping, or slight spotting after the procedure, similar to what you may feel during a routine pelvic exam. Any discomfort is usually temporary, and most women can resume their daily activities immediately after the procedure.
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In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
The success rate of IVF varies depending on factors such as the woman’s age, cause of infertility, and overall health. On average, success rates are around 40-45% per cycle.
Women 35-40: The success rate decreases to about 30-40% per cycle.
Women over 40: Success rates drop further to 10-20% per cycle.
However, the rates vary depending on other factors as well, and multiple cycles may be necessary for success.
The entire IVF process typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks from the start of the ovarian stimulation to the embryo transfer. Here’s a general timeline breakdown:
1.Ovarian Stimulation (10-14 days): Fertility medications are given to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. During this time, frequent monitoring through blood tests and ultrasounds is done to track progress.
2.Egg Retrieval (1 day): Once the eggs have matured, they are collected in a minor surgical procedure, usually within 36 hours after administering a “trigger shot” to release the eggs.
3.Fertilisation and Embryo Development (3-5 days): After the eggs are retrieved, they are fertilised in a lab, and the embryos are observed for several days to ensure healthy development.
4.Embryo Transfer (3-5 days after retrieval): One or more healthy embryos are transferred into the woman’s uterus. This is usually done between 3-5 days after fertilisation.
5.Pregnancy Test (10-14 days after transfer): Approximately two weeks after the embryo transfer, a blood test is done to confirm whether pregnancy has occurred.
In total, you can expect the IVF process to span about 6 weeks, though the exact duration may vary depending on individual circumstances and how your body responds to treatment.
Bloating and Cramping: Common after egg retrieval or during ovarian stimulation.
Spotting or Discomfort: Some light spotting or pelvic discomfort can occur after egg retrieval or embryo transfer.
Mood Swings: Hormonal treatments can cause mood swings, fatigue, or irritability.
OHSS Symptoms: In rare cases, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome can cause bloating, nausea, and abdominal pain.
Emotional Stress: The IVF process can be emotionally taxing, especially during the waiting period for results.
Sperm Freezing
The success rate of sperm freezing is high, with most sperm samples surviving the freezing and thawing process. The fertility success rate using frozen sperm varies depending on several factors, including the man’s age and the quality of the sperm before freezing. On average, 50-70% of sperm survive the freezing and thawing process. Pregnancy rates using frozen sperm are similar to those achieved with fresh sperm in fertility treatments.
Sperm can be stored frozen for indefinitely long periods without significant loss in viability. Studies have shown that sperm can be successfully used after being frozen for over 20 years. After storage, when you’re ready to use the sperm, it will be thawed and used in fertility treatments such as IUI or IVF. If you no longer wish to store the sperm, you may choose to have it discarded or donated, depending on the regulations of your country or clinic.
Egg Freezing
The ideal age for egg freezing is in the 20s to early 30s when egg quality and quantity are at their peak. While egg freezing can be done later, the success rates of using frozen eggs decrease with age due to the natural decline in egg quality after age 35.
Eggs can be stored frozen indefinitely without significant loss in quality. Eggs frozen for over 10 years have successfully resulted in pregnancies. When you are ready to conceive, the eggs will be thawed, fertilised using IVF, and the resulting embryos can be transferred to the uterus.
Embryo Freezing: For women with a partner or those using donor sperm, freezing embryos instead of eggs may be an alternative, as embryos generally survive the freezing and thawing process better than unfertilized eggs.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing: In some cases, ovarian tissue can be frozen and reimplanted later to restore fertility.
Adoption or Egg Donation: Some women choose to pursue adoption or use donor eggs if egg freezing is not an option or if it’s unsuccessful.The chances of a successful pregnancy depend on several factors, including the woman’s age at the time of egg freezing, the number of eggs retrieved, and overall health. On average, frozen eggs have a similar success rate as fresh eggs when used in fertility treatments.
Women under 35: The success rate per frozen egg can range from 5-20%, with higher chances if more eggs are frozen.
Women over 35: Success rates may decline, making it important to freeze more eggs.
The number of eggs recommended for freezing depends on age and fertility goals. In general:
Women under 35: Aim to freeze 10-20 eggs to increase the chances of one successful pregnancy.
Women over 35: May need to freeze more eggs due to a decline in egg quality and quantity, so freezing 20 or more eggs is often suggested.
Egg freezing is a viable option for pre-menopausal women who wish to preserve their fertility before age-related decline or medical treatments. It is particularly useful for women in their late 20s to early 30s but can also benefit those in their mid to late 30s, depending on their ovarian reserve and overall reproductive health.
Embryo Freezing
The success rate of thawing frozen embryos is generally high, with 90-95% of embryos surviving the thawing process when modern vitrification techniques are used. The overall success of using thawed embryos for pregnancy depends on factors such as the woman’s age at the time of embryo creation and the quality of the embryos.
Embryos can remain frozen for indefinite periods without a significant decline in viability. Some embryos have successfully led to pregnancies even after being frozen for more than 20 years. Most fertility clinics follow guidelines and recommend annual updates on whether the embryos should continue to be stored or used.
Hysteroscopy
Recovery is usually quick. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two. If a treatment was performed during the hysteroscopy, your recovery time may be slightly longer.
Hysteroscopy is often used to treat conditions that may improve fertility, such as removing uterine polyps or adhesions. In most cases, it does not negatively affect fertility.
Most patients can return to work the next day or within a couple of days, depending on how they feel and the extent of the procedure performed.
Risks are rare but can include infection, bleeding, or injury to the uterus. Your doctor will explain these risks and how they will be minimised during the procedure.
Yes, a follow-up visit is typically scheduled to review the results, check on your recovery, and discuss any next steps in your treatment plan.
It’s usually recommended to avoid scheduling hysteroscopy during your period. The best time for the procedure is often after your period has ended, when the uterus lining is thin, allowing for better visibility. But if the situation required immediate surgery, it can be performed irrespective of the menstrual bleeding.