Category: IVF

What is Male Infertility? Causes and Symptoms Explained

Posted on by IRM

Sharing love, happiness and other moments of one’s life with near and dear ones is all but human nature. This is why people dream of starting a family. But for some couples this journey is not always straightforward. One common challenge in this regard is male infertility. This is a condition where a man has difficulty fathering a child. Let us explore this topic and learn how an infertility doctor in Kolkata recognises the signs.

Male Infertility: A Few Details

Male infertility is when a man’s reproductive system does not work properly thereby making it hard or impossible for him to help conceive a baby with his partner. It is a widespread issue all around the world. Studies show that male infertility is a factor in about 40 to 50% of infertility cases under the sun.

Infertility does not always mean a man cannot father a child at all. Sometimes, it just means that it is more difficult to do so without medical help. Luckily advanced treatments are available today, including male infertility treatment in Kolkata to help couples overcome these challenges.

Male Infertility: A List of Causes

Several factors can lead to male infertility. Let us take a closer look at the common causes:

Low Sperm Count

Sperm count is the number of sperm in a man’s semen. A healthy sperm count is typically more than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen. Anything below this is considered low, making it harder to fertilise an egg.

Poor Sperm Movement (Motility)

Even if a man produces enough sperm it needs to swim well to reach and fertilise the egg. Sperm with poor motility can’t move effectively, reducing the chances of conception.

Abnormal Sperm Shape (Morphology)

Sperm should have a specific shape to function correctly. If the sperm are oddly shaped they may not be able to fertilise an egg.

Medical Conditions

  • • Varicocele: Enlarged veins in the scrotum can lead to poor sperm quality.
  • • Hormonal Imbalances: Hormones like testosterone play a big role in sperm production. Low levels of these hormones might as well cause infertility.
  • • Infections: Some infections such as mumps or sexually transmitted infections or STIs can damage the reproductive organs.
  • • Genetic Disorders: Conditions like Klinefelter syndrome or others can affect sperm production.

Lifestyle Factors

Unhealthy habits can significantly impact fertility:

  • • Smoking and Alcohol: These can lower sperm quality as well as reduce fertility.
  • • Stress: Prolonged stress can disrupt hormone levels.
  • • Obesity: Excess body weight affects hormone balance and sperm production.
  • • Exposure to Toxins: Chemicals as well as pesticides along with radiation can harm sperm health.

Age

While men can father children later in life, fertility declines with age particularly after 40.

Recognising the Symptoms of Male Infertility

Male infertility doesn’t always come with obvious signs. Often couples only discover the issue when they struggle to conceive. Some symptoms can act as clues:

  • • Difficulty conceiving despite trying for over a year.
  • • Changes in sexual function such as a reduced sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection.
  • • Pain, swelling or lumps in the testicles.
  • • Decreased facial or body hair could signal hormonal issues.
  • • Abnormal semen such as reduced volume or unusual texture.

If you notice these signs, seeking help from an infertility doctor in Kolkata is a good first step toward understanding and addressing the issue.

Male Infertility in Numbers

  • • According to the World Health Organization (WHO) one in six couples faces fertility issues with male infertility playing a role in nearly half of these cases.
  • • Studies indicate that India accounts for around 15% of global infertility cases with urban areas seeing a rise due to lifestyle changes.
  • • Research suggests that in Kolkata more men are turning to modern treatments to overcome infertility challenges.

What’s Next? Hope Through Treatment

The good news is that male infertility is often treatable. Some of the most common male infertility treatments in Kolkata include:

Medications and Hormone Therapy

These are used to address hormonal imbalances or even treat infections that affect fertility.

Surgical Procedures

Conditions like varicocele can be corrected through surgery thereby improving sperm quality.

Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)

  • • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): Sperm is directly placed into the uterus to improve chances of fertilisation.
  • • In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): Sperm and eggs are combined in a lab and the resulting embryo is implanted into the uterus.
  • • Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): A single healthy sperm is injected into an egg to aid fertilisation.

Lifestyle Changes

Simple changes like quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and managing stress can make a big difference.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year without success, it’s time to consult an infertility doctor in Kolkata. They can guide you toward the right tests and treatments to improve your chances of starting a family.

Get in touch with us today!

Male infertility is a sensitive topic but one that deserves open conversations. Remember, you’re not alone—countless couples face similar challenges and find solutions with the help of modern medicine. If you’re in Kolkata, advanced treatments and experienced doctors are just a consultation away.

Winter and IVF: Does Cold Weather Affect Embryo Transfer?

Posted on by IRM

Every detail matters for couples undergoing fertility treatments. Everything is scrutinised in an attempt to ensure the best chance of success from diet to stress levels. But have you ever wondered if the season or weather has an impact on fertility treatments like IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)? With winter rolling in, let us explore if cold weather affects embryo transfer and how couples seeking the best IVF treatment in Kolkata can make the most of this season.

New to Embryo Transfer? Here are a few details!

Embryo transfer is a key step in the IVF process. Once fertilisation happens in the lab doctors carefully place the best-quality embryos into the uterus. This delicate process requires precision as well as a supportive environment within the body in other to maximise the chances of a successful pregnancy.

During winter there are concerns about the effects of colder temperatures on the body and IVF outcomes that might arise.

IVF Success Rates: Does Winter Have an Influence?

Research shows that weather changes can have a pretty subtle influence on our bodies. The amount of sunlight and temperature can affect hormone levels like melatonin and serotonin. These hormones can play a role in mood and reproductive health. These effects are not significant enough to impact the success of IVF directly. What matters most is the amount of care and expertise you receive at your fertility clinic in Kolkata.

There are some winter-related factors that might indirectly play a role:

Reduced Stress Levels:

Winter often brings a slower pace of life especially during the holidays. This can lower stress which has a positive impact on fertility. Studies suggest that reduced stress can improve the success of fertility treatments.

Comfortable Temperature:

While extreme heat can be challenging for the body, the cooler weather of winter is often more comfortable. It helps in maintaining a stable internal body temperature which is crucial during procedures like embryo transfer.

Seasonal Infections:

Winter is also flu season. For those who are undergoing IVF there is nothing more important than staying healthy. Any infection or fever can delay treatment or affect the ability of your body to support an embryo. Taking precautions like getting a flu shot and at the same time practising good hygiene can help in the long run.

The Role of Advanced Technology in IVF

Modern IVF techniques are highly advanced and carefully controlled regardless of the weather. The temperature in labs and clinics is always optimised to support embryo development.

At the best IUI clinic in Kolkata or an IVF centre the focus is on maintaining ideal conditions. For example:

  • • Embryos are cultured in incubators at a stable temperature of 37°C (similar to the human body).
  • •The transfer procedure is conducted in climate-controlled environments to prevent any external factors from influencing success rates.

Winter Care Tips for IVF Success

If you are planning an IVF treatment in Kolkata this winter here are some tips to make the most of the season:

Stay Warm but Not Overheated

Dress in layers if you wish to keep your body warm but avoid overheating which can disrupt your natural hormonal balance.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Winter is the perfect time when you can enjoy nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruits, leafy greens as well as nuts. A balanced diet boosts overall health which is vital during fertility treatments.

Manage Stress Levels

Take advantage of cosy winter evenings to relax. Meditation as well as gentle yoga or even spending time with loved ones can improve your mental well-being.

Statistics: IVF Success in Winter vs Other Seasons

While more studies are needed to establish a direct link between weather and IVF outcomes some research has hinted at slight variations:

  • • A study conducted in Japan found that pregnancy rates were slightly higher during spring and autumn. However, winter success rates were still comparable, proving that factors like clinic quality and individual health matter more than the season.
  • • Globally the average success rate for IVF per cycle is around 30-40% for women under 35. Choosing the best IVF treatment in Kolkata can improve your chances.

Why Kolkata Is Ideal for IVF Treatments

If you are looking for a reliable fertility clinic in Kolkata winter is a great time to start your journey. Kolkata’s top clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that can ensure optimal conditions for embryo transfer alongside overall fertility care.

Reasons to Choose Kolkata for IVF:

  • • Highly skilled fertility specialists.
  • • Advanced technologies that ensure high success rates.
  • • Personalised treatment plans at clinics like IRM Kolkata designed to suit individual needs.

Take the First Step Today!

Winter doesn’t negatively affect embryo transfer or IVF success rates. It might even offer certain benefits like reduced stress as well as comfortable weather. Winter could be the perfect season to take this life-changing step with the help of an experienced fertility team besides proper self-care.

If you are ready to start your journey then it is best to explore options for the best IVF treatment in Kolkata or the best IUI clinic in Kolkata. Remember that with the right support and guidance every season can be a season of hope as well as new beginnings. Looking for trusted fertility care? Contact IRM Kolkata – a leading name in IVF treatment in Kolkata dedicated to turning dreams into reality one family at a time.

All You Need To Know About The Legal Age Limit For Undergoing IVF In India

Posted on by IRM

IVF treatment is an advanced reproductive technology and is gaining popularity, which is why IRM has come up with this blog to offer you valuable insight about the age limitations and various other factors that might impact IVF treatment. IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) is a ray of hope for many childless couples. It is vital to know about the legal age limit and guidelines regarding IVF treatment in India before you make a decision.

The Importance Of IVF

It is a process where the sperm and the egg are combined outside the human body, and the resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus.

Things That Influence The Age Limit

Ovarian Reserve

This refers to the quality and number of eggs that diminish with age. Younger females have a higher ovarian reserve, and this increases the chances of a successful IVF. Thus, the earlier you seek IVF treatment, the better it is!

Health And Fitness

Your overall health and fitness levels play a vital role in the success of IVF treatments. While older people with health issues might face health-related issues affecting fertility and pregnancy, younger people are fitter and have better chances of conceiving.

Medical Advancements

The upgrade of fertility treatments have helped older women to conceive via IVF, especially with the use of donor eggs. Nevertheless, this kind of procedure is not simple, and only reputed healthcare professionals can handle the risk factors that come along.

Age Limitation For IVF Treatment In India

Legal Restrictions

Under legal guidelines, the age of a woman undergoing this treatment should be between 21 and 50 years, while the male partner needs to be between 21 and 55 years of age.

Maximum Age For IVF

If a woman is using her own eggs, then the maximum age limit should be around 45 years. If the female is using donor eggs, then the age limit of the female can go up to 50. For men, the maximum age limit is 55 years.

Minimum Age For IVF

The minimum age limit for both men and women is 21 years, as this ensures both partners are legally adults and can take informed decisions about the fertility treatments.

Ideal Age For IVF

The best age for a successful IVF treatment is between 25 and 35 years, as during this period women have a higher ovarian reserve and the egg quality is also better, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Frequently Asked Questions On The Legal Age Limit In India For IVF Treatment

Are There Any Special Circumstances Where The Age Limit For IVF Treatment In India Can Be Exceeded?

Rarely do exceptions to age limits occur, usually only being taken into account in special situations. Consulting with a skilled fertility specialist at IRM is essential to comprehend and understand the available options.

Is It Possible For Women Above The Age Of 50 To Have IVF Treatment In India?

Females who are older than 50 years old can receive IVF with donated eggs, as long as they meet the health and fitness requirements established by the fertility centre.

Is There Any Penalty Or Punishment For Surpassing The Age Limit For IVF Treatment?

Even though there is no defined punishment for going over the age limit, it is essential to adhere to the rules to ensure the safety and welfare of both the mother and baby.

How Does The Team At IRM Provide Assistance To Elderly Couples Seeking IVF?

The IRM team offers tailored attention and state-of-the-art fertility options to assist elderly couples. They provide thorough assessments and customized treatment strategies to enhance success rates while prioritizing patient safety and well-being.

Know How Lifestyle Factors Can Affect Your Fertility: IRM Decodes It All for You!

Posted on by IRM

Whenever someone is struggling with fertility, the first question that comes to their mind is, “Am I doing anything wrong?” The answer to this question is extremely difficult, as many factors contribute to infertility, and one of the main ones is genetic. However, genetics only load the gun; diet and lifestyle pull the trigger!

Yes, at times lifestyle choices can be the main culprit for your inability to conceive. In this blog, we would be discussing the lifestyle factors that might be holding you back from becoming a happy parent.

Age Affects Fertility

We cannot control age, but as the biological clock goes on ticking, your chances of conceiving get more challenging. As women age, the quantity and quality of the eggs start to decline. Fewer eggs are released, and the remaining ones might have genetic abnormalities. It’s a misconception that women lose only one egg each month, whereas as per studies, women roughly lose around 30 eggs daily, and with high-end fertility medications from IRM, you can retrieve only a certain number of these eggs.

However, not to forget, quality is also vital, as a 30-year-old woman has around 75% of eggs chromosomally normal, while a 35-year-old woman has 50%, and at the age of 40, it’s about 25%.

Men are not immune to these age-related changes. With age, the sperm quality also goes down and affects fertility. Starting a family early can impact fertility positively, and waiting until later in life can reduce the chances of a successful conception.

Weight and Nutrition Affect Fertility

Obesity and poor dietary choices might not be directly linked with fertility, but they can have a negative impact on your fertility. This is because most of the overweight and obese population make poor nutrition choices, which can potentially hinder fertility. Weight and nutrition issues are a result of lifestyle factors, and some are caused by genetics and others by medical conditions, both of which need to be approached in an appropriate manner.

We suggest you start a diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins that support reproductive health. Iron and zinc play a major role in egg and sperm development. Choose healthy fats coming from nuts, avocados, and olive oil over saturated fats—but do so in moderation.

Excess body fat affects ovulation, sperm count, and quality, which means maintaining an ideal body weight can promote reproductive health and minimize treatment complications of IVF. However, at IRM we have successfully helped overweight couples and individuals conceive through IVF. This brings us to the next part, and that is, being underweight can affect fertility to a great extent! Being underweight can disrupt hormonal balance and lead to irregular menstrual cycles, thereby minimizing your chances of conception.

Exercise Impacting Fertility

While regular exercise promotes good health, excessive workouts can disrupt hormonal balance and affect ovulation in women. IRM recommends women who are planning to conceive should limit their exercise to less than 60 minutes a day and less than 5 hours a week! On the flip side, a completely sedentary life affects fertility, as without exercise people tend to be overweight and obese, which have their own implications affecting fertility. A healthy exercise routine with aerobic and strength training workouts needs to be encouraged before, during, and even after pregnancy.

Stress and Its Effects On Fertility

While stress alone cannot lead to infertility, a long history of anxiety and depression can cause trouble conceiving naturally and even lead to complications during your IVF treatment. While this issue has not been fully studied, staying stress-free ensures better health and can help you take care of your overall being, which again can lead to increased fertility and a better chance of conceiving naturally or through IVF, whichever you choose!

Substance Abuse and Its Impact on Fertility

Certain things that go inside your body can affect reproductive health and reduce the chances of conceiving.

Smoking: Cigar smoking reduces fertility in both women and men as it damages eggs, sperm, and the uterus lining and also disrupts hormonal production. We suggest if you are serious enough to embrace parenthood, consider quitting this habit!

Alcohol: As per studies in Harvard Health, women who drank more than 7 drinks a week saw a 7% reduction in chances of conception as opposed to women who do not drink at all. For the male brigade, the number stands at 9%!

Illicit Drugs: LSD, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamines severely disrupt menstrual cycles in women, and many prescription drugs are responsible for low sperm count and can lower total seminal fluid in drug users, leading to low testosterone as well.

Irregular menstruation throws the cycle off balance, affecting hormones and tingling up the fertility journey. With a low sperm count, there are reduced chances of a sperm meeting the egg. Due to these reasons, recreational drugs are best avoided when you are trying to start a family.

Change Your Lifestyle to Optimize Fertility With IRM By Your Side

Your lifestyle choices have an impact on your reproductive health. However, just blindly following a diet and exercise routine might not help. Connect with the healthcare professionals at IRM to get more clarity on your fertility journey. We understand that every individual or couple is different and offer you a customized approach towards your journey of parenthood.

Is IVF Treatment Causing Stress? Here Are A Few Ways Singles And Couples Can Handle The Testing Times

Posted on by IRM

IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, can be extremely emotionally challenging for both singles and couples. IVF treatment has its ups and downs as you walk into unknown territory anxiously. So, if you are dealing with emotional stress, then this article will help you tread smoothly along the path.

Understanding the basics of IVF

IVF stands for in vitro fertilisation, which is a medical procedure that helps singles and other people get pregnant. In this procedure, the sperm and the egg undergo fertilisation outside the body in a laboratory.

Anxious and feeling the lows of life

  • Recognizing the stress factors: IVF can at times take you on a roller coaster ride with plenty of highs and lows, which is why it is necessary to understand the unique stress factors it might cause. You and your partner might go through a lot of feelings and easily get anxious, worried, disappointed, and desolate. However, as the world is surviving on hope, it would be a wise decision not to fall for negativity and fight out the negative emotions. Realise that such feelings come and go, while the treatment can give you results when followed with the help of a trained and certified doctor.
  • Stress and a feeling of hopelessness can affect your fertility: IVF treatment cannot be affected by emotional stress, but your levels of fertility can further dip. IVF treatments do fail at times, but a strong couple or an adamant single would go for repeated attempts until they reached success. While it’s easier said than done, doing yoga, journaling, meditation, and reading can help a lot to navigate through stressful situations.

Dealing with stress during your IVF treatment

Now that we are talking about the mental challenges faced during IVF, here are some tips that singles and couples can embrace that would help them in the IVF treatment and navigate through the process peacefully.

  • Talk about the issue bothering you: Talking and sharing your feelings with your partner or friend can help you navigate through the emotional upheavals faced during IVF. This releases stress and helps you develop a deeper bond with the other person.
  • Ask help from a professional: Go for therapy sessions or speak to a counsellor about your experiences and share how you can control the negativity from pouring in. Professional help can help you deal with mental problems and also provide useful information when it comes to IVF treatment and stress associated with it.
  • Self care is a must: It’s important to take care of yourself during this phase. Participate in activities that keep you happy and calm. Self care can help to deal with stress. Indulge in activities like walking, exercising, reading a book etc.
  • Get in touch with support and help groups: Joining any IVF support group can help you a lot. People going through the same phase and battling the same negative emotions can help you feel better and a great bonding might develop to lift each other up. IRM often sets up such kinds of activities and support groups where people meet, interact and finds a safe place to be in!
  • Be reasonable: It’s great to be optimistic but also realistic. IVF can work exceptionally yet there may be times, it might fail. Realising this, it is important to keep stress at bay and confide in your healthcare professional when things don’t work out as expected.

At IRM – We understand that mental health is as important as physical well-being

At IRM, the team of doctors are compassionate yet knowledgeable and qualified enough to help you with the IVF procedure without losing the humane touch. Our team understands that IVF can be hard on people and helps to create a supportive atmosphere for individuals and couples going through IVF. Connect with our team and start your parenthood journey now!