What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) today seems like a household word. But a few years ago, it was considered as an inexplicable procedure for infertility that produced test-tube babies. Unlike artificial insemination, IVF is a procedure where and an egg and sperm is fertilized in a laboratory and thereafter, the embryo is placed inside the uterus.

What is the rationale for Infertility?

When it comes to infertility, IVF is considered as a boon for couples.

· Endometriosis

· Blockage in the fallopian tube

· Low sperm count

· Ovulation Problem

· Antibody harming sperm or eggs

· The inability of the sperm to survive in the cervical mucus

Doctors never consider IVF as the first resort to infertility rather it is reserved for cases in which other methods such as artificial insemination, fertility drugs, and surgery have not worked. If a couple thinks that IVF could be the right option then first check out some of the fundamental questions associated with IVF such as the pregnancy ratio per embryo transfer, rate of twins or multiple births, and procedure cost, besides others.

What could you anticipate from IVF?

The very first procedure involved with IVF is injecting hormones to produce multiple eggs instead of a single egg each month. Thereafter a test is done in order to make sure that she is ready for egg retrieval. If everything is fine then an additional injection is given to develop the developing eggs. Some blood testing may be done to ensure that eggs are at the right stage of development. Special instructions are given by the IVF facility that needs to be followed the night before and the day of the procedure.

During the practice, an ultrasound machine is used to put follicles in the ovary and take away from the ovary using a hollow needle. Patient is given local anesthesia while performing this procedure. The complete process takes about half an hour, but it may take more than half an hour. Once the egg is taken out safely from the ovary, it is fertilized with a sperm in the lab. Once this process is successfully done, couples can return home.

The fertilized egg is kept under observation to make sure optimal growth. It takes about 4-5 days for the embryo to develop into its advanced blastocyst stage. Once the embryo is ready, couples are asked to visit the clinic again so that the doctor can transfer the embryo into the woman’s uterus. A tube, called catheter is entered into the vaginal passage and cervix and the embryo is positioned inside the uterus. In order to increase the chance of fertility, many experts deposit more than 2 embryos into the uterus and that is why it sometimes increases the chance of multiple pregnancies. Once the procedure is completed, she is allowed to stay in bed for several hours and then discharged later. Once the embryo is successfully transferred, it is monitored by the doctor for about two to three weeks.

There are several factors that determine the success rate of In vitro fertilization such as the sperm count, and age, besides others. However, age is one of the major factors among all other factors. For example a 35 yrs old woman undergoing IVF has a chance of 39.6 percent as compared to a 40 years old woman undergoing IVF (11.5 percent).

10 Things You’ve Gotta Do While Trying to Get Pregnant

Parenthood is exciting, but a responsible affair as well. If you are willing to become a parent then it’s a great decision, but maintaining your physical and mental well being is crucial. Below, I have mentioned 10 important things that you need to keep in mind while getting pregnant.

1. Gain Weight: If you are skinny then this may cause trouble in your pursuit towards getting pregnant. All you need to do is to eat balanced diet – include more nutritious foods such as green veggies, fruits, eggs, meat, and nuts. A perfect body weight is not only important for getting pregnant, but also to avoid the risks of diseases such as diabetes and blood pressure.

2. No Bad Habit: Simply say No to alcohols and tobacco smoking. Simply reducing the intake of alcohols or smoking habit is not a good idea because that will not be sufficient in reducing the risks of cardiovascular problems and other mental disorders.

3. Travel: Visit some nice place because this will help soothe your body and mind and thus help in getting pregnant. It is also important because once you become pregnant your doctor may not allow you to travel.

4. Track Your Medicines: There are a few medicines that are not allowed during pregnancy, and if you are taking any such medications then talk to your doctor immediately. Your doctor may ask you to stop the medicine or give you some alternatives for the same.

5. Your Dental Hygiene: Dental hygiene is very important during pregnancy. Poor dental hygiene may cause premature birth due to the increase in bacterial infection. Consult a dental doctor for the same.

6. Pre-pregnancy consultation: Consult a doctor once you plan to have a baby. Pre-pregnancy consultation is important because you will know the different kinds of vaccinations that are needed before you conceive. In addition, the doctor gives you several tips and advices on how to get pregnant safely.

7. Genetic Testing: Like others, you will also want your baby to be healthy in terms of physical and mental well being. Genetic testing is done to find the possibility of having genetic disorders, if any.

8. Habitat: While trying to get pregnant, you must keep your surroundings toxic free. Maintain a good hygiene of your habitat.

9. Folic Acid Intake: Doctors often advice women to increase folic acid intake because it contains vitamin B that lowers the risk of spina bifida, a birth-related defect. These defects are seen earlier before she understands that she is pregnant. It is therefore important to include folic acid in the diet before getting pregnant and continue even you get pregnant. You can find folic acid in sources like spinach, cereals, and green leaves, to name but only a few. It is always advised to consult the doctor to know how much folic acid you need every day.

10. Calculate Ovulation: One of the best ways to know your ovulation day is to use a free ovulation calendar on the Internet. Fill out the digit asked and find your ovulation date and the most fertile day as well.

Pregnancy During 30s

Late marriages are very common in the urban society. Unlike rural or semi rural society, women in the urban world choose to marry in their 30’s. In medical terms, late marriage is not a good decision because it may cause several complications while trying to get pregnant or during pregnancy such as infertility, gestational diabetes, birth defects, etc. However, most urban women think that late marriage is a good decision because they get enough time to build a strong financial backup for their family and kids.

Financial stability is a must, but one cannot ignore the fact that late marriages are not good in terms of health and well being. Infertility is one of the major causes among women who try to get pregnant after 35 years of age. However, my personal opinion is that if you are happy in life and able to balance both the worlds systematically then no complications will occur. So, the moral of the story is that keep yourself happy and the rest will follow accordingly.

Different Pregnancy Tests

All types of pregnancy tests work by identifying a specific hormone in the blood or urine to confirm pregnancy. This specific hormone is called human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG – it is also known as the pregnancy hormone. This hormone is produced when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus and this happens about 6 days after fertilization. The amount of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone builds up in the body with each passing day of pregnancy.

There are two types of pregnancy tests – one tests the blood for hCG and the other checks the urine for hCG. However, the latter can be done at home as well and it is called home pregnancy test (HPT). In today’s time, many women go for HPT first because HPT’s are inexpensive, easy to use and personal as well. HPT’s are quite accurate if one uses it correctly. HPT test can tell about pregnancy one week after a missed period.

Doctors, on the other hand, use two types of blood tests to confirm pregnancy. Blood tests can identify hCG much earlier than urine tests. Blood test can tell a person about 6 to 8 days if she is pregnant. The beta hCG test measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood. On the other hand, a qualitative test is done to see if hCG is present in the blood or not.

How a home pregnancy test (HPT) is done?

There are several kinds of home pregnancy tests (HPTs), which can be found at various drug stores. They are inexpensive, but the cost depends on a particular brand. Most HPTs work in a similar principle. Many of them instruct the user to hold a strip in the urine stream, while others instruct the user to collect the urine in a cup and then drop it on the strip using a dropper. Wait for a few minutes and then inspect the result window. If a line or plus symbol appears, it means the user is pregnant. Most brands suggest users to repeat the test in a few days.

Are HPTs accurate?

HPTs can be accurate provided a woman has used them in the correct way. It is important to note that while buying the kit, one needs to check the expiry date and while using it – follow the instructions carefully. Many studies have suggested that waiting for 10 minutes will give the most accurate result. In addition, the accuracy also depends on when a woman uses the same. Since hCG hormone increases with time after pregnancy, using the kit earlier, means soon after a missed period would not be able to detect the test accurately. Most of the HPTs detect the hormone one week after a missed period.

Use Ovulation Calculator to Know the Most Fertile Days

Women, who know their ovulation date, conceive more easily than others. They can even tell the exact date of their conception. Either way, conception is a wonderful gift for any couple anywhere across the world. Well, if you are also curious about knowing about conception then it is important that you should have some fundamental knowledge about the same.

A woman conceives only when the egg fertilizes with the sperm inside the body. It is important to note that the average life of an egg is just 24 hours, while the average life of a sperm is about 24 to 48 hours. When ovulation takes place, the matured egg releases itself from the fallopian tube in order to fertilize with the sperm. Many studies have suggested that coition before ovulation is crucial to get pregnant.

If you want to know your most fertile date or ovulation date then you can access a number of free ovulation calculators online. Ovulation calculator can tell you the most probable date of your ovulation. Here I am using a simple calculator as an example. In this example, I have chosen the first day of your last menstrual as January 6, 2012, and your cycle length as 28 days.

In the following picture, you can see the exact date of ovulation, which is also considered as the most fertile date.

Use any online calculator to find your ovulation day. It is absolutely free on the web.

Trying to Get Pregnant?

Getting pregnant and having a baby are effortless for some couples, but there are many other couples who need quite a bit of time and luck. The following article discusses the various aspects of pregnancy including how fertilization occurs, how to detect ovulation, and some do's and don'ts to follow while trying to get pregnant.

Every month, a mature egg is released from the ovaries -- this event is called ovulation, which is influenced by some specific hormones from the pituitary gland. The ovulation generally falls on or around the 14th day of the average 28 day menstrual cycle. However, in many women, this cycle may exceed from 28 days. If a woman is not having a cycle of 28 days or is irregular, the ovulation timing will vary significantly, but usually comes about 14 days before the first day of the next period.

When ovulation occurs, the egg travels through the fallopian tube. The egg then waits for about 24 hours to fuse with the sperm. Since sperm cells can survive in the reproductive tract for about 3 to 5 days, it is always advised to have intercourse during these days leading up to ovulation if one is trying to get pregnant. If the egg meets the sperm, it is fertilized and travels to the uterus in about 4 days. In the uterus, it implants in the uterine lining. Once this process occurs, congratulations, she is pregnant! Her body will begin supporting the embryo and the menstrual cycle ceases during pregnancy. However, if the egg is not fertilized, it will break down to come out of the body as menstrual fluid.

How to detect ovulation? Suppose a woman is having a menstrual period of 28 days. Mark the first day of her menstrual period as day one, the days between 10 and 18 should be her most probable ovulation date. However, if one is not having a 28 day menstrual cycle, it is best to calculate how long her average cycle is, and have intercourse between 12 and 18 days before she expects her next menstrual period to start because this is the probable time she is most likely to ovulate.

In addition, there are other methods used for determining the ovulation period such as cervical mucus method, basal body temperature method, and digital ovulation monitors, among others. In case of cervical mucus method, the thickness of the cervical mucus is determined, which has been found to be somewhat clear and slippery in nature when ovulation occurs. However, in case of basal body temperature method, the temperature of the basal body is slightly higher after ovulation, which is usually between 0.5 and 1.6 degree Fahrenheit. A woman is considered as most fertile between 2 and 3 days before her temperature rises. On the other hand, a digital monitor monitors the levels of hormones in the urine and predicts the ovulation date. Besides, online ovulation calculator is also readily being used for the same by many Internet users.

In order to increase the chance of becoming pregnant -- have sex regularly all through the month and at least once a day near the time of ovulation. Continue a healthy lifestyle -- take balanced diet, exercise regularly, and stay happy, always. Avoid tobacco, smoking, and alcohol drinking habit. And consult with a doctor for any kind of medication. Keep all these important points in mind for getting pregnant.

Hot versus Cold Water

What will you prefer to drink – hot or cold water? Being universal solvent, water is essential for humans. But according to naturopath, drinking normal water, hot water and cold water has different effect on our body. First of all it should be noted that an individual must need to drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water daily. Water should always be drunk at normal temperature – neither too hot nor too cold.

If one drinks water at least 13 minutes before taking a meal then it helps cleanse the stomach and sends a signal to the brain that the stomach is empty and needs food. On the other hand, many people drink water while eating – this is not a good practice, as it fills the stomach and thus the eating potential decreases considerably. And people who drink water after the meal is again a good practice, as it helps in digestion.

Drinking cold water is good in stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes and in strengthening stomach muscles. However, drinking too much cold water is not good, as it leads to hypothermia.

So drink lots of water –at least 15 glasses, as I mentioned earlier and stay fit and healthy. Most of the common diseases start from the stomach, and therefore cleaning is essential to avoid them.