On 27th June, 2018, Cloudnine conducted a live Tweetinar on Impact of Age & Repeated IVF Cycles on Pregnancy on its Twitter handle @CloudnineCare. It was led by Dr. Sathya Balasubramanyam, Fertility Specialist at Cloudnine Hospital, T Nagar, Chennai. The Tweetinar touched on a bouquet of topics related to assisted reproduction and fertility. Here are some of its highlights.
Specialist Details: Dr. Sathya Balasubramanyam
Specialty: Fertility
Clinical Focus and Expertise: Infertility evaluation, infertility treatment, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), high-risk pregnancy care
Book an Appointment with Dr. Sathya Balasubramanyam for fertility related concerns.
Thyroid malfunction may affect sperm mobility. However, this usually only impacts natural conception. IVF remains unaffected.
After 3-4 cycles, the probability of conception drops to about 15%. In such cases, it is best to scan the embryo beforehand for genetic abnormalities.
The quality of semen reduces after the age of 40. Conditions like autism are more common in babies with fathers aged 40 or above, during conception.
Repeated IVF cycles can diminish the ovarian reserves at a faster rate. As far as hormones go, other than AMH, there is no other significant hormonal impact. Also, there's nothing stopping women with hypothyroidism from undergoing repeated IVF cycles.
There are risks of a preterm delivery and a multiple pregnancy. Also, sperm and egg reserves may become diminished in quality.
The average success rate of IVF lies somewhere between 35-40% per embryo transfer, if the woman is below 38. If she is above 38, then the success rate falls in proportion with age.
A multiple pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation are some potential side effects of IVF.
IVF takes more of a mental toll than a physical one. Up to 5 cycles are considered perfectly safe for a woman; there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.
You may experience some interruptions to your routine, like frequent clinic visits and abstinence from sexual intercourse.
IVF is not advisable if a woman is over 45 years of age or if the uterus is irreversibly damaged. Also, if both male and female gametes are depleted, a couple can choose to undergo the IVF process with a donated gamete.
No, there is no such evidence.
Chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, endometrium not being receptive, embryo falling outside the uterus after transplantation are some possible reasons.
The earliest one should take a pregnancy test is 12-16 days after an IVF transfer.
More than anything, they may affect you psychologically. Practise stress-relieving activities before and between procedures.
There is no such medical evidence.
We suggest that you have very realistic expectations. It is important to practise stress management before taking on a cycle.
One cycle lasts up to 2-3 weeks.
Life will be normal if you live it that way! Opt for counselling to overcome psychological issues.
The number of IVF cycles has no bearing on birth defects.
Causes must be looked at. Preimplantation genetic screening is advisable to rule out chromosomal anomalies.
Labs where embryos are grown require a controlled environment with respect to temperature, pH and humidity. If all these factors are up to the mark, the odds of a successful cycle increase.
Women should ideally be below 45, and men, below 50.
After the third IVF cycle, the chances of a successful outcome start declining.
There's only a 25% chance of multiples, but this risk can be minimised by performing a single embryo transfer.
It can take several weeks for the implantation process to complete.
Between frozen embryo cycles, a break isn't required. Between fresh embryo cycles, a break of one month is recommended.
You can either donate them to a couple or for research, or discard them.
Physical health may be impacted by ovarian hyperstimulation, a rare complication of IVF. Emotional wellbeing may be affected and can be managed with the help of counselling sessions.
Major health risks and age (over 45) may serve to disqualify a woman from IVF. Qualifying criteria typically include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), blocked fallopian tubes, stage 3-4 endometriosis and previously failed IUI cycles.
The ideal age is 35 or under.
Embryo transfer doesn't require any anaesthesia; however, a sedation may be given in some cases. During the egg retrieval process, local anesthesia is administered. Neither procedure is painful.
Obesity reduces the chances of conception and increases the risk of premature delivery and diabetes.
First, it is important to know if your husband is also a carrier. If yes, then the embryo transferred should be checked so that the baby doesn't get affected.
The cost hinges on various factors including your medical background and body mass index (BMI).
According to guidelines provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research, they can be stored up to 5 years.
The ovarian reserve starts depleting after the age of 30. Hence, age plays a crucial role in determining a successful IVF outcome.
AMH declines with age. This depletion becomes more pronounced after the age of 30.
Lifestyle changes and medication are recommended.
In 5% of cases, miscarriages are unexplained. In the future, you may want to opt for preimplantation genetic screening of the embryo. As a last resort, you may want to consider surrogacy.
Lifestyle modifications are a good place to start. For treatment, ovulation induction, followed by intrauterine insemination may be suggested. IVF may be advised as a last resort.
The best option is to undergo bariatric surgery and then think about IVF treatment. Consult your doctor to seek a surgical course of action.
Yes, frozen embryos are just as good as fresh ones. Rest assured, your chances of conception are high!
Getting pregnant may be difficult at 40, thanks to a low egg count. The chances of miscarriage and chromosomal anomalies are also higher.
Try IUI as a first step. If you do not see results within three cycles, you can always move to IVF. Also, have your husband's sperm tested for DNA fragmentation.
There may be several causes: hyperprolactinaemia, premature ovarian dysfunction, rapid weight gain or weight loss.
It's possible, depending on the stage of endometriosis.
Your fallopian tubes may have got blocked after your abortion. Have them checked to rule out a blockage.
If you have a regular cycle, timing intercourse between the 14th and 20th days is advisable.
A conclusion can only be drawn based on a thorough evaluation.
With a single healthy tube, your chances of natural conception are still good!
Since you are over 35, try assisted reproductive methods.
This may be a case of unexplained infertility. If you have been married for more than 3 years, IUI may be a suitable option.
Consider a hysteroscopy to evaluate the lining in greater depth. Also, test for tuberculosis. If all is well, you can be administered platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to improve your lining.
A third IVF cycle, as is, won't help. First, opt for preimplantation genetic screening to rule out genetic anomalies in the embryo.
Septum removal might help. If that still doesn't work, consider fertility treatment.
High ANA levels are indicative of immune disease. Consult a rheumatologist to assess the possibility of an autoimmune condition. Then, you can move to assisted reproduction.
Must read - Superfoods That Help Your Success Rate In IVF.
