Fertility Treatment
Fertility Treatment
Fertility Treatment
There are various assisted reproductive techniques that are available. The following are some
treatment options available:
PRE-TREATMENT ASSESSMENT
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Pre-Treatment Assessment>
To start your family journey, please make an appointment with our fertility specialist.
Consultation:
Our fertility specialist will diagnose any fertility issues you might have, and offer relevant
treatment options. Diagnostic tests include ultrasound and blood tests. Treatment options may
also include medication and further procedures.
Counselling:
Our nurse will explain the treatment cycle, medications and the number of visits needed for
blood tests and ultrasound. We also offer support to couples through an emergency hotline
service which is manned by our qualified nurses.
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Semen analysis is the most common male fertility test. Semen analysis analyzes how healthy a
man’s sperm is. Semen is the fluid containing sperm that’s released during male ejaculation.
A semen analysis measures three major factors of sperm health:
Sperm count (the number of sperms)
Motility (the ability of a sperm to move)
Morphology (size and shape of the sperm)
A semen analysis is often recommended when couples are having problems getting pregnant.
The test will help a doctor determine if a man is infertile. The analysis will also help determine if
low sperm count or sperm dysfunction is the reason behind male infertility. With this, a
treatment plan will be tailored for the couple.
Preparing for Semen Analysis
At Thomson Fertility Centre, we have a private room for you to produce the sample or you can
produce the sample at home in a sterile container provided by us or by your referring clinic and
deliver it to us. Do note that you need to get the sample to the laboratory within one hour after
ejaculation as the quality of the semen will be compromised thereafter.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
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Holistic Approach>
Our holistic management of fertility treatment, enables patients to explore options towards
natural conception before treatment options with IVF are considered.
Our doctors will conduct a thorough assessment to rule out any underlying gynecological issues
causing infertility, and advice on possible lifestyle changes which empower couples to try and
conceive naturally. This is important to ensure couples explore all possible options for natural
conception, before considering the next steps towards assisted fertility treatments.
Fertility Treatment>>
Fertility Treatment>>
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis is a painful and chronic disease that is often mistaken for normal menstrual pain.
It occurs when endometrium tissue, which lines the uterus, is found outside of the uterus. This
tissue develops into growth or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way
the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down and sheds.
Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body via the vagina, but the blood and
tissue shed from endometrial growth has no ways to leave the body. This could result in
internal bleeding, breakdown of blood and tissue from the lesions and inflammation, causing
pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions and bowel problems.
Treatment Options
· Laparoscopy · Mini-Laparotomy · Laparotomy
FIBROIDS
Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. It is not known what
causes fibroids. They may be asymptomatic or may cause excessive uterine bleeding, recurrent
miscarriages, pain, pressure or severe anaemia.
Treatment Option
· Hysteroscopy
PELVIC ADHESIONS
Pelvic adhesions are scar tissue that can block or distort fallopian tubes. They could be a result
of an inflammatory response to surgery, endometriosis or infection. During the process of
repairing injured tissue, organ and tissue stick to each other, causing pelvic adhesion.
Such adhesions can cause problems with fertility, pelvic tenderness, painful intercourse and
chronic pelvic pain.
Fertility Treatment>>
Alternative Therapies for Fertility>
Some couples undergoing Fertility Treatment may explore alternative therapies in the hope
that these treatments may aid in the success of IVF treatments.
Acupuncture is thought to aid fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the
reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system, according to several studies and
research.
In a study of 160 women, published in 2002 in the reproductive journal “Fertility and Sterility”,
German researchers found that adding acupuncture to traditional IVF treatment protocols
substantially increased pregnancy success.
HERBS
Many fertility experts do not recommend using herbs as insufficient data is available on
whether herbs can increase pregnancy rates, and is not well-studied. You are advised to use
your discretion in consumption of herbs for fertility improvements.
YOGA
Can yoga really help you get pregnant? Studies have shown that yoga can help reduce stress,
which can affect fertility. Some experts also believe that certain poses can help promote baby-
making by improving blood circulation to your pelvis, stimulating hormone-producing glands,
and releasing muscle tension.
SUPPLEMENTS
Scientific research has shown that certain vitamins and minerals can increase your chances of
getting and staying pregnant. It is important that you and your partner are in optimum health
to maximise your chances of conceiving. Obtaining the right nutrients and in the right amounts,
improving sperm production and mobility can dramatically increase your chances of getting
pregnant.
And it’s equally important for your partner: zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm.
Zinc is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm and is, therefore, essential for the
health of your partner’s sperm and, subsequently, your baby. Interestingly, several studies have
also shown that reducing zinc in a man’s diet will also reduce his sperm count.
SELENIUM
Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to protect your body from highly reactive chemical
fragments called free radicals. For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage,
which is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages. Good levels of selenium are also
essential to maximise sperm formation. Blood selenium levels have been found to be lower in
men with low sperm counts.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant and has been shown to increase fertility when given
to both men and women. Men going for IVF treatment with their partners have been given
vitamin E, and fertilisation rates have, as a result, increased from 19 to 29 percent. It has been
suggested that the antioxidant activity of vitamin E might make the sperm more fertile.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality,
protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has indicated that certain
types of DNA damage in the sperm can make it difficult to conceive in the first place, or it can
cause an increased risk of miscarriage if conception does take place. If DNA is damaged, there
may be a chromosomal problem in the baby, should the pregnancy proceed. Whether or not
DNA damage does have these effects has not been conclusively proven, but it’s worth taking
vitamin C and the other antioxidants as a precautionary measure.
Vitamin C also appears to keep the sperm from clumping together, making them more motile.
One study has shown that women taking the drug clomiphene to stimulate ovulation will have a
better chance of ovulating if vitamin C is taken alongside the drug. Clomiphene does not always
work in every woman, but the chances are often increased when vitamin C is supplemented.
BETA-CAROTENE
This is the vegetable precursor to Vitamin A and is completely safe during pregnancy. Beta-
carotene is a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect egg and sperm DNA from damage by
harmful free radicals which can affect the quality of both the egg and sperm. Free radicals are
highly unstable and set off a process called oxidation which can have harmful effects on the
every cell in the body. Beta- carotene will be contained in your multivitamin and mineral.
L-ARGININE
This is an amino acid found in many foods and the head of the sperm contains an exceptional
amount of this nutrient, which is essential for sperm production. Supplementing with L-arginine
can help to increase both the sperm count and quality.
Note: People who have herpes attacks (either cold sores or genital herpes) should not
supplement with L-arginine because it stimulates the virus.
L-CARNITINE
This amino acid is essential for normal functioning of sperm cells. According to research, it
appears that the higher the levels of L-Carnitine in the sperm cells, the better the sperm count
and motility.
As a simple rule-of-thumb, the need to seek medical attention for fertility hinges on these
factors:
The single most important factor that affects a woman's fertility is her age (Figure 1). Fertility is
fairly stable until the age of 35 years, after which there is a gradual decline. From about 40
years of age, the drop in fertility is profound. It is therefore important that women who are
reaching 35 and have not been able to become pregnant seek medical attention soon. This
becomes urgent for women who are nearing 40 years of age.
2. The length of time trying to conceive
Once you decide to have a baby, it is easy to become concerned if you do not conceive within
the first month of trying. But the fact is, even a normal, healthy woman (below the age of 30)
who is regularly having intercourse only has a 20- to 40-per-cent chance of getting pregnant
during any given cycle. So, what has gone “wrong” the other 60 to 80 per cent of the time? In
most cases there is no medical reason – the cause is usually because the quality of the egg or
sperm is insufficient to achieve fertilisation, or that fertilisation occurs but the embryo does not
survive beyond a few days. In fact, the odds of conception are actually quite good once you
look at them over the span of a year of trying, according to data from the National Center for
Health Statistics in USA (Figure 2).
Under 25 96%
25 – 34 86%
35 – 44 78%
3. Medical problems
Do not delay seeking medical help, as your age is of crucial importance in determining fertility.
The following points will help you to decide when you should seek urgent medical advice:
6. You have been on more than six cycles of ovulation induction medication
7. You have had more than four cycles of SO-AI (Superovulation-Artificial Insemination)
In the absence of any medical problems, women below the age of 30 should see a
gynaecologist if they have trouble conceiving after one to two years of unprotected
intercourse. However, those between 30 and 35 should seek attention after six to nine months.
The urgency increases in women between 35 and 40 if they are not pregnant after six months;
while women over 40 should seek medical attention after three months of unsuccessful trying.
In most instances, your gynaecologist should be able to perform a preliminary fertility regime
and treat most of the problems, if any. If you have not conceived under your doctor’s care
within six to 12 months, see a fertility specialist [also called an RE (Reproductive Endocrine)
specialist, who is a gynaecologist with additional experience in fertility management], who can
guide you through the wide range of available treatments.
It is important to understand the thinking process of your doctors so a decision that is correct
for you can be made. This means that YOU actively participate in your treatment and assist
your RE specialist in formulating the best possible plan to becoming pregnant.
STAGES IN FERTILITY TREATMENT>>
Treatment Stages
Below is a guide to what you can expect throughout your journey at Thomson Fertility Centre:
The first step if there is no pregnancy after the recommended time limit is to see your
gynaecologist. Some preliminary tests will be done, such as blood tests, ultrasound scans, and a
sperm analysis.
A course of fertility tablets will be prescribed to ensure that you ovulate. If a pregnancy still
does not occur within six months, a further continuation of medication is unlikely to result in
pregnancy.
2. A physical check
The next step to consider would be to check the fallopian tubes. These days, it is recommended
that this be done through “keyhole” surgery, or laparoscopy, which involves inserting a small
telescope into the abdomen through the navel. This has the advantage of checking if the
internal organs are normal and healthy; whether the tubes are blocked; and if the ovaries are
close to the “mouth” of the tube.
Superovulation and Artificial Insemination (SO-AI) is the second phase of treatment. This
involves daily injections to boost your natural hormones. This has the aim of inducing the
growth of up to three eggs.
At the time of ovulation, your partner’s prepared sperm will be put into your womb in a simple
and painless procedure.
In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) -- more commonly called the “test tube baby programme” -- is the
next step if SO-AI fails. IVF is the preferred treatment if the fallopian tubes are blocked or when
there is insufficient sperm for SO-AI.
Simply put, IVF involves extracting eggs from the body and mixing them with sperm in the
laboratory. These fertilised eggs, called embryos, are then placed in the womb. At most other
centres, IVF requires frequent ultrasound scans and blood tests. In all, one can expect about 15
visits to the clinic. furthermore, a period of hospitalisation may be required afterward.
At Thomson Fertility Centre, however, a simplified IVF does away with almost all the blood
tests. The number of injections are reduced to a minimum – an average of 15 injections over
one month are required in comparison to 70 injections in other IVF centres. This allows the
number of visits to be reduced to about eight in total, and hospitalisation is rarely
required. Despite being much simpler and more convenient for you, there is no compromise to
safety, while your chances of becoming pregnant are still as high.
PROCESS OF IUI
1. The IUI procedure starts by monitoring the woman’s cycle to determine the day
of ovulation
2. Once the follicle is mature, ovulation either occurs naturally or is triggered by an
injection of a stimulation drug.
3. Husband submits semen sample which is washed in the lab to isolate and
contrite good motile sperm.
4. Finally, the processed sperm is injected directly into the uterine cavity using a
catheter closer to the time of ovulation, generally within 24 hours of ovulation.
COST OF IUI
As the cost may vary depending on whether hormones are used or not, you may contact our
center for charges involved.
ENDOMETRIOSIS CLINIC
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Many women suffer in silence during their monthly periods, assuming that painful cramps are
normal. Many endometriosis sufferers go undiagnosed until they try to conceive without
success or when the pain worsens, leading the sufferer to a gynaecologist.
Detection of endometriosis
Management of endometriosis pain
Optimisation of fertility
Our Specialist Dr Steven Teo, who is a Gynaecologist and IVF clinician, sub-specialises in the
management of endometriosis. He is experienced in the diagnosis and individualised treatment
of this condition, which affects about 10 per cent of the female population, with up to half of all
infertile women suffering from it.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disease defined by the presence of endometrial-like glands outside of the
womb cavity. When the inner (menstrual) lining of the womb “migrates” outside of its usual
location, it may result in problems and symptoms associated with endometriosis. As the “wrong
tissue” appears in the “wrong place” of the body, it will incite a chronic inflammatory reaction,
resulting in pain and scarring, which in turn can affect the proper functioning of the
reproductive structures.
Typically, sufferers of endometriosis experience pain during or just before menstruation, some
have pain during sex and occasionally, a few may complain of pain when moving bowels or
passing urine. Certain individuals with severe, long-standing disease may have constant pain
which no longer fluctuates cyclically.
Another common symptom of endometriosis is infertility. The inflammation process and
resultant scarring can adversely affect the reproductive organs, as well as distort the
reproductive structures (e.g. kinking or blockage of fallopian tubes, formation of ovarian cysts,
etc) and make pregnancy difficult. In addition, the pain from endometriosis may preclude
regular intercourse, further contributing to infertility.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Symptoms generally develop before the age of 30 and can include any of the following:
Menstrual Pain
Pain during or after sex
Pain on urination / opening bowels
Blood in stools
Chronic pain
Inability to conceive