About 12% of women (7.3 million) in the United States aged 15-44 had difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term in 2002, according to the National Centre for Health Statistics.

No, infertility is not always a woman’s problem. In about one-third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factors). In another third of cases, infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male and female factors or by unknown factors.

Infertility in men is most often caused by:

• Problems making sperm - producing too few sperms or none at all
• Problems with the sperm’s ability to reach the egg and fertilize it - abnormal sperm shape or structure prevent it from moving correctly

Sometimes a man is born with the problems that affect his sperm. Other times problems start later in life due to illness or injury. For example, cystic fibrosis often causes infertility in men.

The number and quality of a man’s sperm can be affected by his overall health and lifestyle. Some things that may reduce sperm number and/or quality include:

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
• Smoking cigarettes
• Health problems
• Medicines
• Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer
• Age

Problems with ovulation account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:

• Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
• Physical problems with the uterus
• Uterine fibroids

More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20% of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.Ageing decreases a woman’s chances of having a baby in the following ways:

• The ability of a woman’s ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization declines with age.
• The health of a woman’s eggs declines with age.
• As a woman ages, she is more likely to have health problems that can interfere with fertility.
• As a women ages, her risk of having a miscarriage increases.

Most healthy women under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed.In some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their 30s who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30. So getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.

Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. About two-thirds of couples who are treated for infertility are able to have a baby. In most cases, infertility is treated with drugs or surgery.Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility based on:

• Test results
• How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant
• The age of both the man and woman
• The overall health of the partners
• Preference of the partners

Doctors often treat infertility in men in the following ways:

• Sexual problems: If the man is impotent or has problems with premature ejaculation, doctors can help him address these issues. Behavioural therapy and/or medicines can be used in these cases.
• Too few sperms: If the man produces too few sperm, sometimes surgery can correct this problem. In other cases, doctors can surgically remove sperm from the male reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count.

Various fertility medicines are often used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the risks, benefits, and side effects.

Doctors also use surgery to treat some causes of infertility. Problems with a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus can sometimes be corrected with surgery.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is another type of treatment for infertility.IUI is known by most people as artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.

IUI is often used to treat:

• Mild male factor infertility.
• Women who have problems with their cervical mucus.
• Couples with unexplained infertility.

Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:

• Clomiphene citrate (Clomid): This medicine causes ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland. It is often used in women who have a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or other problems with ovulation. This medicine is taken by mouth.
• Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (Repronex, Pergonal): This medicine is often used for women who don’t ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is an injected medicine.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim): FSH works much like hMG. It causes the ovaries to begin the process of ovulation. These medicines are usually injected.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) analogue: These medicines are often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly each month. Women who ovulate before the egg is ready can also use these medicines. Gn-RH analogues act on the pituitary gland to change when the body ovulates. These medicines are usually injected or given with a nasal spray.
• Metformin (Glucophage): Doctors use this medicine for women who have insulin resistance and/or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions. This helps the body to ovulate. Sometimes clomiphene citrate or FSH is combined with metformin. This medicine is usually taken by mouth.
• Bromocriptine (Parlodel): This medicine is used for women with ovulation problems due to high levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that causes milk production.

Many fertility drugs increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets, or other multiples. Women who are pregnant with multiple fetuses have more problems during pregnancy. Multiple fetuses have a high risk of being born too early (prematurely). Premature babies are at a higher risk of health and developmental problems.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a term that describes several different methods used to help infertile couples. ART involves removing eggs from a woman’s body, mixing them with sperm in the laboratory, and putting the embryos back into a woman’s body.

Success rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:

• Age of the partners
• Reason for infertility
• Fertility clinic
• Type of ART
• If the egg is fresh or frozen
• If the embryo is fresh or frozen

The CDC collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2003 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a healthy baby were as follows:

• 37.3% in women under the age of 35 30.2% in women aged 35-37 20.2% in women aged 37-40 11.0% in women aged 41-42

ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived. The most common complication of ART is multiple fetuses. But this is a problem that can be prevented or minimized in several different ways.

Common methods of ART include:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF)means fertilization outside of the body. IVF is the most effective ART. It is often used when a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man produces too few sperms. Doctors treat the woman with a drug that causes the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are removed from the woman. They are put in a dish in the lab along with the man’s sperm for fertilization. After 3 to 5 days, healthy embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus.
• Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)or Tubal embryo transfer is similar to IVF. Fertilization occurs in the laboratory. Then the very young embryo is transferred to the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
• Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)involves transferring eggs and sperm into the woman’s fallopian tube. So fertilization occurs in the woman’s body. Few practices offer a GIFT as an option.
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is often used for couples in which there are serious problems with the sperm. Sometimes it is also used for older couples or for those with failed IVF attempts. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected into a mature egg. Then the embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube.

ART procedures sometimes involve the use of donor eggs (eggs from another woman), donor sperm, or previously frozen embryos.

Donor eggs are sometimes used for women who can not produce eggs. Also, donor eggs or donor sperm are sometimes used when the woman or man has a genetic disease that can be passed on to the baby.

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a fertility treatment where eggs and sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory to create embryos. The healthiest embryo is then transferred to the uterus to achieve pregnancy. This process bypasses many barriers to conception, offering hope to couples struggling with infertility.

IVF is recommended for couples facing issues like blocked fallopian tubes, male infertility (low sperm count or motility), endometriosis, unexplained infertility, or previous unsuccessful fertility treatments. A consultation with our fertility specialists can help determine if IVF is right for you.

While IVF is generally safe, potential risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), multiple pregnancies, and procedural complications. Our team carefully monitors each patient to minimize these risks and ensure a safe treatment experience.

The entire IVF cycle typically takes about 4-6 weeks, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. Additional time may be needed for diagnostic tests or if multiple cycles are required.

Yes, IVF combined with ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) can effectively address male infertility by injecting a single healthy sperm directly into the egg. This advanced technique is particularly useful for low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal sperm morphology.

Bring any previous medical records, a list of medications, and details about your menstrual cycle and lifestyle habits. Be prepared to discuss your medical history, undergo basic fertility assessments, and ask any questions you have about the process.

At our fertility center in Siliguri, we handle complex infertility cases with a thorough approach, including detailed diagnostics and advanced treatment options. Our experienced IVF doctors work closely with patients to address and overcome challenging fertility issues.

IVF can be emotionally challenging, so our clinic offers counseling and support services to help patients navigate the ups and downs. We focus on providing a compassionate, supportive environment where you can discuss your feelings and get the guidance you need.

The number of IVF cycles required varies for each individual. Some may achieve pregnancy in the first cycle, while others may need additional cycles. Factors such as age, fertility issues, and overall health influence the number of cycles needed.

At our fertility center in Siliguri, we offer a comprehensive range of infertility treatments, including IVF, IUI, ICSI, egg donation, and advanced diagnostic tests. Our treatments are tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient.

During your first consultation, our fertility specialists will review your medical history, discuss your fertility concerns, and outline potential treatment options. You may also undergo initial diagnostic tests to tailor a personalized treatment plan.

Test tube baby treatment at our center in Siliguri involves combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory to create embryos. These embryos are then transferred to the uterus. Our clinic, known for its expertise in IVF in North Bengal, provides comprehensive care and advanced techniques to ensure the best outcomes.

Choosing New Life Fertility Clinic for IVF in North Bengal means access to top-notch fertility care, advanced diagnostic tools, and personalized treatment plans. Our clinic is dedicated to providing exceptional service and achieving successful results for our patients.