Millions of people struggle with fertility, both male and female. It makes conceiving hard for a couple and is caused by various abnormalities in the reproductive systems. A person who has infertility issues can’t just give up, and they have to explore different treatment methods in a quest to have a family. This article will explore the various methods recommended by a fertility specialist in Singapore.
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
The doctor collects sperm that is cleaned and concentrated. The sperm is then placed directly in the uterus. It’s only done during ovulation when the ovary releases the ovum. This is done hoping that sperm will swim into the fallopian tube and fertilize the already released egg. It can be done in coordination with the female’s cycle or in combination with fertility drugs. This depends on the cause of infertility.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
This is the most effective method of infertility treatment. The couple can use their ovum and sperm or get from a donor, depending on the issue. It’s a time-consuming and invasive process that is also expensive. The sperm and ovum are collected from the ovaries, and the ovum is fertilized in a lab. The embryo (fertilized egg) is then transferred into the uterus.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
This is usually combined with IVF. The cytoplasm is the inside of the egg. Sometimes, the sperm can fail to penetrate through the egg’s outer layer normally. This can be caused by different factors like the inability of sperm to swim, as explained by a fertility specialist in Singapore. For the procedure, the specialist will take a single sperm and inject it into the egg’s cytoplasm.
- Blastocyst Culture
The blastocyst is an embryo stage achieved after around five days, before hatching and implantation. A specialist may recommend that you pair it with IVF to increase the chances of success. After the egg is fertilized in a lab, instead of immediately placing it in the uterus, the embryo is nurtured outside the human body until it reaches the blastocyst stage. The embryo is nurtured in a special fluid in the lab called the specialized culture media. It improves the chance of the embryo to implant in the uterus because of the timing; the blastocyst stage is the stage where the embryo is ready for implantation.
- Assisted Hatching
This is usually done in patients undergoing IVF. After an embryo is fertilized, it has an outer hard shell called the zona pellucida. Before an embryo can attach itself to the uterine wall, it needs to hatch or break from the zona pellucida shell. In assisted hatching, the specialist creates a small crack on the zona pellucida so the embryo can hatch with more ease. This can increase the success rate of pregnancy in some patients.
- Donor Sperm Programme
This is also called third-party reproduction. A sperm donor donates semen to help a couple or an individual conceive. The donated sperm can be fertilized in the lab in IVF or injected into the woman’s uterus using IUI.
Wrapping Up
It’s advisable, to be frank with your specialist. When visiting a fertility specialist in Singapore, carry any relevant documents and trust them to guide you. They have handled a lot of patients, and they’ll help you too.
First Fertility IVF clinic is a place where patients go to have their eggs or sperm fertilized. The fertility clinic helps to make sure that the person trying to get pregnant has the best chance of getting pregnant.