What are the common pregnancy complications

Mother, the embodiment of compassion, love, and care. Motherhood, a blessing to women, is an intense yet immeasurable feeling. There are so many women who long to be a mother. An insurmountable amount of love fills the heart of a mother upon knowing they are pregnant. 

As wonderful and beautiful as the journey is, it can be a little rocky. Prenatal care is essential for a smooth pregnancy and to minimize the risks that could occur during it. There are a few complications some mothers may face during pregnancy.

The commonly encountered pregnancy complications are discussed below.

Hypertension

Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension, when experienced, restricts the arteries that carry blood from the heart to other organs. This can lead to decreased oxygen supply to the fetus, and complications that may occur are preeclampsia and preterm labor. 

Close monitoring and medications should help in maintaining gestational hypertension. Hypertension experienced during pregnancy is called gestational hypertension.

Gestational Diabetes

This can be developed during pregnancy and is the increased amount of glucose found in the blood. This is also referred to as high blood sugar. Glucose is a vital component in our body that sources energy, glucose that enters the bloodstream is absorbed by the cells. 

During pregnancy, the hormonal changes interfere with insulin production, and the absorption capability of the blood reduces. Proper treatment can help in avoiding preeclampsia or cesarean delivery.

Infections

The common problem faced by everyone, infections during, and post-pregnancy are normal. Sexually Transmitted Infections can cause complications of the mother, baby, or both. 

Most infections vaginal and urinary can be treated at early stages with proper medication. Certain viruses are linked to miscarriages, preterm labor, stillbirth, congenital disabilities, and other serious complications.

Preeclampsia

A high-risk condition that affects both the mother and the baby. This condition is usually diagnosed late into the pregnancy or post-delivery. This condition is when a part of the placenta doesn’t function properly. Gestational hypertension is a sign of this condition. 

Other symptoms include swelling of feet and legs and high levels of protein in their urine. No cure makes this condition more complicated, but early detection can reduce the chances of eclampsia, which is the onset of seizures before, during, or after labor. Risks of this condition include first pregnancies, history of preeclampsia, diabetes, obesity, and age.

Preterm labor

Delivery before 37 weeks is considered preterm labor. Babies born prematurely are at a higher risk of health problems as their vital organs only fully develop in the final weeks of pregnancy. 

Progesterone supplements can aid in reducing preterm labor. Infections, a shortened cervix, and a history of preterm births are all conditions that increase the chances of preterm labor.

Miscarriage

Loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks is termed as miscarriage. Diabetes, acute infections, injuries, history of miscarriages may be the reasons behind a miscarriage. 

A fertilized egg has an abnormal number of chromosomes, or uterus abnormalities are some of the other reasons behind a miscarriage. Immediate treatment is necessary, or this can lead to other complications. 

Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or severe cramping.

Stillbirth

Loss of pregnancy after 20 weeks is known as a stillbirth. Causes behind a stillbirth are often unknown, but they may be health conditions such as infection, poor fetal development, and lifestyle.  This pregnancy complication can affect the mother mentally, emotionally, and physically and is often the hardest to overcome.

Other complications

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is one of the other complications. It is continuous vomiting that can continue into the third trimester or iron-deficiency anemia. Signs of anemia include feeling tired, shortness of breath, and fainting.

These are the eight commonly experienced complications. These can be avoided by taking the necessary precautions, some of which are discussed below.  

Precautions

The proverb “Prevention is better than cure” is known for its accuracy. There are a few precautions pregnant ladies can take to avoid being a part of the high-risk pregnancy group and to have a good pregnancy.

First and foremost, have good personal hygiene and to practice a maintainable hygienic routine. This not only reduces the chances of an infection but also ensures good overall health. Infections can lead to stillbirths or miscarriage.

Alcohol and smoking are harmful to the mother’s as well as the baby’s health. Avoiding these as much as possible is advisable. Stillbirths, miscarriages, sudden infant death syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome that causes fetus development problems are some of the complications and consequences of consumption of alcohol and smoking during pregnancy.

Being consistent with your medication and considering getting a flu shot are some of the best precautionary measures during pregnancy. 

Taking multivitamins is vital as this ensures the good health of the baby. A high fever during pregnancy can cause neural tube defects; a flu shot during the flu season will be helpful.

Healthy eating habits and kitchen safety is yet another important precautionary measure. Maintaining good health and avoiding unhealthy food as much as possible will be beneficial in the long run. Food-borne infections from under-cooked, unwashed, and contaminated food are very common. 

Ensuring proper cooking and cleaning before eating is a healthy practice and helps regulate blood- sugar levels and weight.

Prenatal care is a necessity to help tackle any challenges in the early stages. These challenges left untreated can lead to complications later on.

Practicing safe sex cannot be stressed enough. Sexually active women have a higher chance of contracting an STI, which can lead to stillbirth or ectopic pregnancy. 

Ectopic pregnancy is when the egg attaches itself outside the uterus. Vaginal check-ups done frequently can help detect any urinary or vaginal infections.

Maintaining a healthy weight is a necessity during pregnancy. Though, women gain weight during pregnancy, those who make conscious efforts to maintain it often avoid complications.

Many challenges, such as obesity, diabetes, premature birth, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, are linked to overweight.

Motherhood is a boon to women, and the mother must take the necessary steps to avoid any complications. Though inevitable, sometimes, complications can still be minimized. Taking the necessary steps will be helpful and make the journey of pregnancy enjoyable and memorable.

Consult a highly experienced IVF doctor in Noida for the best suitable advice.

What is ICSI treatment in infertility?

There was no specific moment when the need for the development of advanced reproductive techniques became necessary by society. Still, they were required to treat tubal factor infertility in the 1970s. 

The first conception outside the human body was a tremendous achievement, and it opened the door for the use of reproductive techniques around the world.

In the 1980s, there was a focus on the need to broaden the indications for treatment by ART. The significant achievements by the in vitro technologies brought about attention on the actual origin of the conceptus and the gametes. 

As male reproductive cells were initially taken as a continuous, consistent, and abundant supply, this changed the inability of fertilization.  

When focus on the treatment of male fertility increased, it caused the development of ICSI.

In 1992, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI was introduced to improve fertilization in males undergoing in vitro fertilization. 

Under ICSI, pre‐selected spermatozoon is injected into a mature oocyte after ovarian superovulation and oocyte retrieval.

In simple terms, a single sperm is extracted and directly injected into a single egg to fertilize them. This maximizes the chances of fertilization.

What is the process of ICSI treatment? 

ICSI is a laboratory procedure. A single sperm is picked up with a fine glass needle, called a micropipette and is injected directly into the center of the mature egg. The process is carried out in the laboratory by experienced embryologists. 

Very few sperm or a single sperm is required. ICSI does not guarantee that fertilization will occur as the regular cellular events of fertilization still need to occur once the sperm has been placed into the mature egg.  

After fertilization takes place, an embryo or two will be transferred into the uterus for two to five days after the retrieval. 

ICSI fertilizes 50% to 80% of eggs, and after the completion of fertilization, the couple’s chance of giving birth to a single baby, twins, or triplets is the same if they go for an IVF  treatment with or without ICSI.

What are the risks of ICSI for women?

The occurrences of short‐term medical complications of inducing ovulation or retrieving oocytes for IVF are rare, but it leaves an emotional impact. If the treatment fails, couples, especially women, may face depression. 

What are the risks of ICSI for men?

The minor cause symptoms are associated with ICSI treatment like pain, bleeding, bruising, and scarring are the most common. There may also be a risk during treatment, as a decrease in serum testosterone levels after testicular sperm extraction.

Needle procedure under ICSI treatment is simple, performed under sedation with minimal discomfort. Still, there are some side effects like pain and swelling. 

These risks are not permanently attached to ICSI treatment. This technique was developed recently in 1992, and because of the absence of proper statistical data, it isn't very easy to evaluate the long term effects on human health. 

However, ICSI is one of the best treatments for men who are suffering from infertility. It is used in as many as 50% of the IVF treatments undertaken and in 2000. In European countries, the clinical pregnancy rate was 28.4% for IVF and 28.7% for ICSI.

When is ICSI Fertility Treatment Recommended?

The ICSI fertility treatment is recommended in cases where the male has a very low or no sperm count.

When there is a high percentage of abnormal sperm, poor quality, or when sperm cannot move properly or low motility and low fertility, this procedure increases the likelihood of fertilization.  

When there is a blockage in the male reproductive tract, it causes the sperm to get out of the tract.

When there are high levels of antibodies in the semen, it kills sperm and reduces fertility.

ICSI is also recommended when an earlier IVF cycle has failed.

Comparison between IVF and ICSI

ICSI is a special form of IVF. In conventional IVF, the egg and considerable amount of sperm are left in a petri dish to fertilize on their own, whereas in ICSI, a fewer number or a single sperm is directly injected into the egg.

Under IVF treatment, both male and female infertility can be treated where ICSI is the only option to treat male infertility.

In short, both ICSI and IVF are two techniques of science used to treat infertility in humans. Additionally, it is right to say that both methods are the blessings for the couples for whom it is difficult to conceive naturally.

Couples facing fertility issues are invited to visit Zeeva Clinic which is the best IVF clinic in Noida. Call on +91 8377855100 to book an appointment.

Why Does Sperm Count Matter?

A healthy sperm count is around 40 to 300 million sperm per milliliter; out of these, only 1 makes it to the egg, and fertilization occurs. The problem for the sperm is that the woman’s reproductive systems are extremely hostile. It is acidic and does not provide the ideal conditions for the sperm to fertilize. Therefore sperms are covered in a protective fluid known as semen that allows them to survive in hostile conditions.

All this seems a bit unnecessary, but it’s not. In nature, only the fittest survive; the same concept is applied here; only healthy sperm makes it to the egg. Even then, there are chances of unhealthy sperm reaching the egg.

The studies have shown that 95% of the sperm cells are defective. Defective sperms are unable to swim properly and hence does not reach the egg. Defective sperms mostly contain damaged genetic code.

90% of male infertility is linked to low sperm count when the body produces lower amounts of sperm; it usually indicates underlying issues such as obesity, lack of nutrients, etc. Lower sperm count means that most cells produced are abnormal and hence are not good for fertilization. There is little chance that low sperm count semen fertilizing an egg.

Issues such as obesity, deficiency mean that the body is not able to produce proper sperm/semen, it lacks some nutrients or has damaged the system. Stress and other mental illnesses can also be the culprit. Due to them, the body may not be able to produce the required hormones that are required for the production and maintenance of sperm/semen.

Fertilization from abnormal sperm is related to miscarriages, birth defects, and other conditions.

Low sperm count is curable in most of the cases, treatments include: -

· Losing weight

· Exercising

· Vitamin supplements

· Clean environment, harmful substances like lead or other chemicals

· Reduce biking or check it up for proper fit

· Clothing, loose clothes are better

· Better mental Health

Sperm Count in IVF

As mentioned above, lower sperm count means that the quality of the sperms is inadequate. Usually, around 50,000 healthy sperms are collected from a sample to ensure high chances of fertilization. Lower sperm count can reduce that number.

Usually, most cases of low sperm count are curable. Getting a diagnosis from the doctor is the best way to deal with this situation.

Visit Zeeva Clinic, call at +91 8377855100 to schedule an appointment.

What is the difference between IVF and IUI

Infertility is a concern faced by many people all around the world. The use of Assisted Reproductive Technology for the treatment of infertility is one of the best methods. In the 1980s, there was a focus on the need to broaden the indications for treatment by Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Among the various techniques of science, IVF and IUI are the commonly used treatments to help a person who is struggling to conceive. People often don't know about the differences between an IUI and an IVF treatment and assume that both are the same. So, here are some clarifications about the terms IVF (In vitro fertilization) and IUI (Intrauterine Insemination).

Treatment

IUI is a simple and non-invasive treatment during which the processed and motile sperm is inserted directly into a woman’s uterus.  This procedure is repeated one to two times in the days immediately after the detection of ovulation, and after that woman’s egg is picked up by the fallopian tube and stays there until the sperm arrives.

Under IUI treatment, the higher concentrations of good quality sperm are made close to where the egg is waiting, and the chances that the egg and sperm will find each other are increased. 

This treatment is recommended in case of low sperm count or poor sperm health of men, which creates the need for an IUI to bypass sexual intercourse and inseminate the female partner with a potent sperm sample to increase the chances of getting pregnant.

Whereas in vitro fertilization is a process under which fertilization takes place outside of the body, where after the egg and sperm cells have been obtained, they are brought together in a laboratory and allowed the sperm to fertilize the eggs, and after 2 to 5 days of fertilization, one or more of the best-fertilized eggs are inserted into the uterus using a catheter and the remaining fertilized eggs may be cryopreserved for future use.

How does the cost of IUI and IVF Procedures Differ?

When comparing IUI and IVF process prices for an individual cycle, the total cost of IVF exceeds that of IUI by a significant amount. The IUI treatment is more economical or has less cost due to it being less invasive.  As under this, the male partner contributes a sperm sample that is directly injected into the uterus, and in this process, no incisions are required, and the couples will primarily pay for various medications, bloodwork, consultations, and the procedure. IUI can become more expensive if multiple cycles are needed, but couples who get pregnant with IUI will usually save more money than IVF.

In IVF treatment, couples are required to pay a significantly higher amount for their treatment. Since it requires advanced techniques and equipment and the pair have to pay the price for medications, bloodwork, consultations, the extraction procedure, fertilization, the incubation period, implantation, and the egg freezing processes.  

The duration of IUI is much shorter than IVF; if the first cycle doesn’t fail, it could be overwhelming. The IUI treatment is recommended in cases of cervical and mild ovulation issues, in case of sperm abnormalities and ejaculation problems in men.

In IVF, the treatment is suitable for patients who are over the age of thirty-eight, have blocked fallopian tubes, have reduced ovarian reserve, or suffer from advanced endometriosis or may require genetic screening.

Risk of multiples

Under the IUI procedure, fertility medication carries a significant risk of multiple pregnancies of triplets or more. Also, the doctor will carefully monitor follicles to ensure that only a safe number is mature, but it is difficult to eliminate the risk.

Whereas in IVF, most fertility clinics transfer only one or two embryos per IVF cycle, and it reduces the risk of multiple pregnancies for IVF patients, and IVF is generally recommended for couples, after the failure to conceive after three failed IUI cycles.

Both treatments, IVF and IUI, are the most commonly used methods of assisted reproduction, and the decision must be taken after analyzing the budget, age, and the conditions of the reproductive organs of both partners.

For more information visit our website - Zeeva Clinic

Quick Guide on What Happens After Embryo Transfer

IVF is a stressful period, and a lot of things go through our heads, which can distract us from our daily life. This article is aimed at exploring what happens after the embryo transfer, what you should look out for, and what to avoid. The embryo transfer is the last procedure in the IVF treatment. It is a simple and quick technique.

The Embryo Transfer Procedure

It is a simple procedure that does not require any anesthetic, a speculum is used to hold the vagina open so that the cervix can be cleansed. An ultrasound is used as a guide to transferring the embryos. The patient is now in a recovery stage and usually lies on her back for about 30mins and is discharged in 4-6 hours.

Progesterone is usually given to the patient until pregnancy is confirmed, or the body is making enough progesterone on its own. Progesterone is an essential hormone that is required to start pregnancy but also maintains it.

The patient is usually required to rest for 24 hours, and extensive physical activity is not encouraged from this point onwards.

The Embryo

The embryologist selects the healthiest embryo using photos and scanning. Most of the time, four embryos are transferred as this increases the chances of pregnancy higher than this number; there can be multiple fertilization that can lead to complications.

These are the various stages of the egg before the transplant.

· Day 1: -The process of hatching occurs as the blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell. The cells will continue to divide.

· Day 2: -Hatching continues, and the blastocyst will begin an incredibly important part of the process, by attaching itself to the uterine lining.

· Day 3: -For implantation to successfully occur, the blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterus lining. Some bleeding or spotting is normal at this stage.

· Day 4: -The blastocyst continues to go deeper into the uterus to attach itself to the endometrial blood supply.

· Day 5: -Now attached to the endometrial blood supply, implantation is complete, and the blastocyst will begin to develop further. As well as the blastocyst, other cells will start forming the placenta.

· Day 6: -The hormone hCG starts increasing in the blood from the placenta cells.

Along with hCG, progesterone levels increase to strengthen and prepare the uterus lining for the first trimester.

· Day 7: -The blastocyst is now a fetus. hCG levels continue to increases as the placenta further develops.

Now the embryos can be transferred on day three and day 5. And there is a significant difference between them. Day 3 transfers are early-stage embryos that contain 8-12 cells, while day five are known as blastocysts, and they can be said as matured embryos that have begun their rapid multiplication. Day 5 transplant is a bit more successful for patients who have health complications or have failed in day three transfers.

After the entire procedure is completed, the couple has to wait for signs of pregnancy.

Pregnancy

The symptoms of pregnancy can be seen within 2-3 weeks after the transfer.

These symptoms include: -

· Mild cramping or abdominal pain

· Breast tenderness

· Food cravings/food aversions

· Frequent urination

· Morning sickness

· Headaches

· Fatigue

· Nausea/Vomiting

There are other symptoms such as slight bleeding, but that can indicate menses or menstrual blood. The patient should avoid any form of stress, and if there is, you may take a leave from the office or change the environment. Walks and meditation can help a lot during this period. Maintaining your health is extremely crucial, and the success rates of IVF treatment is heavily dependent on it.

IVF treatment success rates are quite good compared to other methods, but they are not guaranteed. Stay healthy, follow the doctor’s advice, and that should be it.

For more information visit our clinic Best IVF center in Noida, Call at +91 8377855100 to schedule an appointment now.

What you should know about embryo transfer

Assisted reproduction technology is a common practice nowadays. There are many procedures through which this can be achieved. Embryo transfer is one of them.  This process involves the transfer of embryos into the uterine cavity using a catheter that is inserted through the uterine cervix.

The first embryo transfer experiment was performed on a rabbit in 1890, yet, this technique was not efficient during that period and wasn’t intended to be applied to humans then. In 1977 a baby conceived through in vitro fertilization commonly referred to as IVF was born. The technique involved in the baby’s birth was embryo transfer.

Why is embryo transfer needed?  

The growing cases where natural fertilization wasn’t an option or was difficult gave rise to the need for an assisted reproductive method, which then led to the creation of embryo transfer.

There are several reasons for the need for embryo transfer. 

As the Fallopian tubes are the passageway for embryos to reach towards the uterus, any damage caused to them may disrupt the fertilized eggs from reaching safely to the womb. 

Some genetic disorders may also prevent pregnancy from occurring.

The failure of ovaries due to genetic disorders may result in improper functioning, unbalanced levels of estrogen production, or inability to produce eggs regularly. Due to impaired or low sperm production, poor movement of the sperm, damage to the testes, semen abnormalities, abnormalities in sperm size and shape in men can make it difficult for fertilization of the sperm and egg and lead to failure of natural fertilization. 

The process involved in embryo transfer 

The process is short and is usually pain-free. It rarely requires any sedatives. Embryo transfer usually takes place in three to five days after egg retrieval.

Firstly a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be inserted into your vagina through the cervix into the uterus, and syringe which has one or more embryos and is suspended in a small amount of fluid which is attached to the end of the catheter. 

The doctor places the embryo in the uterus and the embryo will implant itself to the lining of the uterus about six to ten days after the egg retrieval. 

After twelve days of the retrieval of the egg, the doctor will test a sample of blood to detect whether the lady is pregnant or not. In case of a positive result, the doctor will refer her to an obstetrician or another pregnancy specialist. If the results are negative, then it is advisable to stop taking progesterone and to consult a doctor. 

The chances of giving birth to a baby after using IVF depends on the age of the mother as in cases in which women older than forty-one years are often counseled using donor eggs during IVF to increase the chances of pregnancy. In cases of younger women, there are more chances to conceive and give birth to a healthy baby using your eggs during IVF. 

Certain lifestyle factors also decide the success of IVF. When women who are habitual of smoking have fewer eggs retrieved during IVF and may miscarry more often because smoking lowers the woman’s chance of success using IVF by fifty percent, consumption of alcohol, recreational drugs, excessive caffeine, and certain medications can also be harmful and reduce the chances of conceiving. 

Types of embryo transfer

Fresh embryo transfer

After the fertilization of eggs, they are cultured for one day, and the best embryos are selected and directly transferred to the woman’s uterus.

Frozen Embryo Transfer

Frozen embryos remain viable well over ten years or more after the initial freeze, and any healthy embryos that were not used in the first transfer can be frozen and stored for future use and can be easily transferred to the uterus.  It is a cycle where embryos that came from a prior in vitro fertilization cycle are thawed and transferred into the woman’s uterus.

Blastocyst Embryo Transfer

According to the study in the Indian Journal of Clinical Practice, blastocyst embryo transfer has a higher success rate than standard embryo transfer on day three but recent studies show that the patient may have risks later in pregnancy and is not always recommended by doctors.

According to a study by the International Journal of Reproductive Medicine, there is no statistical difference between using fresh and frozen embryos as fresh embryos had a 23 percent pregnancy rate. In contrast, frozen embryos have an 18 percent pregnancy rate. 

It shows that frozen embryos could also be used for additional embryo transfers, whereas fresh embryos could not be used Where the chances for pregnancy are low. The doctors may consider freezing embryos for a second attempt at embryo transfer at a later date.

Precautions to be taken after embryo transfer 

After about half an hour’s rest at the medical facility where the embryo transfer is done, the patient can go home and continue their normal daily routine activities like walking, going out, driving, and they can work but should avoid vigorous physical activities like sports and heavy lifting. 

Drinking an adequate amount of water is always recommended to maintain sufficient hydration status. Patients after an embryo transfer should avoid immersing themselves in hot water in bathtubs or swimming pools.

It is recommended that the patient’s obstetrician should prescribe the medications taken, and the consumption of any antibiotics should be done after consultation. 

Visit Zeeva Clinic a prominent IVF and Best IVF center in Noida for further assistance, call at +91 83778 55100 and schedule an appointment now.