Latest Pregnancy and Family Planning Articles

Surrogacy - A Gift of Modern Science

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:16:41 -0700

Surrogacy is the term used when a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for a contracted party. This gives infertile couples the opportunity to enjoy the fundamental right of parenting children. Homosexual couples and even single men and single women can fulfil their dream of parenthood using this gift of modern science.

Surrogacy is chosen by aspiring parents due to a variety of causes which include failure of the embryo to implant, repeated miscarriage, hysterectomy or a pelvic disorder. Some women experience problems such as dangerously high blood pressure, a heart condition or liver disease, so that pregnancy would entail a serious health risk for them.

There are two types of surrogacy options: traditional and gestational. A traditional surrogate is a woman who donates her own egg and then carries the pregnancy. The surrogate's egg is fertilized through artificial insemination with the sperm of the father or a sperm donor. A gestational surrogate, also known as a gestational carrier, isn't biologically or genetically related to the child she carries. Gestational carriers become pregnant through the process of in vitro fertilization, where an embryo or embryos created from the eggs and sperm of the intended parents (or donor egg and donor sperm selected by the intended parents) are implanted in the uterus for the gestational period of 40 weeks. Intended parents and surrogates must also consider the type of surrogacy arrangement they are comfortable with. There are two common types of arrangements: commercial and altruistic. An altruistic surrogate receives no financial reward while a commercial surrogate is compensated for her time and effort. However in both cases, all expenses related to the pregnancy and birth are paid by the intended parents.

Surrogates can be the friends or relatives or acquaintances of the commissioning parents. A potential surrogate must be in good overall health and be able to undergo a pregnancy with the minimum amount of risk to her own health. But being a surrogate mother is an emotionally and physically demanding task. It is important that a woman considering this option has the backing of a partner, family or friends to provide emotional support and practical help throughout and after the pregnancy. Careful consideration must be given to the medical, emotional, legal and practical issues, and to the implications of surrendering the child at birth.

Surrogacy is one of the most expensive solutions to infertility and is an option that not every couple can afford. In a developed country it is estimated that the entire cost of surrogacy including payment for a surrogate mother ranges between US$50,000 and $100,000. But these costs are as low as one tenth in developing countries like India.

Opinion on the morality of surrogacy is divided. Surrogacy is legally accepted in some countries while it is still not allowed in many countries. This has spawned a new area of law that is challenging and complicated. However, most of the developed and developing nations have accepted this scientific process of converting a childless couple to happy parents readily.

IVF Procedure - The Basics One Needs to Know

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:48:14 -0700

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproduction have failed. It is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperms outside the womb by artificial means. The resultant embryo is then put into the womb for further maturation. The term in vitro is used to refer to any biological procedure that is performed outside the organism. The first successful IVF procedure was carried out in England way back in 1976 which resulted in a child birth in 1978. Now the technology is used as an effective clinical treatment for providing infertile couples a gateway to parenthood.

Initially IVF was developed to overcome infertility due to problems of the fallopian tube, but it is now used for a wide range of disorders such as unexplained infertility, endometriosis and male factor infertility.

Conventional or standard IVF treatment involves-
•    Ovarian stimulation
•    Egg retrieval from the patient
•    Sperm retrieval from the male
•    Fertilization of the retrieved eggs with sperms
•    Embryo transfer to the patient’s uterus

Several medicines, usually gonadotropins, are administered to the patient from the third day of her menstrual cycle to cause the growth of multiple follicles in the ovaries. Spontaneous ovulation during this period is prevented by the use of other medicines. When the follicle maturation reaches a satisfactory level the retrieval of ova is done through the use of an ultrasound guided needle which pierces the vaginal wall to reach the ovaries. Sperms are collected from the intended donor. Eggs and sperms, stripped off their surrounding cells, are incubated and placed in culture media for fertilization to happen. However, in cases where the sperm is from someone with a low sperm count, it is directly injected into the egg. After fertilisation the egg is subjected to a growth medium where it grows to reach the 6–8 cell stage. Two to three embryos which are judged best are transferred to the patient’s uterus using a catheter to increase the chances of implantation. Rest of the embryos are frozen for future use. About 15 days after the procedure patient is tested for pregnancy.

Important prerequisites for a successful IVF procedure are healthy ova or egg from the mother, sperms from the father and the mother possessing a uterus that can carry the pregnancy to its full term. Therefore any infertility that is caused by reasons other than defects in these three areas can be countered by IVF. Thus the technique allows homosexuals, single and even menopausal women to become pregnant.

The major complications of IVF are multiple births, increased risk of pregnancy loss, obstetrical complications, prematurity, and neonatal morbidity with the potential for long term damage. It is a very complicated procedure and not every attempt results in pregnancy. IVF is also too expensive to help all aspiring parents. Despite the demerits IVF is the only method which can make proud parents of a women otherwise considered traditionally hopeless for pregnancy.

IVF Clinics - How to Choose a Good One

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:13:22 -0700

There is no doubt that IVF technology represents one of modern medicine’s success stories. IVF can help infertile couples to start their own family. Increase in infertility among young people has led to mushrooming of IVF clinics all over the world claiming high class facilities and sure shot results. But many among these might be fake opportunistic clinics which take advantage of patients’ insecurities and vulnerability arising from desperation to conceive. Such clinics will only leave the patients mentally, physically and economically drained. The worst is that the patients loose confidence in IVF technology thus depriving themselves of their only chance to parenthood. It is therefore crucial to choose the right IVF clinic. Choosing a fertility clinic can be quite a daunting task. One must understand the various features which are essential for a good IVF clinic.

A good IVF clinic must provide high class medical treatment, staff facilities, and proper hygiene. Typical treatments which should be available in IVF clinics all over the world include:

•    In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
•    Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Insemination (ICSI)
•    Embryo freezing
•    Donor Insemination (DI)
•    Egg donation
•    Egg sharing
•    Surrogacy

The clinic must provide standard storage facilities for freezing eggs or embryos and must have access to donor sperm, eggs and embryos. The IVF clinic must also have an inbuilt laboratory with qualified technicians available round the clock so that all needed tests could be performed and results be provided the same day. The clinic might also have a tie up with an outside laboratory.

The most important characteristic to look for while choosing a good IVF clinic is its staff. Along with gynaecologists and obstetricians, there must be a Reproduction surgeon to rectify conditions like obstruction in fallopian tubes, uterine abnormalities and other reproductive organ abnormalities which might require surgery. An Endocrinologist is needed to monitor the hormonal levels particularly during the stage of ovarian stimulation. Reproductive immunologist is required to counter immunological problems which might arise during implantation and course of pregnancy. An embryologist and an andrologist are other indispensable members of the IVF doctors’ team. They treat eggs and sperms before fertilization and then handle storage and transfer of viable embryos. Reproductive urologist is yet another important IVF doctor who specialises in treating urinary tract disorders in males particularly. Clinic must also provide services of a geneticist who helps in assessing congenital abnormalities the foetus might be subjected to. A psychological counsellor should also be available to help patients during the mentally exhaustive IVF cycle.

Cost of the treatment and size of the clinic should not be the determining factors for the quality of service available. Larger clinics may have shorter waiting lists, but a more personal approach with a smaller clinic might be more preferable where one gets to know everyone on the team. Other important factors that need to be considered while choosing the right IVF clinic are its location, success rate, reputation and kind of counselling and support available to the patients.

Surrogacy Overseas - A Boon for Medical Tourism

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:15:24 -0700

Surrogacy is one of the fast evolving means of assisted reproduction. It is gaining popularity as it is of immense help to those who do not want to become pregnant or who cannot conceive due to various medical issues. It is also a boon for gay or lesbian couples.

Surrogacy in most developed countries however, involves a huge expenditure and lot of legal hassles. In the US, the laws governing surrogacy vary from state to state. In a study of surrogacy laws in 51 states, it was found that a mere 14 states permit gestational surrogacy for married couples only, where as it is unclear in about 7 states. Commercial surrogacy arrangements are illegal in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Spain and China, while Japan still seems to be ambivalent toward surrogate childbirth. In most other developed countries like Germany, the legal situation of surrogate motherhood is very restrictive. Also it is estimated that the entire cost of surrogacy including payment for a surrogate mother ranges between US$50,000 and $100,000. These two primary reasons have led to the growing tendency of opting for surrogacy overseas, a prime and favoured destination being India.

Surrogacy has set its strong foothold in India and has witnessed number of successful cases. Surrogacy charges in India are approximately a fraction of what these are in the developed countries. There are not much legal issues and complicacies involved. There are only certain guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), but as of now, there is no law on surrogacy in India. Another major factor favouring India for surrogacy is fairly advanced health care system which includes expert team of surrogacy specialists, IVF doctors, and treatment technologies. Many hospitals in India help couples find surrogates. One will not even face a language barrier in India since English is the second most highly spoken language.

Surrogacy overseas increases the realm of medical tourism of the host nation. This becomes an added bonus to the economy and aids development. Medical tourism in India is fast growing and is expected to turn into a 1-2 billion dollar business by 2012. Indian surrogacy is already a $445 million-a-year business. In the past three years, a single clinic in India's western state of Gujarat has more than 50 surrogate mothers on its books, half to Westerners or Indians living overseas. But since a country like India has most available surrogates belonging to the lower strata, concerns of health become a serious issue. So a commissioning couple must ascertain the health and medical condition of the person before agreeing on a surrogate mother.

Surrogacy creates life and brings smile in childless families. Helpless couples fulfil their wishes of parenthood. One can also vouch for the medical tourism option before signing the contract for surrogacy. This will help in understanding the methods and ways of surrogacy and one will be able to make a sound decision since it involves lots of money and human emotions.

Choosing the Right Doctors - A Vital Step Towards IVF Treatment

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:20:59 -0700

IVF is a very complicated procedure which, to be successfully accomplished, needs a combination of doctors from various specialisations. A fertility clinic offering IVF treatment must have experts in fields of gynaecology, endocrinology, embryology, urology, surgery and psychology to name a few. Absence of any one will render the procedure unsafe and unsuccessful.

A good IVF treatment needs an examination by a geneticist who can assess genetic disorders in the patients. This helps in preventing likely complications during the pregnancy as well as transfer of disorders like thalassemia to the foetus. A reproductive endocrinologist is also an IVF doctor. He monitors the hormonal changes during the treatment cycle. A reproductive surgeon is needed for surgical correction of conditions like obstruction of fallopian tubes, endometriosis and urinary tract disorders. A reproductive urologist specialises in treating male urinary tract disorders. The urologist must also be capable of carrying out surgical procedures to counteract obstructions or other defects in the male urinary tract.

Another important IVF doctor is an embryologist who specialises in maintaining viable embryos after fertilization. Embryologist’s expertise is particularly of great significance in freezing the unused embryos. An expert in the field of immunology is needed to handle immunity related problems which might occur during implantation and the course of pregnancy. Andrologist is also an IVF doctor who particularly takes care of male hormones and sperm quality. He prepares the sperms for final fusion with the ova. A gynaecologist completes the team. Good fertility centres also offer the services of a psychological counsellor as the IVF treatment involves immense mental exhaustion for the patient.

All the IVF doctors must hold M.D degree and ample experience. To make IVF physically and emotionally rewarding to the aspiring parents the competence of variously specialised doctors is required. No single doctor can boast of providing a complete treatment satisfactorily.

IVF is the last hope towards motherhood for a woman after having tried natural as well as all available methods of assisted conception. Her desperation makes her an easy target for a number of fake IVF doctors who might leave her in absolute physical and mental jeopardy after deriving huge monetary benefits. Today many doctors claim to provide expert IVF services. Fake doctors generally do not provide full details of the procedures involved. They may charge less but at the same time may not have facilities and expertise for most basic requirements of the IVF treatment like freezing of embryos.

A good IVF doctor will have discussions and planning about the smallest details of the procedure with the intended couple. He will encouragingly answer all the queries and provide advice on alternatives, time limit, costs and success rate of the procedure. It is therefore very important to make thorough research before selecting an IVF doctor. One places ones life in the hands of the IVF doctor so his credentials must be most carefully checked.

Surrogacy India - A Much Better Option

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:51:19 -0700

Surrogacy is one of the latest additions to India’s growing outsourcing business. It serves foreign couples seeking surrogate mothers in India. Relative affordability combined with loose legal restrictions makes India an ideal choice. A large number of prospective parents abroad and high rates of compensation for willing Indian birth mothers ensure an ever growing pool of suppliers for the industry.

Surrogacy charges in India are approximately a fraction of what these are in the developed countries. It is as low as one tenth of the costs incurred in U.S. or U.K. In the United States for example, a surrogate mother is generally paid $10000 and the agency is also given around $30000. In India however, the entire cost from expenses to birth ranges from $2500–$6500. Commercial surrogacy is legal in India since 2002; so there are not many legal issues and complications involved. The increasing number of Indians who speak English and the availability of fairly advanced medical technology in India further enable the nation to stand out from other potential lower cost countries.

While helping to realize the dream of starting a family for a client, it is important to ensure the health and happiness of the surrogate mother as well as the expectant couple. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set guidelines for surrogacy. These suggest that the surrogate and the expectant must necessarily draw up an agreement. It also states that a surrogate mother should not be over 45 years of age and must be tested seronegative for HIV. A relative, a known person, as well as a person unknown to the couple may act as a surrogate mother but no woman may act as a surrogate more than thrice in her lifetime. However these guidelines have no legal validity. The Indian govt. should regulate IVF and related assisted reproductive technologies which may provide some legal protection for couples when they go for surrogacy treatment. Similarly there should also be certain laws to protect the rights of the surrogate mother and prevent her from being exploited. This will help curb injustice and promote fair practice.

Surrogacy in India is already a $445 million-a-year business. There are no official estimates on the number of surrogate births in India, but the ICMR predicts that commercial surrogacy will grow into a nearly $US6 billion-per-year industry. But since a country like India has available surrogates mostly belonging to the lower strata, concerns of health become a serious issue. So a commissioning couple must ascertain the health and medical condition of the person before agreeing on a surrogate mother.

India is emerging as a leader in international surrogacy and a major destination in surrogacy related medical tourism. Indian surrogates have been increasingly popular with infertile couples in the industrialized nations. While some critics' visions of baby farms are unrealistic, the rapidly growing business may promote the transition of surrogacy from an uncommon medical procedure to an option of convenience.

Surrogacy - A Biological Miracle To Attain Parenthood!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:40:22 -0700

Surrogacy is a biological process where a woman carries and gives birth to a baby of some other woman. It is a mutual contract signed by both the parties which involves the childless couple and the woman (surrogate henceforth) who carries their child and delivers it. The surrogate can be of two types depending upon the types of surrogacy:

• Natural Surrogate-She can be a genetic mother (biological mother) of the child which is conceived via artificial insemination or sexual intercourse with the biological father.

• IVF Surrogate or Gestational Carrier-She can be a gestational carrier where she is being implanted with an embryo and carries pregnancy till the delivery date. In this particular case, child is conceived with the help of egg donation, sperm donation, and embryo transfer or donation.

It’s important to understand which couples are advised to opt for what type of surrogacy:

Natural Surrogacy is counseled when:

• Woman has some genetic disorder and is likely to pass it onto the progeny.

• Women whose ovaries are no more functioning owing to premature menopause.

• Women who are suffering from diabetes, tuberculosis, heart ailments, or kidney disorders and are incapable of conceiving or giving birth.

IVF Surrogacy or Gestational is suggested when:

• A woman whose uterus is malfunctioning or not formed appropriately to carry a full pregnancy to the end term are suggested to opt for surrogacy as they may likely to have miscarriages.

• Woman who is suffering from diabetes, heart problems or kidney disorders should avoid pregnancy.

• Woman who have no uterus are incapable of carrying fertilized eggs. So, women whose ovaries produce eggs but cannot fertilize them due to the absence of uterus should also opt for IVF surrogacy. Mostly women cancer patients, or with busted womb are required to have hysterectomy (removal of uterus from the body) which renders them incapable for giving birth to a child. In such severe cases IVF surrogacy is suggested.

• Repeated miscarriages weaken the womb and may often leads to its rupture. In such situation woman should opt for IVF surrogacy.

You can easily find surrogates via agents or surrogacy clinics who sign a legal contract for carrying your child till delivery. Mostly, you are required to pay all the charges which will incur during entire pregnancy till delivery date. All these issues need to be discussed beforehand so that no issue erupts in the middle of gestation. Once, the baby is delivered the surrogate has no right over it and is paid for her job right away as per the mutual legal contract signed.

In several nations surrogacy is still considered as an illegal procedure of conceiving a child. However, most of the developed and developing nations have accepted this scientific process of making childless couple a happy parent readily. UK is one such nation that readily agrees to surrogacy and on the other hand there is USA where many states have different jurisdiction for surrogacy process.

Even if there is no worldwide acceptance to this biological miracle yet it is helping thousands of childless couples becoming parent. UK, Australia, and some states of US have even launched medical tour program in order to create awareness and seek cheap avenues for surrogates. India on other hand becomes a good choice being less expensive and providing equivalent quality of treatment.

Surrogacy Overseas - Surrogacy Treatment At Lower Cost!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:24:51 -0700

Surrogacy has become widely popular and successful measure of having baby for childless couples. No more you need to keep regretting and blaming yourself for the cause. Instead, medical science has opened up surrogacy as one of the brilliant avenues for having child. But, this is an expensive procedure and may charge half of your life’s savings. Do not get disappointed since, surrogacy overseas is a lucrative option open for those who cannot afford thousands of dollars expenses in a go.

Also, health care insurance is insufficient in covering the entire infertility treatment expenses and if you don’t have one then forget about the whole idea of having miracle baby. In such dire circumstances finding a cheaper alternative overseas is the best option available at hand.

Surrogacy overseas is simply a way of finding surrogate mother in country other than yours. Carrying someone’s baby for the entire duration of 9 months and then part with the baby is not an easy task. This is why nations where surrogacy is being legalized strict documentation and legal actions are linked with the process. This will help in getting right over baby produced thus legally and safely.

When looking for surrogate mother, India is one of the favorite destinations for the worldwide childless couples. There are few important reasons for it:

• Surrogacy and IVF treatment cost is comparatively lower. In US cost may be around $ 20,000 USD which is too higher in comparison to India’s $2800-$3,000.
• Surrogates charges are lesser
• Government and Legal authorization is available for the surrogacy treatment

When you can save hundreds of dollars just by going overseas for surrogacy then why keep delaying the issue. Apply for the medical tourism right away, which is an efficient way of knowing and understanding how the country which you have decided upon is carrying out the entire procedure of surrogacy overseas.

Countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, and many others IVF/ICSI procedure is way too cheap and owing to poor economic condition in several parts of the nation women readily serves as a surrogate. They take money and deliver the baby without any hassle. India welcomes couples worldwide who are struggling with infertility problems. Surrogate mothers are easily available in the country in lesser cost.

You can easily search for medical tourism companies and hospitals on Internet, in local newspapers, and yellow pages. Once you find an appropriate one suitable to your needs and travelling budget you can contact them. You are required to fill in the query form where you can ask questions on surrogacy overseas options and costs incurred. Medical tourism firms assist you in knowing and understanding every facet of the medical tourism and in -budget surrogacy/IVF treatment avenues. This will help you in making better decision and have your dream of becoming a parent fulfilled successfully despite of biological deficiency.
Surrogacy overseas is open for married, unmarried, and gay/lesbian couples who cannot have baby of their own due to biological inabilities and deficiencies.

IVF Procedure: What You Didn’t Know About IVF

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:28:33 -0700

It is common knowledge that the main objective of IVF procedure is to achieve fusing of the egg and the sperm outside the womb via artificial means. Saying that IVF is complicated would be nothing short of an understatement. It is indeed one of the most complex procedures which call forth a lot of patience and perseverance in case an individual wants to succeed in this task.

Apart from the traditional five stages of IVF, there are a lot other details involved which a couple should be aware of so that they know what they are heading for. The procedure kick starts with general checkups of both male and female parent to assess the root cause of the problem i.e. difficulty in conceiving. It is also done to assess the overall health of the mother and arrive at a conclusion regarding how the treatment would take place. Even the minutest of details, such as the concise dates of the menstruation or possible allergy to any injection or drugs is also ascertained beforehand.

The first step of IVF procedure which involves ovarian stimulation commences on the third day of menstruation. The medicines which are given to the female parent at this stage are meant to trigger the growth of multiple follicles in the ovaries. This is done in a bid to make the ovaries produce more than one egg. Post the injection of medicines, constant monitoring on the growth of ovarian follicles is performed with the help of gynecologic ultrasonography. Only if the growth of the follicles is found to be satisfactory, then the process of ovulation is started voluntarily. Soon after, the eggs are removed via a transvaginal technique and are safely stored in a lab. Here the follicles are separated from the fluid and are taken forth for the next procedure, known as fertilization.

In this process, the inactive cells around the egg and the semen are separated from the sperm to promote proper fusion of the egg and the sperm. The fusion takes place in an incubated environment where the two are kept together subjected to a certain temperature, heat and light. It is interesting to note that the ratio of the egg and the sperm is generally 1: 75000. The process of fusion of the two cells can also take up to 18 hours. In certain cases, where the individual is reported to have a lower sperm count, the sperm is directly injected into the egg without waiting for it to fuse on its own.

Once the fused egg has reached to the 6-8 level of cell development, it is placed back in the mother’s uterus. The IVF procedure is definitely not as easy as it seems to be. Moreover, there are several conditions which must be fulfilled before an egg can qualify to be fused. Factors like evenness of growth and level of fragmentation are some of the chief factors which are taken into consideration while selecting the right egg.

IVF: The Breakthrough in Medical Sciences

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:05:18 -0700

Regeneration is one of the most natural procedures of the world. However, several health complications can often make it difficult for couples to start a family. In case, either of the individual is suffering from fertility problem, it can be pretty difficult for the couple to regenerate and produce offspring.

Several plans of starting a family are shattered when couples learn of some complication they might be experiencing in conceiving. In such cases, scientific processes, such as IVF seem like God sent. IVF is one of the most path breaking scientific discoveries till date in the field of genetics and biology.

IVF basically stands for In-Vitro Fertilization. A large number of individuals are of the view that most of the scientific procedures which promise a couple to help them conceive are ineffective. There is not a single method which has been devised by science in the field of fertility. However out of the lot, IVF seems most promising.

There is no dearth of fertility treatments which can be adopted by one or both parents which can boost their chances of conceiving.

As stated earlier, IVF is the most effective method of stepping up one’s chances of having a baby. It is a relatively simple and painless procedure which is widely being adopted by couples all over the world.

Women who have inoperative fallopian tubes or sterile men are some of the most common type of patients who come looking for IVF treatment. The treatment procedure of IVF involves uniting the egg and the sperm outside the womb i.e. in a lab or any other medical setting. Subsequently the embryo thus formed is transferred into the uterus of the female parent via the cervix. This procedure is followed by the normal route of pregnancy to begin and manifest itself till he embryo transforms into a baby.

IVF is immensely favored by individuals primarily because it is simple, effective and does not threaten invasiveness. The procedure of IVF basically involves collecting both eggs and sperms from the female and male parent respectively. Prior to this; the female parent is prescribed certain fertility drugs in a hope to revive her fertility tubes. This is done in a bid to help the fallopian tubes to stimulate the ovaries which can thus, produce a large quantity of eggs from which an egg can be chosen.

The egg and sperm are allowed to fuse with each other in the external environment i.e. medical lab. It is only after that the embryo is formed in lab that attempts to place it in the uterus of the woman are made. This is done simply on the hope that the woman will be able to get herself impregnated with the embryo and let the rest of the pregnancy procedure take place in her womb. In certain cases, when the woman’s body does not react favorably to the embryo or in case of any other complication, parents often seek other methods or try IVF again.