Infertility treatment with ART

Infertility treatment is becoming increasingly relevant worldwide. Approximately 45% of marriages with infertility in Ukraine are related to impaired women’s reproductive function. On the other side, there is a tendency observed towards the increase of such cases. Female infertility is determined by the absence of getting pregnant within a year of leading regular unprotected sexual life up to 35 years and during the next 6 months following 35 years.

However modern medicine demonstrates high efficiency. Effective treatment methods enable one to undergo the joy of motherhood. In Kyiv, at Reprolife Medical Centre, experienced specialists will develop an individual and the most compelling treatment plan after conducting a thorough diagnosis.

Causes when female infertility emerges

Infertility does not occur by itself but rather comes as a consequence of the changes in the body. Determination of the pregnancy failing to occur requires consulting an experienced reproductive technology specialist. Infertility can be provoked by numerous factors:

• congenital abnormalities of the uterus and appendages as well as acquired alteration (after undergoing some surgical interventions);
• inflammatory diseases; chronic endometritis;
• endocrine system dysfunctions, particularly those of adrenal glands and thyroid gland, changes in hormonal profile with low production of progesterone, which is important for implantation matureness to receive the embryo in the uterine cavity);
• the presence of adhesions in the small pelvis;
• impaired patency of the fallopian tubes;
• premature decrease/depletion of the ovarian reserve;
• polycystic ovaries;
• polyps and uterine myomas;
• genetic diseases;
• endometriosis;
• disorders of the proper endometrium growth (Asherman syndrome);
• ovulation disorders (absence or irregular, rare ovulation);
• genitourinary infections;
• diseases of the cervix etc.

Only an experienced reproductive technology specialist is able to properly determine the cause of the non-occurrence of pregnancy, which will enable the scheduling of an effective treatment plan.

Types and forms of infertility

Depending on the frequency of pregnancy, the possibilities to concept and gestate  the following types of female infertility can be distinguished:

1. Primary and secondary. The first is diagnosed in women who were previously pregnant.Women diagnosed with “secondary infertility” are those who were previously pregnant, but who experienced difficulties with subsequent attempts to concept. Such situations can result from, for example, previous abortions, gynecological and endocrine diseases (polyps, uterine fibromyomas that can deform the uterine cavity, premature decrease/depletion of the ovarian reserve (oocytes reserve, endometriosis, etc.).
2. Relative and absolute. In the first case, pregnancy is possible after treatment or the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In the second case, pregnancy does not occur in the absence of the uterus or other genitals. Such disorders can be congenital and acquired.

The concept of “female infertility” also covers various types and forms that require special attention and approach as far as the processes of diagnosis and treatment are concerned, including:

1. Tubal factor infertility; occurs due to obstruction of the fallopian tubes or their absence. It can be either congenital or come as a consequence of the adhesion process. Determination of patency is possible due to the usage of special studies (echomaster salpingography – carried out under the control of ultrasound separately or during hysteroscopy; metrosalpingography – performed under X-ray control. The latter has a number of drawbacks and thus is rarely used in modern reproductology).
2. Hormonal; disorders of this nature provoke the absence of ovulation, due to which there is no possibility of conception. A disorder of the endocrine system often leads to the development of formations in the uterus, ovaries or endometrium (insufficient or excessive growth of the endometrium, which may become the reason for the absence of embrio implantation into the uterine cavity).
3. Uterine; It is associated with the uterus, particularly with its structure (congenital malformations), neoplasms or diseases. These can be submucosal fibroids, endometrial polyps, etc.
4. Premature reduction or depletion of the ovarian reserve (in this case, the supply of oocytes may not correspond to reproductive age and be individually reduced or depleted). It becomes increasingly common in women of reproductive age.
5. Endometriosis is the overgrowth of the endometrium outside the uterus.
6. Deviations in the number or structure of chromosomes. Genetic causes may affect the ability to get fertilised, to develop/implant embryos.
7. Cervical; caused by a violation of the composition of cervical mucus, which can complicate the process of spermatozoa movement.
8. Immunological; such infertility is due to the production in the female organism of antibodies to the spermatozoa of the partner. This can complicate the reaching of the oocyte.
9. Age; in women of older reproductive age, the quality of oocytes (eggs) and their ability to fertilize and conceive a healthy embryo decreases. The probability of chromosomal disorders of embryos increases.
10. Mixed; difficulties with conception can be provoked by several factors simultaneously.

There are not always the reasons for that. In this case, the infertility of an incomprehensible genesis is discussed. Due to the modern rapid pace of development of reproductive technologies – this form is already rare.

Symptoms of infertility in women

There are no obvious clinical manifestations of this condition. It is difficult to recognize it on your own. But, by analyzing the causes of difficulties with conception, the reproductive technology specialist can identify indirect signs associated with certain disorders. Among them:

• excessive weight or, conversely, insufficient body weight;
• menstrual cycle disorders associated with such characteristics as duration, profusion and regularity;
• acne, oiliness of hair, increased male-type hair (above the upper lip, in the armpits, on the pubis) – may indicate a hormonal imbalance (often an increase in testosterone in the female organism);
• pain and masses in the pelvic area;
• immaturity of the mammary glands, transparent or milk discharge from the breast.

To determine how to treat infertility in women, reproductologists carefully analyze clinical data.