Dr. Neha Singh is a Senior Consultant Gynecologist and Fertility Expert at Nova IVF Gorakhpur. She is also working in the American Center of Reproductive as a Global Coordinator. Her interest lies in IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Her main area of focus lies in male infertility, PCOD, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy.

Males & Females Both Are Equally Accountable for Infertility Issues

Dr.Neha Singh points out, “In India, fertility is related mainly to females. Only females go ahead with the treatment of infertility. But it is crucial to know that males and females are equally (50%) important in case of fertility issues and equally accountable for getting treated as both suffer from similar problems - a sedentary lifestyle, stress, pollution, addiction to alcohol and smoking.” 

Process of Fertilization and Infertility

Dr.Singh explains, “Every woman ovulates each month by releasing an egg that travels through the fallopian tubes. The process of fertilization in which the ovum from the female fuses with sperm from the male is very important at this stage through sexual intercourse. This results in the formation of the embryo which travels from the fallopian tubes in 6 days to the uterus and gets implanted in the uterus. Any defect during this entire normal process of fertilization can lead to infertility.”

Causes of Infertility 

Dr.Singh lists down the reasons for male and female fertility:

“Infertility in females is caused due to

“PolyCystic Ovarian Disease.  Low Ovarian reserve  Premature Ovarian failure  Blocked Fallopian tubes  Pelvic Inflammatory Disease(PID) Endometriosis  Genital Tuberculosis  Congestion of Fallopian tube  The small size of the uterus  Uterine problems like Improper implantation of the embryo  Hormonal Imbalance” 

Infertility in males is caused due to

“Hormonal imbalance Low testosterone  History of injury to testes Radiotherapy for cancer treatment  Genetic abnormalities  Ejaculatory duct obstruction etc. 

These conditions can lead to abnormal production of sperms and azoospermia, thereby resulting in infertility,”says Dr. Neha.

Strategies to Prevent Infertility Chances

Dr. Neha Singh, advises:

“Pay attention to reproductive health 

A nutritious diet high in protein like paneer, sprouts, fresh fruits, and vegetables can help

Avoid alcohol, smoking, and tobacco chewing 

Good sleep 

De-stress with yoga “

If after trying for 1 year, you are not able to Conceive then Meet Doctor 

Dr.Neha Singh mentions, “If a couple has been planning to conceive for 1 year and is unable to achieve it, then it calls for attention at the correct time and they should consult a fertility expert. Finding out about the real reason behind infertility and getting it treated with an expert is important.”

Egg Freezing - Option To Have A Baby When You Want

Dr. Singh explains, “Egg Freezing is advanced Assisted Reproductive Technology. The eggs from the females are preserved at a certain age. The golden period for female fertility is from 20 - 30 years. After the age of 30 years, the quantity and quality reduce as age advances. This results in problems with pregnancies. The Egg Freezing technique is especially suited to those females who marry late if they are career-oriented or may be undergoing long-term medication. The Egg Freezing technique is a blessing for such women. They can freeze their eggs at an early stage and can undergo IVF to achieve a healthy pregnancy and baby at later stages of life. The success rate of egg freezing depends on the Age at which Egg Freezing is done and the quality of the egg. Egg Freezing should be done at an early stage of a woman’s life to get a good result,” says Dr. Neha.

In-Vitro Fertilization - New Ray of Hope for Childless Couples

“IVF is a 40-year-old technique and is very common these days. In IVF, the natural process of fertilization mimics in the lab in which the sperms and eggs are taken from males and females respectively (couple) to form an embryo. The best embryo is transferred to the uterus of the female. Once implantation is done successfully, then the process of pregnancy takes place normally and naturally in a woman. IVF is a new ray of hope for childless couples, explains Dr. Neha. She suggests the following points to keep in mind if planning IVF.

“Choice of center  The success rate of the IVF center  Techniques used by IVF center like Laser Assisted Hatching, Blastocyst culture, PRP, etc  Check the Expertise of doctors and specialization of doctors in particular techniques Be financially prepared.  Follow the diet given by the doctor  Take your hormonal injections as prescribed by the doctor regularly  Follow your Doctor’s advice  Continue your normal routine  Positive attitude during the IVF procedure,  Stay healthy

IVF is now a normal OPD procedure and a blessing for childless couples,” says Dr. Neha.

(Edited by Dr.Rati Parwani )

(Contributed by Dr.Neha Singh,Senior Consultant Gynaecologist )