Infertility

Department of Infertility & High Risk Pregnancy Clinic

Dr. K. K. Gopinath, MD, DGO

Inability to conceive after one year of unprotected cohabitation is refered to as Infertility. When conceptions have never occurred, it is called Primary Infertility. When pregnancy fails to occur after a delivery or an abortion, it is called Secondary Infertility. A distressing solution indeed, but with newer developments and research, most of the infertile couples can be treated successfully now.

Infertility occurs when either the husband or wife or both of them (as in 50% cases) are at fault. Investigations of an infertile couple starts with a detailed history taking of their life pattern, followed by physical examination of both partners and investigations. Semen analysis is to be the first and foremost investigation and if required blood investigations of males to diagnose male

causes of infertility like azoospermia obstruction, varicocoel and other surgical conditions.

The female causes of infertility may be

Improper cohabitation

Irregularities with ovulation

Tubal factors like blocked tubes, and adhesion

Conditions like endometriosis

The tests for the female comprises of post coital test, ovulation studies by ultrasound, tubal patancy tests, hormonal assays and hysterolaproscopy.

An abnormal post coital test will warrant an Intrauterine Insemination, if other parameters are within normal limits. Ovulation induction can be achieved with various ovulgen tablet and gonadotrophin injections. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is a major cause of ovulatory disturbance, can be treated by laparoscopy ovarian drilling or wedge resection. If medical treatment is futile, Operative Laparoscopy also helps to achieve pregnancy by way of adhesiolysis and removal of cysts and fulgration of endometriosis, resection of uterine septure by hysteroscope.

All these facilities are available at the Infertility Clinic of Fathima Hospital. Those who do not conceive despite any major problem falls in the group of unexplained infertility. Those who have a very low count oligozoospermia, extensive adhesions, loss of tube, failed IUI are later referred for assisted reproductive technique.

High-risk pregnancy – when a mother has had a bad obstetrics history in the form of repeated abortions or later pregnancy losses or if the present pregnancy is complicated by any medical conditions like hypertension, diabetic, renal or other illness, her current pregnancy is one at a high risk.
At Fathima Hospital these categories of patients are seen on a daily basis and investigated and most of them take home babies with a happy face.