Getting Help on Fertility Issue

In-Vitro Fertilisation, or IVF, is probably the most widely known form of assisted conception, but not every couple ends up needing it or is suitable for it. And before IVF is even considered, a couple’s fertility issues first have to be assessed and other treatments explored.

 

Dr Christopher Chen of the Christopher Chen Centre for Reproductive Medicine describes what typically happens when a couple approaches him for help. “Both husband and wife come for the first consultation. During this time, their clinical history is obtained and an assessment of their fertility states made. Information about their age, the duration of their marriage, the period they have been trying earnestly to conceive, whether they have had previous pregnancies, children, miscarriages or even previous marriage partners is obtained.”

 

In the next stage of the first consultation, the husband provides a semen sample so that the quality of his sperm can be assessed. It is also tested against his wife’s vaginal mucus to check whether her mucus is toxic to his sperm. Dr Chen continues, “Once the semen report is available and if a problem is detected, the husband is usually examined to determine the cause of his sperm problem, which is most commonly the presence of varicocoeles (enlarged veins in the scrotum).”

 

And what about the woman? “For the wife, a detailed history is taken of her menstrual cycle, taking into account its regularity, any pain with her menses suggesting the possibility of endometriosis, heavy menstrual flow due to adenomyosis, and the possibility of uterine fibroids as well as hormonal dysfunction,” explains Dr Chen. Her reproductive hormonal profile is assessed in the third week of her cycle; this includes the study of her hormones: FSH stimulates the production of eggs; LH ripens the eggs; prolactin may affect the breasts and, indirectly, ovulation; and oestrogen and progesterone.

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