What all to do, eat and avoid for best IVF results?

IVF treatment for infertility is stressful for both the partners waiting for the results. It is however desirable that stress is minimized for a good outcome. There are several important steps to remain optimistic:

i.              Avoid anger and agitation;

ii.            Share your concerns with friends and well-wishers;

iii.            Learn to deal with feelings of stress and negativity;

iv.           Do regular physical and relaxation exercises;

v.            Maintain a good, healthy and balanced dietary plan;

vi.           Avoid exposure to smoking and alcohol;

vii.          Seek regular partnership with the excellent IVF team and the best IVF centre.

Dietary plan is one essential component about which the woman and her family members are particularly concerned. Essentially speaking, the IVF diet plan should consist of fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy green vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, carrots and spinach; whole grains, legumes and beans. Prefer low fat dairy products, good quality proteins, nuts and seeds, healthy fats and whole grains. Good sources of lean protein include beans, eggs, nuts, seeds, and yogurt. Banana, beets and berries are also good.

It is best to avoid junk foods and focus on natural and nutrition-rich foods. Take adequate amounts of water to remain hydrated. Avoid consuming food that comes with artificial sweeteners, excess of caffeine and refined sugars. Coconut water is a good source nutrients and hydration.

No doubt that good food and exercise are important for any woman undergoing IVF and planning to get pregnant. Consult the IVF nutritionist for appropriate advice on choice of  It is difficult however to assign success or failure of IVF to one or the other kind of food intake. IVF success depends more upon factors such as age of the patient, the quality of egg, sperm, and embryo, uterine or endometrial receptivity, history of previous pregnancy, Ovarian Stimulation Protocol and the expertise of the IVF team. It is shown in many studies that more than 95% of IVF failure is due to arrest of the development of embryos, mostly due to chromosomal or other genetic abnormalities.

Down Syndrome - Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Down syndrome is a congenital condition characterized by retarded mental and physical development of the child. Some of the distinct features include the presence of poor muscle tone, a flattened facial profile and nose, short neck, small head, upward slanting eyes ears, and mouth. There is also an increased risk for health problems. Genetically speaking, the person has three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two copies in all cells. It is also called as trisomy 21 because of the presence of an extra chromosome caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell. It is a relatively common genetic disorder at birth especially in case of older age pregnancy. Possibly, the egg quality diminishes with age and causes more embryos to be chromosomally abnormal.

Parents of a child with a genetic disorder such as Down Syndrome are always worried about the possibility of the same problem occurring in a future pregnancy. The question is frequently posed to the family doctor taking care of a pregnant mother. Gynaecologists always face this question the possibility can be determined at an early stage of pregnancy when the same can be legally terminated. This is a very difficult question which can be answered only by pre-implantation genetic tests by a qualified and experienced doctor – the best gynaecologist. 

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) involves the testing of pre-implantation stage embryos or oocytes for genetic defects. PGD is done for couples whose potential offspring are at risk of severe Mendelian disorders, structural chromosome abnormalities or mitochondrial disorders. Besides Down Syndrome, many other common as well as rare diseases can also be diagnosed in this fashion, such as serious  lung disease Cystic fibrosis, neurological diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, and Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy and blood diseases such as hemophilia, Sickle cell disease and thalassemia. PGD is especially helpful when one or both genetic parents has a known genetic abnormality.

IVF is required to obtain embryos for PGD. During IVF, PGD is performed before embryo transfer to select eggs without a known or suspected gene problem to remove the possibility of the genetic disorder. Assisted hatching is done after eggs are retrieved and fertilized in the laboratory. 

There is also some evidence to suggest that PGS testing reduces miscarriages. It is particularly important in case of women of older than 35 years of age.  Moreover, screening embryos with PGS and transferring only the ones that are chromosomally normal can increase IVF success rates.

According to the advice of the best gynaecologist in Chandigarh PGD is safe; most of the risks are similar to those for conventional IVF. Occasionally, mild reactions such as hot flushes, feeling down or irritable, headaches and restlessness may occur. These symptoms usually disappear after a short time.

Relationship between Diet/Lifestyle/Stress and Male Infertility

According to medical specialists, about 10 – 15 % of couples in India are said to have infertility. Infertility is not just a women’s problem. Men can infertile too.

In our daily practice we can seen that there is a drastic change in daily routine of people. They are stressed and have poor lifestyle habits in comparison to the past century. So they become more susceptible to different health problems. Infertility is also amongst these. In case of men, infertility issue is related to a variety of risk factors like medical issues, lifestyle expectancy, sperm count, production of sperm, hormonal imbalance etc.

There is a direct link between the environment, socio economic factors and male infertility. Poor eating habits contribute to this infertility problem.

Here are a few points for regarding male fertility:

Waist circumference: By waist circumference we are talking about obesity. Higher the waist circumference, more will be obesity and lower will be the semen volume and sperm concentration. So, one should achieve a healthy weight with normal waist circumference.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: Diabetes does not directly affect male fertility or causes sperm  immobility but it can lead to poor sperm quality. Again, one of the main factors contributing to DM Type 2 is obesity and poor lifestyle.

Stress: Stress is the prominent part of any society and infertility is itself stressful due various factors like social pressure, testing, diagnosis, treatment etc. By following a regular counselling sessions from their psychologist one can recover from this. Lower levels of psychological stress and anxiety can help in the restoration of semen quality.

Dietary pattern and Habits:  Several observational studies have proved a strong connection between male fertility and dietary habits. Diets rich in red meat, saturated fats, trans fats, alcohol, cigarette smoking, caffeine, late night screening, too much of sauna,  together make a negative influence on chance of their partner’s pregnancy or their fertility.

A good intake of antioxidants, low fat dairy, lean meats, fruits and vegetable, seeds and nut proves good. In short a healthy balanced meal and good lifestyle leads to increase in good sperm quality or semen volume. Regular physical activity whether in the form of any sport or exercise proves beneficial as it will keep the person fit, i.e., keep their body weight within normal BMI range, good hormones’ will release which will help them to lower their anxiety level and many more benefits are there.

So, the conclusion is this that correction of inappropriate lifestyles can improve sperm quality and semen volume. Attention to proper diet, reduction of obesity and control of underlying diseases will lead improvement in fertility potential.

“NEVER GIVE UP ON A DREAM JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT WILL TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH IT.”

Connection Between Diet and Infertility

Diet has a significant impact on both male and female reproductive organs.  Poor dietary habits, lifestyle, late night parties, binge eating, more screen time, obesity, overweight, underweight etc all these together leads to infertility and hormonal imbalance in both men and women.

In our today’s daily practice we have found couples struggling with infertility due to all the above said factors. Obesity, PCOD/PCOS, hormonal imbalance are directly connected with infertility.

By doing some changes in one’s daily routines and adopting healthy habits one can achieve the dream of being a parent.

As we all know, a healthy pregnancy leads to a healthy child. So a diet rich in all the nutrients and environment free of chemicals like cosmetics, fresheners, keratins etc. Can improve ovulation, fertility and offer an excellent start to pregnancy.

Here are a few recommendations for both men and women which can help to increase their fertility.

• Eat food from all the food groups including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, unsaturated  healthy fats, plant protein and lean animal proteins.

• Cut down the trans fat intake and saturated fats also. All these can cause insulin sensitivity or resistance. Or fat accumulation in the body. Switch to more of unsaturated fats like vegetable oils, olive oil, nuts etc.

• Consume seeds daily like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax and sesame as all these together help in improving the sperm quality in men.

• Try to replace meat protein with vegetable protein (as animals  are often raised at unsanitary farms and given pesticides or chemical loaded feed).

• Try to start using more of the organic products as much as possible. Or wash the food properly before using them .

• Drink plenty of water and cut off refined sugars or sugar based beverages.

• Choose carbohydrates wisely or food that is rich in fibre and slowly digested. As these kinds of foods have low glycemic index and they help to control your blood sugar and insulin levels.

• Choose more of the natural products. Limit the use of chemicals. 

• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake. Chronic smoking and drinking alcohol is associated with reduced sperm concentration, volume and motility.

• Limit the use of ready to cook foods. As these are loaded with preservatives, genetically modified foods or ingredients whose regular use can cause hormonal imbalance.

• If you use a microwave then use glass containers for heating as plastic materials will release toxic compounds.

• Monitor for healthy weight as obesity or being overweight is the main culprit for infertility.

A balanced wholesome diet is most important for infertility in both men and women. Only a positive mind and a positive approach will give you a kick start for a healthy life. Your body will become what you eat. So eat better, not less. A fertile bedrock will develop as a result of these changes.

Before starting any medicine or diet plan consult your doctors and dietician as all diets are not perfect for everyone. Each body needs their own changes and has their own requirements.

Amidst Covid19 Stay Positive in Pregnancy

The tiny microbe Corona has turned life upside down for the whole world; especially the health care sector. Pregnant patients are always a big concern because two young lives are involved. A new disease with barely known outcomes/varied presentations & unpredictable course has added on to the fears of the pregnant woman, her family & the doctors. Taking clues from other related respiratory viral diseases, we can just extrapolate the outcomes. Fortunately in India, the severity of disease has not been as bad as in the west, may be our early & extended lockdown has helped. Sufficient to say: most important factors are to practice good hygiene & social distancing which has been emphasized time and again. Lot of warm liquids, fresh high protein food, deep breathing exercises and positive thinking would help. Reading & listening to contradictory & negative reports is counter -productive. Instead of reading about Corona, read some positive books, listen to soothing music, and indulge in exercises at home. Do cooking, stitching, painting, gardening etc. whatever you enjoy. Physical activity, good diet & good thoughts improve immunity. Because of changes in immunity: Pregnancy falls into High Risk category so we need to be extra-careful. 

One very important word of caution: Ease of lockdown doesn’t mean that Corona risk has reduced: we rather have to me more cautious now

·    No baby showers

·    No shopping

·    No visits to parlors.

Let each one do what each one is trained for / expected to do. Motherhood is to be enjoyed so stay happy, positive & follow your doctor’s advice. Stay safe, stay strong, stay blessed. Contact Jindal IVF for your inquiry.   

Yoga and Infertility

 Although the new pandemic of coronavirus has temporarily covered the whole world, as it subsides, the old problem of infertility is rearing its head once again. Current statistics indicate that 1 out of every 6 couples in India is infertile and that the rate of infertility is increasing over time. A lot of infertility treatments are available – but before going in for treatment, any infertile couple has to consider additional measures to boost fertility.

If one briefly surveys the causes of infertility, one might find reasons like obesity, stress, tension and lack of time and physical exercise. It is a fact that disease – like infertility – may be caused not only by physical factors but also by mental and spiritual distress. Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and spiritual well-being and lack of any one of these factors may manifest in a physical form. Treatment of these causes may break the chain that leads to infertility and potentially avoid infertility treatments.

Yoga is an ancient Indian system aimed at keeping one’s body, mind and soul healthy and fit. In today’s stressful world the practice of yoga is ideally suited towards restoring the balance of one’s life and making oneself physically and mentally fit. The practice of yoga comprises physical and breathing exercises – also called as pranayama – and meditation. It is a complete amalgamation of these three elements which transform one’s body, mind and soul and allows one to reach a state of complete bliss.

As a word of caution, one should be careful not to get seduced by unscrupulous or improperly trained persons. As is the case with all disciplines, yoga has to be learnt from a competent teacher or Guru. Also important is to remain focused and patient and keep working regularly and honestly.

The practice of yoga and regular exercise helps in reducing some cases of infertility and avoiding costly infertility treatments. So, start now or you want any tips contact- Jindal IVF

Role of Genetics in Male and Female Infertility

Reproduction in any species,is a highly complicated process. It involves co-ordination at several different steps. All of these processes are tightly regulated by a number of genes and thereby require the proper functioning of these genes.

Gene is a unit of DNA, present in every human, which is important for the transfer of hereditary traits to children. Abnormality in any of these may lead to various problems including infertility.

Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy (technically within 1 year of marriage), assuming regular intercourse between the couple. Childlessness is a serious issue, carrying major negative psychological impact on couples, and social stigma, especially in a developing countries like ours.

The basis of infertility is also varied and involves a complex interplay of several gene products. It has been estimated that nearly 30% of infertility cases are due to genetic defects.

Genetic disease means any abnormality in one’s genetic make up – involving genes or chromosomes (a group of genes). There can be many types of chromosomal abnormalities like a missing piece of a chromosome (deletion), change in the gene’s DNA sequence (mutation), change in the total number of chromosomes (aneuploidy) etc.

Even if pregnancy does happen, chromosomally abnormal embryos often lead to miscarriages or to the birth of babies with physical or mental abnormalities.

Presently only a few genetic abnormalities are considered to be associated with infertility, but in this era of complete human genome mapping, personalized medicine is rapidly coming to the forefront.

While discussing all the genetic diseases here would be futile, let us focus on the most important ones.

MALE INFERTILITY

Chromosomal abnormalities are detected in up to 20% of infertile men with severe semen defects like azoospermia, and severe oligozoospermia. Some of the common genetic defects that causes male infertility are:-

Klinefelter Syndrome  – 47,XXY(normal male is 46 XY) i.e. presence of an extra X chromosome in a male. It is the most common chromosomal aberration detected in up to 14% of infertile patients with azoospermia.

Klinefelter patients show multiple other features like a tall male with less body hair, weak muscles, learning and behavioral problems. There is high risk of chromosomal abnormalities in their children, even if these men manage to father one.

47,XYY Syndrome -This syndrome is rare, but is more common among infertile males. These men with the 47,XYY karyotype (i.e.an extra y chromosome)are otherwise healthy but semen analyses is usually abnormal.

Structural Chromosomal Abnormalities – This  include deletions, duplications, translocations and inversions. Overall, these occur in nearly 5% in infertile men. Apart from infertility, wives of these males are prone to abortions too.

Y Chromosome Microdeletions -This is an important microdeletion associated with male infertility. It involves abnormalities in the Y chromosome, and as this chromosome is present only in males, this problem affects the males exclusively. AZFc type of deletions are found more commonly in India. This type of genetic abnormality can be passed from father to son, making it particularly important to be ruled out prior to planning conception.

Testicular Disorder of Sex Development (DSD)  – The DSD (46,XX male syndrome) is a rare disease. 46,XX males with testicular DSD have normal male genitalia, but develop abnormal sperm formation over time and even testicular shrinking.

CBAVD – The most common single-gene disorder is congenital bilateral aplasia of the vas deferens (CBAVD) i.e. the absence of the tube carrying sperms out of the testes. This leads to complete absence of sperms in the semen(azoospermia). Complete mutation this gene results in classical cystic fibrosis syndrome, including multiple other clinical symptoms and male infertility.

FEMALE INFERTILITY

Multiple genes are involved in formation of hormones determining sequence of formation of the reproductive organs during the course development of a female body. Any defect in the interplay of these hormones leads to the abnormality in the development of the female organs like the uterus, fallopian tubes or the ovaries-a finding not so uncommon in the setting of female infertility. Premature ovarian failure(early menopause)is also quite routinely seen in this population.

Primary Ovarian Failure (POF)
Ovaries release the female hormones, responsible for the maintenance of female characters. Primary ovarian failure is the failure of the ovaries to function. So the woman presents with early menopause(stopping of monthly periods)and infertility. Several genes maybe associated with this disease.

47,XXX  – Also known as trisomy X , is one of most common causes of premature ovarian failure.

Down syndrome – Down syndrome is usually associated with advanced age of the mother and is one the commonest genetic disorders. It is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome (three instead of two) in position 21. It is also referred to as trisomy 21.

Turner syndrome – Also known as monosomy X or 45,XO.These woman have abnormalities of the skeletal system(bones),heart,short height and non functional ovaries.The milder forms of his syndrome(mosaics)often present with infertility.

Fragile X syndrome  – This a disorder characterized mainly by mental retardation and facial abnormalities. Infertility is common and at times runs in families so females having sisters or other family members suffering from infertility should get themselves tested at an infertility clinic at the earliest.

Galactosemia – This is a metabolic disorder related to improper utilisation of a sugar in the body. It has a strong genetic basis. Genetic counselling and medical intervention is very useful in families with this disease..

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS) – PCOS is a highly complex hormonal condition that affects 8-10% of women of the reproductive age group. PCOS is marked by excess of male hormones in the female and abnormality of sugar control, leading to multiple problems like irregular periods, weight gain, excessive hair growth, skin changes etc.

A large number of these women suffer from infertility as the egg release from the ovary(ovulation) is often defective. Early and persistent treatment with an infertility specialist leads to successful child bearing in a large majority of these patients. Multiple genes governing the sugar control and sex hormone regulation are involved.

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) – It is a very peculiar condition where when a person who is genetically male (who has one X and one Y chromosome) is resistant to male hormones and as a result, looks completely like a female externally.This “she” can never conceive. AIS is caused by genetic defects on the y chromosome.

Genetics of Infertility Common to Both Sexes:

Cystic fibrosis – Patients with CF suffer from systemic disorders in multiple organ disorders, including infertility. In males, there may often be the absence of the Vas(the tube transporting sperms from testis) and various semen abnormalities. This gene is expressed in various female reproductive organs like the cervix, oviduct, ovary, and uterus and it leads to menstrual irregularities and anovulation(lack of egg liberation from ovary).

Kallmann Syndrome (KS) – It is a genetic disorder that results from abnormal release of reproductive hormones from the brain. This leads to the absence of sexual maturity(puberty) or delayed appearance of beards and moustaches, even sexual issues. It also maybe associated with the absence of the sense of smell. Most of these men/women are infertile and need long term hormonal supplements.

Robertsonian Translocations – These are typical chromosomal abnormalities that may present with reproductive dysfunction, such as oligospermia (low sperm count) in males and miscarriages and infertility in females.

Infertility is a complex problem, identification of a single causative gene is usually not possible. But now there are multiple, more advanced tests in addition to the routinely done karyotyping, like fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) and comparative genomic hybridisation(CGH), available to identify chromosomal abnormalities.

Once the defect is identified, couples may benefit from the technology of pre-implantation genetic testing(PGT) in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF). This, in simple words, involves, taking out the egg from female partner and sperm from male-forming the embryo in the laboratory and then testing all the embryos so made for the genetic abnormality suspected.

The abnormal, diseased embryos are discarded and only the “normal” embryos are then employed to attain pregnancy. This procedure gives the couple a unique opportunity to use advanced technology to select only the normal embryos and not leave anything to chance. The baby arising from this intervention almost ensures the freedom from the genetic disease in question.

Although a couple may otherwise have no fertility problems, but IVF and PGT together can still be given a serious thought to spare the affected couple from heartache in form of an abnormal baby in cases where there is a known genetic family history.

Even in some cases of recurrent abortion, this ploy may work-these couples may not have infertility, but all pregnancies end up in abortions. All blood tests turn out to be normal in these cases.

Many of these cases turn out to be of genetic origin on advanced testing. IVF with PGT can attempt to provide a live child to such a couple. Even in couples with late marriage at an older age, where the risk of chromosomally abnormal babies increases(especially if the woman is over 37-38 year old), this technology can be used to ensure the removal of all the defective embryos.

All the babies arising from these procedures are completely normal with no long term detrimental effects, either physically or mentally. This is an excellent option to eradicate a genetic disease running in families and ensure healthy subsequent off springs.

Jindal IVF clinic prides itself as being the only clinic in the region offering all these services under one roof, right from infertility treatment to in house genetic counselling, testing and feto maternal specialists. All advanced genetic testings, including PGT are being carried out in the clinic.

For any query related to infertility & infertility treatments , contact IVF Jindal at 01724911000, 9779030507 or request a call back here