Planning for parenthood: Fertility specialist on essential tips

Rtv news

13 Jul 2024, 23:38

Photo: Collected

Many women have the desire to hold a child in their arms but for some, this desire is thwarted by invisible barriers and because of this, women in particular and many young couples these days have been advised to seek therapy as soon as they have concerns about their reproductive health. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shobha Gupta, Medical Director, board-certified IVF Physician and Gynaecologist at Mother's Lap IVF Centre in New Delhi and Vrindavan, elucidated the ways in which gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, obstructed Fallopian tubes, PCOS and other conditions might imperceptibly affect female fertility.

Follow Rtv Online English on Google news

Urging women to see their gynaecologist any time they have any concerns about their reproductive health such as pain, menstrual irregularities, missed periods not related to pregnancy and infertility, Dr Shobha Gupta underlined the significance of getting expert assistance as soon as possible to allow for timely discovery and diagnosis, which she stated are essential, given the variety of treatment choices available.

Starting a fertility journey entails a number of actions and decisions. Dr Shobha Gupta highlighted some important things to remember -

Medical and health considerations
1. Consult a specialist: Schedule a visit with a fertility specialist to understand your reproductive health and discuss your options.

2. Understand your cycle: Track your menstrual cycle to identify your most fertile days.

3. Medical history: Share your full medical history with your doctor, including any previous pregnancies, miscarriages, or surgeries.

4. Preconception health: Both partners should undergo preconception health checks to identify and address any potential issues.

5. Folic Acid: Start taking folic acid supplements as recommended by your doctor to reduce the risk of birth defects.

Financial planning:
1. Insurance coverage: Check your insurance coverage for fertility treatments and understand what costs will be out-of-pocket.

2. Budgeting: Plan and budget for potential treatments, medications, and other related expenses.

Identifying the issues and treatment options:
1. Understanding options: Familiarise yourself with different fertility treatments like medication, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), etc.

2. Success rates: Research the success rates of different treatments and discuss these with your specialist.

Medication, minimally invasive surgery, or even assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IUI or IVF can provide a route to parenthood, depending on the particular problem. Dr Shobha Gupta stated, "This isn't just medical information; it's a message of hope." She urged women to prioritise their reproductive health and not wait to consult their gynaecologist because prompt action can greatly boost the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.”

Lifestyle and environmental factors:
1. Healthy weight: Aim for a healthy weight, as being overweight or underweight can affect fertility.

2. Avoid toxins: Limit exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals that may impact fertility.

3. Eat wisely: It is always best to stay away from junk food, particularly if you are attempting to conceive. Changing your diet is one of the most significant methods to get your body ready for parenthood. The best method to prepare your body for conception is to eat a well-balanced diet full of complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

4. Pay attention to the action: It is advised that expectant mothers refrain from using tobacco products, drinking alcohol, and eating a diet heavy in non-vegetarian foods. It's important to keep in mind that your chances of getting pregnant will increase if you give up these vices prior to conception. Just keep in mind that consuming more than two glasses of wine each day can alter a woman's oestrogen levels and decrease her remaining egg supply.

5. Avoid caffeine: If you drink a lot of tea and coffee, you should consider reducing your caffeine intake as well. This is because consuming too much caffeine has been linked to decreased oestrogen levels, which can cause ovulation to be delayed and reduce the likelihood that you will become pregnant.

6. Have regular intercourse to get pregnant quickly: Studies show that couples who have sex at least once every other day are more likely to become pregnant than those who don't. Make having sex a pleasure rather than a chore. The reproductive peak may fluctuate in women with regular cycles, so timing is crucial.

Dr Shobha Gupta concluded, "As gynaecological issues and infertility are interrelated, appropriate investigations, diagnosis, and treatment are crucial." “The primary goal is to inform women about different ways to address infertility problems, which are now a global concern that impact every couple.” So as you begin your road towards fertility, bear in mind everything that has been said thus far.

Source: HT

Comments

Most Viewed News Of Health

Study Explains Why Females Sleep Less

While caregiving roles often take a toll on women's sleep, a new study on Thursday suggested that biological factors may also play a role in why females sleep less. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, showed that women sleep less, and wake up more often. They also get less restorative sleep than men. The findings based on experiments in mice shed new light on what may underlie sleep differences in men and women. "In humans, men and women exhibit distinct sleep patterns, often attributed to lifestyle factors and caregiving roles," said Rachel Rowe, assistant professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, US. "Our results suggest that biological factors may play a more substantial role in driving these sleep differences than previously recognized," Rowe added. Sleep research has exploded in recent years, with thousands of animal studies exploring how insufficient sleep impacts the risk of diseases like diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's, and immune disorders -- and how such diseases impact sleep. For the non-invasive study, the team used specialized cages lined with ultrasensitive movement sensors to assess the sleep patterns of 267 "C57BL/6J" mice. They found that males slept about 670 minutes total per 24-hour period, about an hour more than female mice. That extra sleep was non-rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep -- the restorative sleep when the body works to repair itself. Female mice were found to have shorter bouts of sleep -- essentially, their sleep is more fragmented. The study saw similar sex differences in other animals, including fruit flies, rats, zebrafish, and birds. Rowe said biologically, "females are designed to be more sensitive to their environment and be aroused when they need to be because they are typically the ones who are caring for the young," Rowe said, noting that stress hormones like cortisol (which promotes wakefulness) and sex hormones also may play a role. The team hopes for more research to understand the underlying biological differences that can boost sleep treatment.

Dengue Claims 10 More Lives

Ten more people have died of dengue in the last 24 hours. 886 people have been admitted to the hospital. This information was revealed in the dengue report of the Directorate General of Health Services on Saturday (November 23). It said that among those admitted to the hospital in the last 24 hours due to dengue, 373 are from Dhaka City Corporation and the rest are from outside Dhaka. During this time, 938 people have been discharged from the hospital. So far this year, 85,712 people have been admitted to the hospital due to dengue. Of these, 81,456 have been discharged. 448 have died. Atiqur Rahman, a specialized doctor at DMCH said that dengue is no longer seasonal now, it occurs throughout the year. It increases when it starts raining. In addition to using mosquito repellents to prevent dengue, the city corporation must also conduct campaigns everywhere. At the same time, everyone must be aware of it. Entomologist Dr Manjur Chowdhury says that not only public awareness will work to control mosquitoes. Appropriate measures must be taken by conducting proper surveys and using skilled manpower. It is worth noting that in 2023, the highest number of dengue patients in the country's history was 3,21,179, and 1,705 people died.

Dengue Claims 47 Lives in A Week

The dengue outbreak in the country is not decreasing in any way. Along with the deaths, the number of infected people is also increasing. The pressure of patients in hospitals increasing. According to the dengue report of the Department of Health, 47 have died of dengue this week (November 23 to November 29) and 5,968 have been admitted to hospitals. According to the statistics of the last seven days, November 23: 10 died, 886 hospitalized November 24: 11 died, 1,079 hospitalized November 25: 2 died, 934 hospitalized November 26: 10 died, 990 hospitalized November 27: 4 died, 888 hospitalized November 28: 7 died, 837 hospitalized November 29: 3 died, 354 hospitalized. So far this year, 90,793 people have been hospitalized due to dengue. Of these, 87,281 have been discharged. 485 died. Atiqur Rahman, a specialized doctor at DMCH said that dengue is no longer seasonal, it occurs throughout the year. It increases when it starts raining. In addition to using mosquito repellents to prevent dengue, the city corporation must also conduct campaigns everywhere. At the same time, everyone must be aware of it. Entomologist Dr Manjur Chowdhury says that not only public awareness will work to control mosquitoes. Appropriate measures must be taken by conducting proper surveys and using skilled manpower. It is worth noting that in 2023, the highest number of dengue patients in the country's history was 3,21,179, and 1,705 people died.

Dengue Claims 173 Lives in November

The dengue outbreak in the country is not decreasing in any way. Along with the deaths, the number of infected people is also increasing. The pressure of patients in hospitals is increasing rapidly. According to the dengue report of the Department of Health, 173 people have died of dengue this month (November), which is the highest in a month this year. In addition, 29,652 people have been admitted to hospitals due to dengue in November. According to the monthly statistics of this year, 14 died, 1,055 hospitalized in January 3 died, 339 hospitalized in February 5 died, 311 hospitalized in March 2 died, 504 hospitalized in April 12 died, 644 hospitalized in May 8 died, 798 hospitalized in June 12 died, 2,669 hospitalized in July 27 died, 6,521 hospitalized in August 80 died, 18,097 hospitalized in September 134 died, 30,879 hospitalized in October 173 died, 29,652 hospitalized in November So far this year, a total of 91,469 people have been hospitalized due to dengue. Of these, 87,879 have been discharged. 488 have died. Of the deceased, 208 people died in Dhaka South City Corporation and 89 in Dhaka North City Corporation. The rest died in different parts of the country. Atiqur Rahman, a specialized doctor at DMCH said that dengue is no longer seasonal, it occurs throughout the year. It increases when it starts raining. In addition to using mosquito repellents to prevent dengue, the city corporation must also conduct campaigns everywhere. At the same time, everyone must be aware of it. Entomologist Dr Manjur Chowdhury says that not only public awareness will work to control mosquitoes. Appropriate measures must be taken by conducting proper surveys and using skilled manpower. It is worth noting that in 2023, the highest number of dengue patients in the country's history was 3,21,179, and 1,705 died.

Bangladesh Reports Highest AIDS-Affected Patients This Year

In the last year, 195 people have died of AIDS in the country. This year, 1,438 people have been newly infected with AIDS. This is the highest number of AIDS cases since the first HIV (AIDS virus) positive case was identified in Bangladesh in 1989. Of these, 55 percent are married. This information was obtained from the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and AIDS Control Program (TB-L & ASP) of the Department of Health. Today is December 1, World AIDS Day. On this occasion, the Department of Health will present various statistics related to AIDS in the country. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is 'If rights are ensured, HIV/AIDS will go away'. Thoughts on young people and two risk groups This year, 63 percent of the newly infected people are between 25 to 49 years old. 21 percent are between 20 to 24 years old. Last year, 16 percent of young people were between 19 to 24 years old. Among patients, 10 percent of the total infected people are Rohingya. Last year, the rate was 12 percent. Transgender people account for 1 percent of the total infections. Last year too, the infection rate among them was similar. These three groups, including homosexuals, female sex workers, and intravenous drug users, are also considered vulnerable to HIV. Dr Md. Mahfuzar Rahman Sarkar, Line Director of TB-L & ASP at the Directorate General of Health Services, said, "Globally, the younger population is considered vulnerable to HIV. We are no exception here. And while living in Myanmar, HIV infection was relatively high among the Rohingya. Testing has increased among Rohingya and transgender people than before. Therefore, more are being identified." Dr Saima Khan, Country Director for Bangladesh at UNAIDS, said, the scope of identifying and providing services to HIV-infected people has increased. However, campaigning can be increased to prevent the increase in infections among the young generation. More awareness topics need to be added to the curriculum on this issue. Infection is more common among married people, fear of death Of those infected with AIDS this year, 55 percent are married. 40 percent are single. 5 percent are widowed or divorced. Last year, the infection rate among married people was 60 percent. Among single people, it was 31 percent. Like last year, this year too, the Dhaka division has the highest number of HIV infections. Last year, the number of deaths due to HIV was 266. This year, the number is 195. Although the number of deaths has decreased, it is still at an alarming level, says Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). This virologist said that the HIV treatment system is now quite advanced. The cause of death may be that the infected people are not taking regular and proper treatment. Again, it is necessary to pay attention to whether the drugs being given are becoming resistant or not.

Dhaka's Air 'Unhealthy' Today, 5 Places With High Pollution

Air pollution is increasing day by day in various cities around the world due to various reasons including climate change. Along with this, Dhaka's air has also been under the grip of pollution for a long time. Dhaka's air is still 'unhealthy' on Tuesday (December 3) morning. According to the data of the international air quality technology company IQAir at around 8 am, the capital Dhaka is in sixth position with a score of 186. This air is harmful to any person. Today, pollution is high in five places in Dhaka and its surroundings. These places include Eastern Housing 2, Hemayetpur in Savar, Rob Bhaban in Gulshan-2, the US Embassy in Dhaka, and the Aga Khan Academy. At the same time, the Indian city of Delhi is at the top of the list of the most polluted cities in the world with a score of 248. Iraq's capital Baghdad is in second place with a score of 226, Pakistan's Karachi is in third place with a score of 219, another Pakistani city Lahore is in second place with a score of 217 and China's Hangzhou is in fifth place with a score of 202. An Air Quality Index (AQI) score of zero to 50 is considered good. 51 to 100 is considered moderate, and 101 to 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. A score of 151 to 200 is considered 'unhealthy' air. An AQI score between 201 and 300 is called 'very unhealthy'. In this situation, children, the elderly, and sick patients are advised to stay indoors and others are advised to limit their outdoor activities. Furthermore, an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered 'hazardous', which poses a serious health risk to city dwellers.