Can We Promise Pregnancy To Every Woman Today?

The last two decades have been revolutionary for treating infertility. For the couple experiencing difficulty in getting pregnant, there is plenty of hope today. It is not a lost battle as it was in the past. Today, fertility treatment is purely scientific and precise, targeted to determining the cause and treating it. Besides, almost every hurdle can be overcomed with the help of some amazing medical breakthroughs. For example, a woman without an uterus can still have her own child by borrowing another’s womb today.

FOR A NORMAL COUPLE

During normal sexual activity, the semen which consists of millions of sperms, is deposited in the vagina. From there, the active and motile sperms travel into the fallopian tube to meet the egg which is released from the ovary once a month. This is where fertilisation of the egg occurs. The fertilised egg multiplies further, becomes an embryo and travels into the uterus where it finally implants and forms a fetus and then into a beautiful baby. So to produce a baby it is absolutely necessary that there should be an efficient egg, a motile sperm and a functional uterus.

FOR A WOMAN WITHOUT FUNCTIONAL OVARIES

There has been a gradual delay in the age at conception with today’s career oriented women. Very often, women delay their pregnancies till 35 years and beyond and plan pregnancy after their careers are stabilised. Women are born with limited eggs in their ovaries, and when the eggs are exhausted, women reach menopause. Fertility is low, almost nil in the last 10 years before menopause. Indian women reach menopause at an average of 48 years which is about five years earlier than their western counterparts. Hence, women of Indian ethnicity are recommended to complete their reproductive function before the age of 35 years, to avoid having to resort to assisted reproduction. And sometimes, radiation therapy or chemotherapy used for certain cancers in young women may temporarily or permanently damage the eggs in the ovaries. The other risk factors that harm eggs are active smoking and sometimes even passive smoking through excessive smoking by her partner. Previous ovarian surgery done for various reasons, where some part of the ovary may be removed, can also be a risk factor. However, in the medically advanced world we live in, there are options which provide hope for these women today. Here are the top two.