Fertility Care

Fertility Care

On your journey to parenthood, there are several treatment options available to suit your individual circumstances. While Dr Shah will tailor her treatment plans to suit you, the following are some pathways that may be explored when exploring fertility care.

Timed sexual intercourse (TSI)

Maximising the chances of becoming pregnant can be achieved by timing sexual intercourse on the most fertile day in your menstrual cycle. To achieve this, medication may be prescribed to stimulate the ovaries to produce one or two mature follicles, or your natural cycle may be closely monitored. Additionally, a pelvic ultrasound may be conducted around ovulation time to identify developing follicles and determine the best days for intercourse, thereby increasing the likelihood of fertilisation.

Ovulation induction (OI)

Ovulation Induction (OI) is a procedure that involves using fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries to produce a small number of eggs, which can then be fertilised through natural intercourse or Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI). This treatment is particularly suitable for individuals who have hormonal conditions or have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). It is crucial to time intercourse or insemination with ovulation achieved by the treatment for a successful outcome. Monitoring the body’s response to the procedure is a vital aspect of the program to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and minimise any potential risks.

Intra-uterine insemination (IUI)

Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) involves inserting “prepared” sperm into the uterus. This is performed with a fine tube that is inserted into the opening of the uterus (cervix), where the “prepared” sperm (donor or known) is gently transferred inside. Insemination is typically timed to your natural cycle.

However, if there are complications with ovulation, eggs can be released using the Ovulation Induction (OI) method. This procedure, for which you do not require an anaesthetic, is generally performed in the rooms at Dr Shah’s clinics, and you will be able to return home the same day.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Commonly known as IVF, this procedure is the most recognised fertility treatment.

With IVF, your ovaries are stimulated to produce more eggs than in a natural cycle. Then, your eggs are collected during a minor surgical procedure called an egg retrieval. The eggs are then fertilised in the laboratory, with the resulting embryos incubated for two to five days. The best embryo is selected to be transferred to your uterus in a simple outpatient procedure. The remaining embryos can be frozen for use at a later time.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) 

ICSI is a specialised form of IVF technique where a single sperm (donor or known) is injected straight into an egg. This technique is typically utilised for the treatment of severe cases of male-factor fertility. As with IVF, once the egg is fertilised, the embryos are incubated and then transferred into your uterus. This method is standard practice with no additional costs.