Vigilance and alertness saved the epileptic mother and her unborn child !

                                       

It was a lazy Sunday morning. After sweating out in the garden, I was having a leisurely shower when I suddenly heard my staff from hospital shouting, “madam, Sandra (name changed) is having a fit”. She was totally out of breath, as she came running from the hospital which is  a stone’s throw away from my house.  It immediately struck me that my pregnant epileptic patient Sandra and her unborn baby are  both in danger.

It took me 5 seconds to quickly wear my dress ( I always keep easy to wear dresses on the top rack, which is  quickly accessible and can be slipped on briskly in case of an emergency ). It took me just 1 minute to reach the hospital and when I reached the spot, I was breathing normally and fully composed, thanks to my regular  yoga training.

On my way, I was shouting instructions to each staff  to get things ready for an emergency. By the time I reached, I  had arranged for injection ready for epilepsy, an airway ready  to keep her breathing, ambulance ready with the driver in case of emergency transfer, oxygen mask ready with the multiparameter cardiac monitor  to check her BP, pulse and oxygen saturation. All this happened within the one minute span, while  I was walking towards the patient. Meanwhile, Dr Mani and the staff had lifted the patient on to post op bed. It helps when doctors are physically fit to help in emergency and  have the willingness to do anything to save a life.

Every second was important as two lives were at stake and time was limited, few minutes delay and both the baby and  the mother  will be in danger. She was made to lie on the side and airway was secured  by keeping her mouth open      (Initially we kept a towel in her mouth, which was the first object accessible to prevent her from biting her tongue ). We managed to give her the injection to stop her fits and she was unconscious by this time. 

The staff nurse on duty was nearly out of breath from lifting the patient, she had joined only one month prior in our hospital, so getting an iv line was not easy. I calmed her down and she did it very smoothly and got an IV line at the very first attempt and we started fluids fast, so that her circulation is maintained and baby gets enough oxygen for survival.

Parameters readings were reassuring as her BP was normal. Tachycardia (an excessively rapid heartbeat) was expected, but it was not too bad. Her oxygen saturation started to come to normal, after we had given oxygen.

All these things happened in 3 minutes time and the mother was now stable. Then we checked baby’s heart and I also did a quick ultrasound scan,  it was such a relief to see that the baby was having good cardiac activity (heart beat ) and was moving its limbs. We have a portable scan machine, which weighs only 2 kg and can be taken to any spot in emergency to do scan. It was then that I realised the full benefit of the machine,  when I could see that the baby was alive and kicking and there was no internal bleeding.

She was around 36 weeks  and started having painful contractions, so we could easily deliver her as the baby was mature. She had a Caesarian and a beautiful baby girl was delivered. Past history of Caesarian was an added indication. We managed to save both the mother and baby without any complications.

Only “FAST ACTION” saved the baby and the mother.

 
Even Small details are important during emergency situations and every single human being can contribute in such scenarios. An hospital should always be prepared for  emergencies and the following actions are very  important.

 
1. Training to staff  and trial runs - all staff should be included in the training, even the  cleaners and drivers.

2. Availability of emergency medicines and equipment, which are easily accessible and in good working condition.

3. Fast reflexes of doctors and staff, who should be not only well trained but also must be physically fit and well composed to deal with emergencies. Regular fitness and yoga helped me to reach the hospital on time.

I was very happy that we could save both the mother and child and I also realised that  training in the UK had helped me so much in preparing our hospital. If I had taken longer to dress ( Indian style dressing often takes time), if I could not run, if I went breathless, if I could not lift her, if I  did not have loud commanding voice to get people  do stuff, if I did not know what emergency injection to give, if injection was not available, we could have had a disaster. Even if hospitals have all the facilities, many times there is a delay of 10 minutes  or more, which often leads to complications and fatalities. Always being prepared for an emergency will avoid such unfortunate incidents.

Media is always talking about negligence of doctors and paramedics. But do they know what medical professionals endure all the time? Do they know that we leave our children and rush to save other kids? Do they know that we never eat our meal without getting interrupted? Do they know that we get up at night constantly when there are reduced foetal movements, just to reassure the expecting mothers? Do they know that we are drenched in  blood in an effort to stop bleeding during surgeries? I never thought about the infections I will contract, when I was  covered in blood during emergencies. Can everybody put in such dedication  and sacrifice? 

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Psychological impact of infertility on couples

                             

When I came back from my short holiday, the staff told me, “Madam, yesterday also she called and shouted over phone, she is using bad words”. This scenario of the patient losing temper and using verbal abuse on staff is not very common in the field of infertility, but it is not very rare either. The person is not being rude because of her personality or because of any medical negligence on our part. It is quite natural to have psychological disturbances, especially in women due to the social pressure, when they are unable to bear a child.

If you think this happens only in conservative societies, then you are mistaken. Studies prove that psychological problems are common in infertile couple all over the world irrespective of caste, creed or financial background. The stress due to the non-fulfillment of the wish to parenthood has been associated with anger, depression, anxiety, marital problems and feelings of worthlessness. The extreme anxiety to conceive, ironically increases sexual dysfunction and social isolation. Marital discord often develops in infertile couples, especially when they are under pressure to make medical decisions.

As one would expect, male and female partners respond differently to this situation. Women show higher levels of distress and anxiety than their male partners in most cases. Exceptions are found, when the reason is a male infertility problem like azoospermia.

A number of studies have examined stress and mood state, as predictors of outcome in assisted reproduction techniques. Most of these researches support the theory that stress and depression is directly linked with lower success rates among women pursuing infertility treatment. I have personally found this true in my clinical practice. Generally I have observed that happy to go lucky and relaxed patients, who do not have much pressure on them seems to get pregnant easily with IVF / ICSI or even with IUI. The success rates of patients who are under stress, social pressure or negative in their thinking seems to be low and they often have to undergo multiple attempts, before getting a positive result.

On the other hand psychiatric diseases like depression can cause infertility. Depression could directly affect infertility due to the physiology of the depressed state which is characterized by elevated prolactin levels, disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and thyroid dysfunction. The result is these women or men do not produce eggs or sperms as required.

Infertility can produce psychological problems and vice versa, hence it can be concluded that mental well being is a prerequisite for success in Assisted reproductive techniques like IVF or ICSI. Stress and negative behavior can reduce chances of pregnancy in ART.

How to Reduce psychological trauma:

1. Proper financial planning 

2. Early and proper scientific investigations

3. Good counseling and consultation

4. Step up treatment methods 

5. Continuation of work and social life 

6. Avoidance of unnecessary interference by relatives

7. Most importantly SUPPORT FROM PARTNER

Above all, the patient will need tolerant doctor /staff, who can understand their state of mind and put up with their tantrums.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com
www.giftivf.com
bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore, along with her spouse Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist London, DFFP from ART Warwick university and worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and Bangalore. Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Planning for infertility treatment ? These are the things you should know...

Quite often, I have heard my patients saying, “we are taking loan for IVF, so we have to be successful”, “We sold our house for this treatment, as we have waited so long for a baby”  etc etc.

As you can see, this is not the right approach, as it puts a lot of pressure on the patient and doctor. There is no guarantee that treatment will be successful, but it is not the end of the road.

Good planning is inevitable when you decide to have a baby through infertility treatment. Saving through intelligent spending is always better than taking loans or mortgaging.

Before embarking on the treatment, make sure that you have a clear budget and time period to spend the allotted money.  You can discuss the budget with your infertility specialist and they will guide you in choosing the right path. 

If you are young and healthy, you can try some simple treatment options, which will not cost much. Make sure you do a thorough investigation, as it can be very helpful in identifying the underlying problem and aid in choosing the correct treatment.

Tube tests should be done in addition to blood tests and semen analysis. Laparoscopy may sound expensive, but is actually a gold standard investigation, wherein many infertility problems can be identified and solved. If you keep treating without knowing the actual cause, you are going to shell out more money than laparoscopy and will just end up where you started without any positive results.

Procedures like IUI help in achieving pregnancy only in 10 to 20 % cases per cycle. So before commencing IUI, you need to keep a realistic picture and budget for at least 4 to 6 cycles as it might take several months and attempts to get  successful pregnancy from IUI.

If the woman is ovulating, medicines might be sufficient in most cases. But if there is no ovulation as in the condition of PCOS, it may require taking three to four or even more injections. Some of these injections are very expensive; hence it is better to find out the exact cost of the injection before commencing the treatment. 

Miscarriages can not only be emotionally draining, but also burn a hole in your pocket resulting in extra burden. So take precautions and try to get your gametes (egg and sperm) fit and healthy by changing your lifestyle. Eating healthy, doing moderate exercise, quitting smoking etc will result in healthy gametes which in turn will produce healthy embryos. A common cause of miscarriage is unhealthy embryo (nothing to do with the clinic or the team). 

If the condition of the tubes is really bad, chances for ectopic pregnancy will be very high. This can be sometimes very dangerous, so you should consider IVF to avoid complications, surgery and the costs.

In cases of severe male factor infertility or azoospermia, ( absence of sperm ) it is better that you opt for donor sperm  IUI, rather than doing repeated ICSI, if you are hard on cash. I feel really sorry, when I see poor patients coming to me after 3 or even 5 ICSI failures for donor sperm treatment. It would have cost them less than 5 % of the cost of ICSI.

If your age is advanced, say above 37, chances of the egg quality being good is reduced considerably. It is advisable to check your follicular count ( number of eggs ) and AMH test before you start  IVF. If the figures are bad, you can opt for donor egg IVF straight away, instead of doing it after failed IVF.

Many patients feel that ART procedures like IVF and ICSI are too expensive. Sometimes, they would have done IUI for more than 10 times and spent even more than the cost of one IVF.

Finally, if nothing works, without delay think of adoption because the whole process is time-consuming and restricted by age factor. 

Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com
www.giftivf.com 

+91 484 2475031,  +91 484 2475034, 

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 18 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in the UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF Centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI, donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high-risk pregnancies.

Effect of Internet on infertility treatment - email consultation

We are all aware that, there has been a tremendous change after the internet became popular and widely available, but is it good or bad and to what extend? Well I can proudly say that, it has assisted me to help and guide a considerable number of couples who are going through difficulties in conceiving.

I provide free online consultation to  patients through email  and number of patients from all around the world write to me everyday. For some of them, the medical expertise is not available as they are staying in remote areas, for some couples specialist consultation has a  long waiting period and sometimes they do not have the finance to pay the huge private consultation fee. I even have some patients who work close to my clinic, but they start work at 6.00 am and finish at 8.00 pm, so they do not have the time to visit the clinic and hence consult me through email. 

So what is there in it for me? Why do I spent my time for free email consultation? 

As an infertility specialist, I  crave to do some good for the society, because at the end of the day this gives me satisfaction. Occasionally I do feel secretly guilty that I am increasing the population, when I  help women to  conceive, even though it is to built happy families. Only if adoption was easy all around the world! 

The fact that I acquired  knowledge with great difficulty, sacrificing my personal life and health, studying and working day and night for nearly 20 years  has to have some meaning. Providing  service to  citizens around the globe is  worth all the troubles  I took. 

It gives me immense satisfaction  to provide honest, truthful and scientific advice to any person who sends me an email enquiry. Normally to get an expert opinion, it takes several hours of waiting in clinics and repeated visits, especially during ART procedures like IVF and ICSI.  Women often leave jobs or take long leave, which is totally unnecessary. They can sent all the scan copies and reports by internet and they need not visit the clinic to take the injections and medicines as they can be taken locally. We have done this for several patients from countries like UK, USA and Australia. If they have difficulty in getting injections locally, it is bought online with prescription from  us. When they need monitoring, they do scans for follicular study and sent the report by email and after going through the reports we give them the expert advice. For the IVF procedure,  the woman just needs to take 1 day off for egg pickup and half day off for the embryo transfer. So there is no need to leave the  job or take long leave.

In email consultation, the doctor has plenty of time as they are not rushed. The emails can be opened at a convenient  time and hence it helps in thorough evaluation and taking of precise decisions which are not biased or hasty. Distinguishing factors like  Colour, race, wealth etc cannot be perceived  through email, we all know that even in this modern day and age, these factors can affect the way we are treated.

But the downside is that, there is  lot of false information on internet, which can misguide the person who is searching for tips and treatment online. So be alert when you are researching online and always take expert opinion before commencing any treatment.

Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

American women conceived with Indian donor

The medical science has progressed a lot with modern advanced communication media.  Now I can give  free consultation to couples from distant countries and arrange treatment for them just through  the click of an E mail. Even complex procedures like laparoscopy, IVF, ICSI or donor egg IVF can be arranged and completed in just few days visit.

I was all excited when the US couple wanted to have an Indian egg donor. All the necessary consultation was done via e mail and I  arranged medicines through GP in USA. 

For completing the whole IVF procedure, they had to stay in India for just 5 days. 

They thoroughly enjoyed being in Cochin , a favorite tourism destination  and the added advantage was that they had the  treatment at a very nominal rate. The same treatment is very expensive in USA, but it only cost them  a holiday to have their life changing experience. They loved the Athirampilly waterfalls (known as Niagara of Asia) and they have pledged  to come back again  for the river cruise in Alleppey ! 

As she was reaching her fifties, we were not sure about the success, especially since her endometrial lining was not in a great condition. We had arranged for an excellent egg donor who was very healthy, educated and young. So the eggs were of good quality, which probably is the reason for the success. Now we are very happy to have received the report of twin pregnancies growing in her womb, apparently the embryo divided and became twins! 

Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

Are you really ready for a baby ?

Many couples wants to have a baby immediately after the marriage, because they are under constant pressure from the relatives and friends. The couples are often tormented by the question “Is there any good news?”

I am writing this blog based on my experience of meeting four patients last week. I want you to ponder over, whether the decision to have a baby is fair in the following cases? 

1. This couple came to meet me from the USA when they were on holiday in Kerala. They were actually forced by the parents to come for a medical checkup, as the lady had not conceived even 2 years after marriage. When I talked with them, I got to know the truth and the fact was that they hardly had any intercourse, as they had lots of problems going on between them and were fighting frequently. This got me thinking, If a child is born to a couple who is constantly fighting, is it fair on the part of the child? Imagine the trauma the child has to go through every day, witnessing the parents quarrel or god forbidden if later the couple decides to separate, what will be the state of the child?  When father is alcoholic, does the child get proper care? I feel that It will be better for a couple to have an emotional bonding and proper understanding, before they plan a baby, as every single child deserves good parental care.

2. Normally I don't meet parents of my patients in my specialty for obvious reasons. This girl (can hardly call her a women) came to me with her parents. She was pregnant, weighed just 38 kg, had a 2 year old child and was mostly depending on parents for financial support. Her father directly asked me the question. “Is she really healthy to have this baby? Anyway her husband wants to keep the baby”. I do not have an answer to this question. In the first place, they should have thought about this before conceiving. Secondly, it is the decision of the couple, a third person cannot decide for them. She is well educated, being an MBA graduate; she can definitely work and be self sufficient, instead of depending on her parents. Being underweight, her case is high risk for a pregnancy.

3. This couple came to us for treatment for repeated miscarriages. She had six instances of miscarriages. They have a 7 year old child, who is healthy. The wife was diagnosed with a thrombotic condition when investigations were done and she also had an episode of thrombosis. Luckily she survived and currently she is on lots of medicines, just to keep her alive. Her husband’s very words were that, “she is lucky to be alive”. But in spite of all this complications, they again wants to try for pregnancy, putting herself at risk and also the potential child. There is a risk for maternal death. It is very difficult to convince patients in such situations. What will happen to the baby if there is maternal death after delivery? Should we give the choice to the baby to have healthy parents to look after them? 

4. Husband had a history of schizophrenia, which is a severe psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, and withdrawal into the self. He was on 8 different antipsychotic drugs daily. If a child is born to them, the child will be at physical risk, as he suffers severe problems and becomes violent if he miss his tablets.  There is also some chance that the child will  inherit the medical condition. Although I counseled them, both are firm in the decision on trying for their own child. How much right do we give to the potential children? 

We have human rights, Women’s rights and even Animal rights? 

But are there not any human rights for the unborn child? 

Who decides that? 

It will be better if the couple is well settled emotionally and financially and are physically and mentally healthy when they plan to have a baby. This will ensure that the child gets a favourable environment to grow.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

 

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Mixed race children - the future of the world

ART (assisted reproductive technique) clinic statistics in India reveals that more and more Caucasians are demanding Indian egg donors instead of their own race, resulting in babies of mixed race.

Culturally, we have evolved a lot in the last century. Many walls were broken (Berlin wall was definitely a big one) including that of religion, race, economy, color, nationality etc. Now a days, we are getting to see lot of colored people among Americans, Europeans and Australians.

This definitely means that humans have imbibed to accept other fellow humans as equals, even though they look or behave different.

It was fascinating for me to apprehend from a Caucasian traveler that, out of all the countries he had visited, Iran was one of the best places. (He had visited almost every single country in the world!) It suddenly dawned on me, how biased I was about the Middle Eastern countries.

The number of highly successful people from mixed origin is pretty long. To name a few, it includes American President Barack Obama (African American), great golf player Tiger Woods (African, American, Chinese, Thai and Dutch inheritance!), renowned super model Naomi Campbell (African , Jamaican and Asian inheritance), Formula one champion Lewis Hamilton, Actor Keanu Reeves (English, Irish, Portuguese, Hawaii and Chinese apparently lineage in him) and Artist Sean Paul ,(Jewish, African , English and Chinese mix of genes !)   

Many British studies  published  proves that mixed race children are more attractive and successful. Scientifically, we all know that mixed breed gives better outcome in plant and animal kingdom. Inbreeding always leads to exaggeration of the faulty genes leading to their expression and many diseases are common in such races including infertility and repeated miscarriages. Due to this occurrence, some races are nearly extinct or have become a minority. 

http://bangaloreivf.blogspot.ae/2014/08/marriage-among-relatives-increases_5.html

This phenomenon was proved in a research where pheromones were tested on college students. The girls were reportedly more attracted to the pheromones of those guys, who had the genetic composition which was more distinct than their own.

So it is time we start looking for partners or donors from different race, in case we are expecting smart kids. I sincerely hope that mixing of religions and races might just stop all the religious fanaticism prevalent today.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Infertility and marital discordance - life story of a patient

It is very unfortunate and tragic that, even in this modern day and age; marriages are broken and shattered by the pressure from family and society  due to infertility.

Recently I met my old patient and it was heart breaking to listen to her story. Six years back when I met her, she was struggling to conceive and we had treated her successfully. The couple had a love marriage and I could instantly sense the love and chemistry between them.  Unfortunately her pregnancy ended up in preterm delivery at 29 weeks and consequently her baby died. I could not meet her after the incident,  as they were located very far.

When I met her recently, I was shocked to know the string of events which followed the baby’s death. Invariably all the family members put the blame on the woman. I was surprised to know that, the family actually analyzed the situation and looked for a solution with the help of astrology (jyothishm). The recommendation was that, the horoscope ( jathakom ) of the husband and wife did not match which resulted in the baby’s death. The worst part was that, they even predicted that the husband will die, if he continued in the marriage and divorce was suggested. Friends and relatives made sure that their happy marriage was mercilessly crushed.

           

I still remember the chemistry between them. They were a lovely couple, so happy together, they did not really need a child to make them happy, both were very creative , talented and unique individuals. Divorce created lots of problems for both the individuals, she had to take antidepressants, he became a drunkard and the career of both was affected badly. The ex- husband is facing financial issues and drinking problems now.

When we ponder on this issue, from the superstitions what did the family gain? What did the society gain ? Do you think that the families or parents that make such decisions are good for the society? 

The reason for the sub-fertility was that the sperms were subnormal, so the actual medical reason is far from the truth. The cause of preterm delivery and neonatal death must have been semen abnormality. It has nothing to do with mismatch / jathakom or religion. But the superstitions shattered the life of two happy individuals. I feel that society and family should stop interfering in the life of couples, who are unable to have a baby. "PLEASE LEAVE THEM ALONE". 

It is not a must that you should have your own baby to have a fulfilling life, many couple chooses to live happily without planning kids. Consider finding happiness in looking after other children, there are so many unfortunate children around us who are thirsting for parental love. Adoption is always a great option.

Above all, it is the basic human right to make their own decisions when it comes to building a family.  (women and men have equal rights) You have to be strong enough to say, "I WILL MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS IN MY LIFE". Whether you are single, Gay, heterosexual or homosexual couples, every  single human should have the basic human right to decide how they should live, without  interference from society.

Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Physiological and psychological benefits of regular sexual intercourse

I often hear couple saying  that "we are planning for pregnancy, so we are having a sexual relationship" This is often after years of marriage, really shocking! You might think I am joking, but this is what I hear from a lot of patients during my practice in India. Although India is the country of" Kamasutra" this is the reality.

If you think that the only benefit of sex is to have children, then  you are mistaken. Making love regularly has lots of benefits other than procreation. 

The probability of pregnancy declines considerably if you try to have intercourse only for conceiving by counting days of ovulation.

Sex play a pivotal role in the psychological and physiological well-being of human beings.

Sex can not only improve your cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and balance, it also takes care  of emotional health.

Regular sexual intercourse makes you sleep well, relieve stress and burn calories.

A recent study says that men who have sex more than twice a week, have a lesser risk of getting a heart attack, than men who have sex less than once a month. 

It will also Increase your immunity and makes your body stronger against illnesses like the common cold and fever. 

In today's world of extreme stress, sex   acts as a great stress buster, relaxing your body and mind. It is a vital factor for a happy and peaceful married life.

When you have an orgasm, the level of the hormone oxytocin increases many times. This endorphin actually reduces aches and pains, so it can act as painkiller too.

Sex can even promote longevity in men. During an orgasm, a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone is released. This improves immunity, repairs tissue and keeps the skin healthy. 

The heart rate increases when you have sex, fresh blood is supplied to your organs and cells. This increased blood circulation will help in removing toxins and removes tiredness.

Vigorous making out improves overall fitness. This is an excellent way to lose the flab and extra weight and will help you keep in shape. Regular sex will do wonders to your waistline. Half an hour of lovemaking burns more than 80 calories. 

In men, the hormone testosterone is what makes them more passionate. Not only will it make you feel way better in bed, but it also improves your muscles and bones, keeps your heart healthy and keeps a check on your cholesterol.  In women, on the other hand, the hormone oestrogen protects them against heart disease and osteoporosis.

Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

bangaloreivf.blogspot.in

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI, donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

Men Beware Of Laptops !! Laptop Can Reduce Your Fertility

Are you unmarried? Are you planning to be a father? If the answer is yes to any of the above questions then avoid using laptop on your lap, so that your chances for fatherhood is not pushed down. Taking care of small things in everyday life will ensure that you steer clear of many health issues.

Numerous studies conducted worldwide have undoubtedly proven the fact that men working constantly in above normal heat conditions face infertility issues. Heat can affect the quality of the semen adversely, resulting in failure to start a family.

Regular users of the laptop should be alerted that excessive use of laptop is determinant in causing male infertility. When the laptop is placed on the lap close to the scrotum, even for a short period of fifteen minutes, it will cause an increase in the scrotum temperature considerably, causing the sperm quality to deteriorate. Internal operating temperatures of Laptops can cross more than 70°C.

Appropriate scrotal temperature should be maintained for the normal production of sperm. In recent times there has been an enormous increase in number of male infertility cases. Reduction of sperm production has now become a common complication faced by a large number of male population. This can be correlated to the substantial increase in the use of laptop. Frequent use of Sauna or hot tubs is also not prudent as this can also elevate testicular temperature.

 Key to the problem : it will be judicious on part of men to place the laptop on a table or desktop rather than on their lap and avoid exposing your body to high temperature for long duration.

Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 15 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.

List of procedures to be followed before IVF/ICSI

  

            

If you have decided on IVF or ICSI for whatever indication, there are certain medical and nonmedical procedures you should follow.

NONMEDICAL PREPARATION FOR IVF

DIET

Add healthy fruits  & Vegetables to your diet. Include salads in your daily diet.

Cucumber - cooling effect

Carrot        - Vitamin A, Antioxidants

Lemon       - Vitamin C

Tomato      - lycopene + Vitamins

Watermelon - Vitamin A, C, Potassium

Add to Daily Diet

Oily fish- Omega 3 faty

Walnut  – Omega 3 faty

Almonds – Vitamin E

EXERCISE

Enjoyable moderate exercise

Walking

Yoga

Aerobics

Dance class

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Stop Smoking  &Alcohol

Improve Sleep pattern(no night shift)

Watch only ½ hr TV/Computer in a day

Use cell phone only for emergency

Reduce Stress  

Reduce social pressure (do not involve relatives unnecessarily)

SUNLIGHT

Daily 30 minutes exposure  to sunlight  improve Vitamin D levels

Do not take

• Genetically   Modified Food eg: corn/Soya

• (Ajinomoto)-MSG-Chinese salt 

• Chemical preservatives Eg:  Jam, Pickle

• Processed Food

• Hotel Food

• Bakery food/ Fried Food

MEDICAL PREPARATION FOR IVF

Counseling about the Procedure

Side effects

Duration Rx

Success rates

Costs

Re-Freezing +FET

Consent  Form – IVF/ICSI

Egg pick up (OR)

Freezing

DS/DE etc if needed

MET+ E.S

Mock Embryo Transfer

Endometrial Scratching

Screening +Rx injections

AMH +Hormone  Analysis

Screening + Rx Medical problems

Eg: Anemia, DM, HT

Screening +Rx Gynac Problems

Eg : PCOS , Endometriosis

Surgery if needed for (myomectomy ) Fibroids/Dilated tubes(Salpingectomy)Ø

Semen Analysis by Embryologist

Antibiotics for Husband if needed

Rx. For improving S.A if needed

Above all think positive and trust your team to do good work !!

Dr. Anita Mani

Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre

anitadane@gmail.com

www.giftivf.com 

+91 484 2475031,  +91 484 2475034, 

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Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 18 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.