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.