The desire to conceive a child is common among couples. Statistics show that approximately 85% of couples successfully achieve pregnancy within the first year of trying, while an additional 7% succeed in the second year. Infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after a year of well-timed and repeated attempts, affects a small percentage of couples. However, for those experiencing such difficulties, an understanding of fertility treatment costs in Pune is crucial.
Infertility is a multifactorial condition that can be attributed to both male and female factors. Fortunately, recent technological advancements have provided many solutions for infertility in most cases. Women’s fertility treatments may include surgical interventions and pharmacological agents, depending on the underlying cause of the fertility issue. Surgical procedures may be utilized to address conditions such as endometriosis (an instance where the womb lining develops outside the uterus), fibroids, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Men may also receive surgical interventions and medication to mitigate infertility concerns. In men, surgery may be performed to rectify epididymal blockages and retrieve sperm.
Fertility medication is more commonly issued to women to help with ovulation issues. However, medication may be used in some cases of male infertility or related problems.
Oral medication and injectable medications:
In cases where the woman’s fallopian tubes are unobstructed, and the male partner’s sperm tests come back within standard limits, oral fertility medication may be an option. These medications, consisting of small, low-cost pills, are taken once a day for approximately five days during the menstrual cycle. Clomiphene citrate, commonly marketed as Femara, is the most frequently prescribed oral medication. Metformin may also be utilized, albeit less regularly. These drugs induce feedback to the brain to increase the release of hormones that stimulate the ovary, lowering estrogen levels. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which aids in the maturation of eggs, can also raise estrogen levels. When a woman ovulates irregularly, a surge of FSH may help her release eggs. For those who ovulate periodically, oral fertility medication may result in superovulation. Oral medication costs range from Rs. 600 to Rs. 1000 per cycle.
Injectable medications, also known as Gonadotropins, are another option for stimulating the ovaries. These are artificial versions of naturally occurring hormones that regulate ovarian function, specifically follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These potent hormones can release multiple eggs from the ovary simultaneously. The cost of this medication can fluctuate from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 10,000 per cycle.
FERTILITY SURGERY:
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that can detect and potentially correct issues in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes that could be hindering your ability to get pregnant. Through laparoscopy, doctors may diagnose and treat blockages of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis lesions, uterine fibroids, and pelvic adhesions. The price is between Rs. 20,000 and Rs.50,000, but the price may vary based on medical history, health complications, and healthcare quality.
ASSISTIVE REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (ART):
Advanced infertility treatment involves the utilization of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). ART comprises handling sperm and egg cells to prompt fertilization in a laboratory setting while supervised by a team of expert embryologists and other professionals. This team works together to help an infertile couple achieve fertilization and pregnancy. Advanced infertility treatments include but are not limited to:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
- Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
- Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
- Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)
These treatments have shown promising results in helping infertile couples conceive and have been widely adopted by fertility clinics worldwide.
IUI-INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION:
This technique involves washing and concentrating sperm cells that are transferred into the uterine cavity using a thin catheter. This helps bypass the significant loss points-the cervix and vagina and aids in increasing the chances of fertilization. IUI can achieve the parenthood dream before trying IVF at a minimal cost of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 30,000, depending upon the complexity of the case.
IVF- INVITRO FERTILIZATION:
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a widely sought-after assisted reproductive technology (ART) by couples facing infertility. This process involves the administration of medications to stimulate the ovary of the female partner, resulting in the growth of multiple mature eggs. Subsequently, a minor surgical procedure is performed to extract the mature eggs, which are then placed in a dish along with a sperm sample to facilitate fertilization. The resulting embryos can either be transferred into the uterus within a few days of development or preserved as frozen embryos for future implantation.
IVF costs vary and range from Rs.1.20 lakhs to Rs.2.20 lakhs. This cost variation is attributed to several factors, including the number of cycles involved, medications administered, and the clinic chosen for the procedure. It is worth noting that the success rates of IVF vary depending on the age of the female partner and the underlying cause of infertility.
In summary, IVF is a popular ART technique used to treat infertility in couples. The procedure involves multiple steps, including egg stimulation, extraction, fertilization, and embryo transfer. The cost of IVF is dependent on several factors, including treatment cycles, medications, and clinic choice.
INTRACYTOPASMIC SPERM INJECTION(ICSI):
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a micromanipulation technique used in IVF treatment. Instead of relying on the sperm’s ability to move and attach itself to the egg in a natural way, ICSI involves injecting a healthy sperm into the cytoplasm of an egg using a fine glass needle. This treatment is highly beneficial for couples who face male infertility issues. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a micromanipulation technique used in IVF treatment. Instead of allowing the sperm to fertilize the egg in a dish naturally, ICSI involves injecting a healthy sperm into the cytoplasm of an egg using a fine glass needle. This treatment does not rely on the ability of the sperm to move and attach itself to the egg and, hence, is highly beneficial for couples who face male infertility issues.
During fertilization, sperm cells swim to the egg, attach to the surface, and penetrate the onsides. However, in some cases, the egg’s outer layer is too thick to pass through. Here, ICSI can be the required solution. ICSI cannot guarantee fertilization, which must still occur naturally in the egg. ICSI costs vary depending on the clinic; one can expect to pay anywhere from Rs. 2,50,000 to Rs. 400,000 per cycle. It includes the cost of both ICSI and IVF.
Use of donor egg or sperm: When the egg or sperm cells are affected by severe problems, donor cells can cause fertilization and a successful pregnancy. Pune’s female egg donor price ranges from Rs. 2lakh to Rs. 2.2lakhs per cycle. The cost includes both IVF treatment and donor eggs. The cost of donor sperm can start between Rs.8,000 and Rs.15,000. The cost of IVF with donor sperm can go up to Rs.2,50 000.
Gestational carrier:
Women who lack a functional uterus or have the potential to endure a high-risk pregnancy can opt for IVF using a gestational carrier. Surrogacy is a form of ART in which a woman (a surrogate) carries a child for another person or couple to give the child to that person or couple after birth. The embryo or blastocysts are placed in the carrier’s uterus for pregnancy; the surrogacy cost ranges from Rs. 15,00,000 to Rs. 25,00,000.
Understanding the cost factors and considerations for fertility treatment in Pune is essential for couples trying to conceive. Research, financial planning, and consideration of individual circumstances are crucial when deciding on fertility treatments. Please consult with our experienced 9M fertility specialists at Aundh, Pune, to gain personalized insights and support on the different types of fertility treatments. Thanks to technology, there are lots of ways to help people with all kinds of fertility issues. The options that are best for you depend on your situation and what’s causing infertility.