DO NOT TAKE CHANCES. MY ADVICE TO AVOID MISCARRIAGE
If you have experienced a miscarriage, it is advisable to undergo medical evaluation to help determine the possible cause. Your healthcare provider may recommend tests such as a pelvic scan, Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), Estradiol, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Prolactin, and Progesterone. These investigations can help identify factors that may have contributed to the pregnancy loss. If you have had three or more miscarriages, particularly if they occur between six and eight months of pregnancy, both you and your husband should undergo a comprehensive medical assessment. In addition to the tests listed above for the woman, the husband should have a semen analysis and a sperm DNA fragmentation test to evaluate sperm quality and identify any possible male-factor contributors. For women with recurrent pregnancy loss or repeated implantation failure, an endometrial receptivity test may be recommended to assess whether the uterine lining is optimally prepared to support a pregnancy. If you are currently pregnant, it is also important to monitor the progress of your pregnancy with appropriate laboratory tests. Your healthcare provider may request Progesterone, Estradiol, and Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) tests. The expected values for these tests vary depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy, and interpreting them can help assess the health and viability of the pregnancy, as well as identify potential concerns that may require prompt medical attention.
LET’S TALK ABOUT ISSUES IN IVF: PROFESSIONAL’S SUGGESTION & RECOMMENDATION
IVF involves a series of carefully coordinated processes managed by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Throughout the treatment, professionals provide either recommendations or suggestions based on the patient’s clinical evaluation and test results. A recommendation is a professional opinion on the most appropriate course of action to maximize the chances of success. Declining a recommendation may negatively affect the outcome of the treatment. A suggestion, on the other hand, presents an optional approach that the patient may choose to follow without necessarily affecting the overall procedure. For women over the age of 36 considering IVF, hormonal tests such as LH, FSH, and AMH are important in assessing ovarian function. While normal LH and FSH levels (typically 4–10 IU/L) and an AMH level between 1.0 and 3.5 ng/mL may indicate a satisfactory ovarian reserve, these results do not guarantee that enough high-quality eggs will be retrieved for IVF. Many women assume that a normal ovarian reserve automatically means they are ideal candidates to use their own eggs for IVF. However, ovarian reserve tests cannot accurately predict the number of mature eggs that will be collected during egg retrieval. Likewise, ultrasound scans may show multiple follicles, but follicles do not always contain viable eggs. The presence of eggs can only be confirmed after the follicles have been aspirated during the retrieval procedure. For this reason, women who strongly prefer to use only their own eggs should consider having a donor egg backup, particularly if they are of advanced maternal age or have other risk factors for reduced egg yield. Despite ovarian stimulation, some patients may produce fewer than five eggs, which can significantly reduce the chances of a successful outcome. In general, retrieving fewer than ten eggs may place the IVF cycle under greater pressure, as fewer eggs typically result in fewer embryos available for transfer. Although successful pregnancies can still occur with a lower egg yield, retrieving ten or more eggs generally provides a better opportunity to develop multiple viable embryos, thereby improving the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
DO NOT DO SELF MEDICATION OR COPY TREATMENT ONLINE
I want to advise all women who are trying to conceive (TTC) to be cautious about taking fertility medications recommended online or following treatment advice from random social media groups. While online communities can provide emotional support, they should never replace professional medical care. Not every platform shares accurate or evidence-based information, and a treatment that worked for one person may not be appropriate or safe for someone else. Fertility challenges can have many different causes, and the right treatment depends on an individual’s medical history, examination, and test results. Taking fertility medications without proper medical evaluation and supervision can disrupt your hormonal balance, lead to unnecessary side effects, or worsen an underlying condition. In some cases, it may even delay receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment. If you are trying to conceive, seek advice from a qualified fertility specialist or healthcare provider who can assess your specific situation and recommend the most appropriate investigations and treatment plan. Personalized medical care is always safer and more effective than self-medication or following unverified online prescriptions.
FIVE WAYS TO HAVE A CHILD
There are several pathways to building a family, depending on your individual circumstances and medical needs: Natural conception – Pregnancy achieved through natural intercourse without assisted reproductive techniques. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) – A fertility procedure in which specially prepared sperm is placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation to increase the chances of fertilization. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) – An assisted reproductive technology in which eggs are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus. Surrogacy – An option in which a surrogate carries a pregnancy for the intended parent(s). This process should be carried out through a reputable agency or organization and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Adoption – A legal process of welcoming a child into your family by following the required procedures and regulations established by the appropriate authorities.
FERTILE WINDOW IS NOT OVULATION PERIOD
Many women rely on period-tracking apps to determine the best time to have intercourse when trying to conceive. However, it is important to understand that most apps estimate your fertile window, not your exact ovulation day. The fertile window is different from ovulation. It refers to the period—typically about 3 to 5 days before ovulation and including the day of ovulation—when pregnancy is most likely to occur. This is because sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for several days, allowing fertilization to occur if ovulation happens during that time. Ovulation is the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary and travels into the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by a sperm cell. While tracking apps can estimate when ovulation is likely to occur, they cannot confirm that ovulation has actually taken place. One of the most reliable ways to monitor ovulation is through follicular tracking, an ultrasound procedure that follows the growth and release of the dominant follicle. If a previously observed mature follicle is no longer visible on a follow-up scan, it usually indicates that ovulation has already occurred. After an egg is released, it remains viable for about 12 to 24 hours. During this time, it can be fertilized if it meets healthy sperm in the fallopian tube. If fertilization does not occur within this period, the egg breaks down and is naturally reabsorbed by the body. It is also important to know that symptoms such as lower abdominal cramps (often called mittelschmerz) or the presence of cervical mucus do not, by themselves, confirm that ovulation has occurred. While these signs may be associated with the fertile period, they are not definitive evidence of egg release. If you need confirmation of ovulation, consult your healthcare provider about appropriate monitoring methods. [