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Management of infertility

 Presented by: Dr. Sheetal M Savaliya

 Guide: Dr. Anil P Singh
 Co-Guide: Dr. Shailesh Mundhava
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Contents

 Introduction
 Classification
 Initial work up and diagnosis
 Medical history
 Etiology
 Examination
 Investigations
 Treatment
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Introduction

Definition:
Infertility defined as a failure to conceive within one or more
years of regular unprotected intercourse.

 The male is directly responsible in about 30-40 % of

infertility, the female in about 40-55 % and both are
responsible in about 10 percent cases. The remaining 10 % is
unexplained.
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For management…

 Counselling is very important and essential.

 Routine examination is not necessary unless indicated by the
history.
 History taking is important part in management to find out the
cause.
 The management of the individual couple should always be
discussed in the context of their particular clinical situation.
 Patients should be fully involved in decisions regarding their
treatment and always insist the couple to come together.
 Classification 5

 Primary infertility: Those patient who have never conceived.

 Secondary infertility: It indicates previous pregnancy but

failed to conceive subsequently.

Category 1
 Young couples married
recently or not having
knowledge regarding fertile
period
Category 3
• Any age group but less than
35 years
• Previously diagnosed
condition like tubal block,
endometriosis, severe male
factor
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Category 2
 Couples married more than 2 year
ago,
 Age around 30 years
 Particular female with mild male
factor
Category 4
• Old age couples
• Young female with premature
ovarian failure
• Severe uterine problems
Common causes for male infertility 7
Common causes for female infertility 8
Initial work up and diagnosis 9

 Initial work up of an infertile couple should be very prompt

and perfect

 Investigation should be logical and cost effective

 Medical history(female) 10

 History: Age ,duration of marriage, history of previous

marriage
 General medical history: of STD, tuberculosis, PID, diabetes..
 Surgical history: Abdominal or pelvic history may be related
to peritubal adhesion.
 Menstrual history: Hypomenorrhea, oligomenorrhea to
amenorrhea are associated with disturbed hypothalamopituitary
ovarian axis which may be either primary or secondary to
adrenal or thyroid dysfunction.
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 Previous obstetric history: Number of pregnancies, interval

between them and related complication to be inquired. the
history of puerperal sepsis may be responsible for ascending
infection and tubal damage. Uterine synechie may be due to
vigorous curettage.

 Contraceptive practice: IUCD use may cause PID

 Sexual problems: Dyspareunia and loss of libido are to be

inquired
 Medical history:(Male) 12

 Genital tract infection : Mumps, orchitis, prostatitis

 History of impotence, premature ejaculation, change in libido
 Surgical history of testicular torsion, undescended or maldescended
testis, prostate surgery, hernia repair
 Trauma: genital or inguinal region
 Exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury
 Drug history:
Sulphasalazine
Phenothiazine/antipsychotics/metoclopramide
Immunosuppressant/antineoplastic agents
Investigations for male 13
Investigations for female 14
 Advice 15
 Regular Sexual intercourse
 Smoking reduces both, women’s fertility as well as semen quality
 Excessive alcohol is detrimental to semen quality and may cause
erectile dysfunction
 A body mass index of more than 29 is associated with reduced
fertility in both men and women
 Folic acid supplement prior to conception and up to 12 weeks of
conception
 Rubella immunity should be checked, if vaccinated then advise to
avoid pregnancy for at least one month after vaccination
 Ovulatory dysfunction 16

 Ovulatory dysfunction is a very common problem contributing 25-30

% causes of infertility and 50 % of female infertility
 Normally ovulation requires coordination of central hypothalamic
pituitary axis, the feedback signals and local responses within the
ovary
 Causes of anovulation
Central
Abnormal feedback
Metabolic
Local ovarian condition
General
 Ovulation induction(OI) 17

 OI is useful in patients with anovulatory infertility

WHO class I: Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
WHO class II: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
 Goal
Stimulate development of a single follicle that will be able to reach
preovulatory size and rupture

 Options
Clomiphene citrate (CC)
Gonadotropins (hMG/FSH followed hCG)
GnRH analogue
 Clomiphene citrate(CC): 18

 CC is an antiestrogen that binds to estrogen receptors and

interferes with estrogen-negative feedback
 Results in an alteration in pulsatile GnRH secretion
 Leads to increases in gonadotropin secretion and follicular
development

 CC is widely used for ovulation induction in women with

PCOS and in couples with unexplained infertility
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 CC treatment successfully induces ovulation in about 80% of

properly selected candidates
 Pregnancy rates are much lower (30%-40% per cycle)
 40%-45% of couples can become pregnant within 6 cycles
 Failure to conceive after successfully induced ovulation is
indication for further evaluation

 Patient characteristics predictive of poor response to CC:

 Hypothalamic disorder
 Low estrogen levels
 Obesity
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 CC is generally well tolerated, although some side effects may

limit its efficacy and safety

 Short-term, reversible side effects include: hot flashes, mood

swings, visual disturbances, breast tenderness, pelvic
discomfort, and nausea
 The anti estrogenic effects may negatively impact the uterine
lining, leading to lower pregnancy rates
 Risk of multiple pregnancy is increased
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 Risk of cancer is increased among women who were treated
with CC
 Uterine fibroid risk increases with CC treatment
 Risk of ovarian cancer increases among women treated with
prolonged CC
 Dose: 50 mg ,we can increase up to 250 mg but we give upto 150
mg per day due to antiestrogenic effect on endometrium
 Start CC in a dose of 50 mg from day 2,3,4, or 5
 Patient can either ovulate spontaneously or it can be triggered by
hCG when follicle size is 18-22 mm
 Enclomiphene 22

 It appears to have promising future in OI

 Synthetic, non steroidal antiestrogen
 First line treatment strategy in WHO class 2 anovulatory
infertility
 It has centrally antiestrogenic effect for ovulation induction and
peripherally estrogenic action for endometrial thickening and
increased cervical discharge.
 Dose: 50 mg daily for 5 days from day 2 of menstrual cycle
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Aromatase inhibitors

 Currently available drugs are Letrozole, Anastrozole,

Exemestane
 M/A- Centrally it increases gonadotropin secretion and
stimulation of ovarian follicle, peripherally it increases
follicular sensitivity to FSH

 Androgen accumulation in follicle stimulate IGF-1 promoting

folliculogenesis
 Dose: 1 to 2 mg from day 3 of menstrual cycle daily for 5 days
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 Letrozole: it is banned due to its associated risk of congenital

cardiac and malformation in newborn.
 Indication:
PCOS
CC resistant cases
Situation in which multiple pregnancy is not
desirable or risk of OHSS is high
 Moderator/Regulator: 25
Myo-inositol(vitamin B8)

 Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase production and activation is essential

for insulin to act.
 Myo-inositol has important role in production and activation of PI3
kinase improves insulin’s action and ensure ovulation
 Dose: 2 gm twise a day for 16-20 weeks
 Ovulation rate is around 60-70%
 It reduces testosterone, decreases BMI and decreases hirsuitism.
 Other combination: folic acid and vitamin D
 Ovulation Induction: 26
Gonadotropin Treatment
 Optimal for women who have failed CC or who cannot
risk waiting
 Used in women with inadequate pituitary secretion of
LH and FSH (Hypogonadotrophic amenorrhea) or
PCOS
 Agents: FSH, hCG, human menopausal gonadotropin
(hMG)
 Success rates hCG

 WHO class I: 30% per cycle

 WHO class II: 17% per cycle

 May include IUI or natural intercourse

 Controlled ovarian stimulation:
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Gonadotropin treatment
 Starts with higher dose of gonadotropins than for OI (COS:
150-225 IU of FSH; OI: 50-75 IU of FSH)
 Needs GnRH analog treatment to prevent interference by
endogenous hormones
 COS is followed by oocyte retrieval, IVF, and transfer of
embryos

hCG
 Common procedures: COS 28

Day 6 of
FSH hCG
Day 2 or 3 Embryo Transfer
of menses GnRH
antagonist
Cycle day
rFSH/hMG IVF
21-24 Luteal
GnRH agonist or phase
support
rFSH/hMG ICSI
Male infertility treatment
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OI = ovulation induction COS = controlled ovarian stimulation

IVF = in vitro fertilization IUI = intrauterine insemination
ICSI = Intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Intrauterine insemination(IUI) 31
Indications
Unexplained infertility
Male subfertility—mild oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, or
teratozoospermia
Failure to conceive after ovulation induction treatment
Ejaculatory failure
Retrograde ejaculation
Procedure
Washed prepared sperm are deposited in the uterus just before the
release of an egg or eggs in a natural or stimulated cycle
Success rate: up to 15% per cycle
Significant risk for multiple pregnancy
In Vitro Fertilization 32

Procedure
 Initially used in women with fallopian tube blockage or
damage
 Now employed for many causes of infertility (eg.
Endometriosis, male factor)
 Involves
 COS
 Egg retrieval
 Insemination, fertilization, embryo culture
 Embryo transfer
 Cryopreservation of extra embryos
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Risks
 Ovarian hyperstimulation stimulation syndrome
Usually not serious and resolves with outpatient management
1%-2% severe requiring hospitalization
Dose-dependent, avoided by careful titration
 Anesthesia
 Multiple births
 Ectopic pregnancy
 Cost
 Psychologic distress
 Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection 34

Indications

 Very low numbers of motile sperm

 Severe teratospermia
 Problems with sperm binding to and penetrating the egg
 Antisperm antibodies
 Prior or repeated fertilization failure with standard IVF methods
 Obstruction of the male reproductive tract not amenable to repair
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Success Rate and Complications

 Fertilization rate: 50%-80%

 Live offspring: 20%-40% (40% in younger women, success

declines with maternal age)
 References 36

1. Sushma D, editor. Infertility management made easy. 2nd ed. New

Delhi: Jaypee brothers medical publishers (p) LTD; 2014.

2. Keith LP, Bernard PS. Introduction To Endocrinology: The

Hypothalamic-Pituitary axis. Brunton LL, Goodman & Gilman’s
the pharmacological basis of therapeutics.11th Ed. Mcgraw-hill:
Medical Publishing Division;2006. P. 1117-24.

3. Dutta DC, Textbook of gynecology, 6th ed. New Delhi: Jaypee

brothers medical publishers (p) LTD; 2013.
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