Five Expert Tips for Seeking IVF Treatment

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has evolved into a sophisticated procedure ever since its breakthrough in 1978. With the availability of hi-tech infrastructure, effective treatment options and increased awareness, more and more people are willing to spend lakhs of rupees on IVF, one of the most expensive assisted reproductive technologies. Noticing the boom in the fertility sector in India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences is planning to provide in vitro fertilisation treatment to infertile couples at an affordable price.

However, the advances in fertility treatment options in India has its own share of menace. Experts suggest you should stay guarded when seeking IVF treatment as ill equipped laws and unauthorized fertility centres have made medicine a profession, duping many a couples into false statistics. If you are planning to seek IVF treatment, follow these tips from Medical experts for better results:

1. Treatment from an Authorized Clinic:

There are approx 500 IVF clinics across India, but not all of them are authorized. The rise in fertility tourism in India has created a boom in the medical Industry making many inexperienced doctors open up infertility clinics at every nook and corner of the country. The situation is worse as there is no law governing the setup of infertility clinics. Indian Council of Medical Research, which is responsible for laying down guidelines have limited set of laws with respect to IVF, ICSI, egg donation, and surrogacy. Also, there is no record of number of clinics following ICMR’s guidelines. Many medico-legal issues related to doctor’s negligence, donor gametes without consent, surrogacy fail to come to limelight in these clinics making it difficult for patients to make the right choice of the treatment centre.

It is thus important to run a thorough check of the infertility clinic you visit. Ask for registeration certificate of the clinic and make sure you sign an agreement before getting into any kind of medical treatment at the fertility centres.

2. Explore all other assisted reproductive technology options before committing to IVF:

Experts suggest that IVF isn’t and shouldn’t be the first option. While doctors at the private fertility clinics may convince you about the success ratio of IVF, you must seek second medical opinion from a specialist to understand the variety of assisted reproductive technologies you can try before investing in an expensive treatment like IVF. Many times “low tech” treatments are helpful in achieving pregnancy and there is no requirement for IVF. Cross check your diagnosis by requesting medical second opinion from a gynecologist. You can now seek second opinion online from top notch gynecologists with the aid of healthcare companies which help you gain access to top-notch medical experts.

3.Explore the Best Fertility Method for your case:

Once your diagnosis is clear, ask your doctor for the assisted reproductive technology that will be best for your case. There are many services like artificial insemination by husband or donor sperm, gamete intra fallopian transfer (GIFT), in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), donor egg treatment, donor embryo treatment and endoscopic diagnosis as well as the use of a surrogate mother. Discuss possible options with your doctor or seek second medical opinion from a medical expert to reconfirm your line of treatment.

4. Seek necessary guidance from Health care Medical Second opinion companies:

Advancements in World Wide Web have made it easier for patients to dictate their healthcare choices. Now you can choose your own doctors by reading patient reviews and opt for the line of treatment that suits you best. Feel free to join medical forums and discuss your case with patients combating similar ailments. Ask for reviews of doctors and clinics before visiting.

 Online medical second opinion firms help patients reach out to best of doctors and seek remote counselling from the comfort of their home. You can manage your medical records in an online repository and and have stress free recovery by seeking aid from an online medical representative who takes care of your medical insurance.

5. Stay abreast with the New Technological Developments in Assisted Reproductive technologies

Rapid technological advancements are taking place in the field of assisted reproduction and you must stay abreast with the changes to make the best of your treatment. A recent path breaking technology in IVF has made conception possible for women who have lost fertility due to ovarian cancer. A team of doctors at Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia have achieved a breakthrough by helping an infertile woman to conceive through an ovarian tissue transplanted into her abdomen. Experts opine that this treatment is best for women who have a possibility of losing their fertility due to ovarian cancer treatment.

By Medical Opinion

Reining your Cholesterol Levels

Keeping a check on your cholesterol levels can reduce your chances of heart attack. There are three types of cholesterol - the good cholesterol also known as High Density Lipoprotein ( HDL), the bad cholesterol known as (LDL) Low Density Lipoprotein and the ugly Triglycerides which are fats derived from food. All the three cholesterol markers must be tuned equally to reach a perfect balance for a healthy heart. If you have to lower down any one of them, the rest two must also undergo a makeover.

The optimal reading of LDL cholesterol should be 100 mg/dl. The bad cholesterol or LDL is responsible for formation of plaque in the arteries leading to narrowing, blockage and hardening of arteries and a consequent heart attack. On the contrary, HDL aka good cholesterol helps in cleaning the artery narrowing plaque and therefore must be 60 mg/dl in women and 40-50 mg/dl in men. The normal reading for Triglycerides is less than 150 mg/dl. High levels of triglycerides ( 200 to 499 mg/dl ) is an indicator of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, factors responsible for cardiovascular diseases.

Here’s a review of expert guidelines for reining your cholesterol levels:

High Fibre, low fat diet:

An AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) study reported that a low fat high fibre diet can bring down LDL by 20 percent and a zero-oil diet can be helpful in toppling LDL levels to about 30 percent. Many other studies reiterate that a combination of a healthy diet and exercise can lower bad cholesterol.

Exercise and Active Lifestyle:

Lifestyle modifications and regular exercise are recommended to people with LDL from 80 – 100 mg /dl. Medication must be avoided if your LDL levels aren’t above 100 mg/dl, suggest experts. However, a good combination of lifestyle management and medication can help keeping cholesterol levels in check if you have  family history of cardio vascular diseases and diabetes.

Medication:

Pills are not for everyone. There are markers that indicate it’s time to start medication to control bad cholesterol levels, suggest experts. Statin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, is widely recommended to people with LDL levels below 70 mg/dl but Cardiologists in India recommend statins for people with LDL over 100, suggesting alternative non-medicinal options to combat rising cholesterol levels. However, if you are at risk of developing heart disease, either because of family history or due to prior vascular problems, you must keep your LDL levels under 80 with medication along with lifestyle management.  

Cholesterol lowering drugs like Statins are expensive and have to be taken lifelong, so they should be prescribed only if lifestyle modifications don’t work, suggest experts. Also, these medications have severe side effects like muscle pain and weakness. But, reports show that patients under mediation have 25 percent lower risk of developing diabetes and osteoporosis and benefits can be noticed within a month. 

Popular Aesthetic Procedures

Out of the 15 million people worldwide who resorted to plastic surgery in 2011 to enhance their looks, 466,231 were Indians, report a study. The staggering number of people going for cosmetic procedures has placed India 8th in the league of 25 countries known as popular cosmetic destinations.

Millions of Indians are going for tummy tucks, face lifts, fillers, jabs and peels in pursuit of overcoming congenital defects, bad lifestyle repercussions, accidental deformities, age or unappealing looks. Listed below are some of the popular aesthetic procedures Indian cosmetic surgeons have an expertise in:

Brow lift Surgery

Brow lift surgery is popular among women looking for a permanent anti-aging solution for sagging skin. As the name suggests, the surgery literally “lifts” the forehead skin or eyebrows to give a younger looking face. It is estimated that 7,869 Indians had full face lifts in the year 2011, depicting the rise of popularity of cosmetic procedures in India.

Crow's feet Removal Surgery

Crow’s feet are wrinkles at the corner of eyes. It is the most apparent sign of aging and can be removed with the aid of Botox, collagen injections, silicone drop injections, chemical peels and laser resurfacing.

Breast Augmentation

Breast implant is the most popular surgery opted by women to enhance their looks. However, statistics show that of 25,000 women who get their breasts enhanced through surgical procedure, 13, 561 have to undergo a subsequent breast reduction surgical treatment.

Liposuction

On an average 41,628 women undertake lipoplasty or fat modelling every year. Liposuction is a procedure in which fat is liquefied and sucked out of the body thereby reducing weight. Fat is sucked from any body part and the contouring is done in such a fashion that appearance of weight loss is greater than the amount of fat sucked from the body. 

Nasolabial and Mentolabial Folds Surgery

Permanent marking of smile lines or furrows around lips are first signs of aging. These wrinkles are surgically treated by stimulating collagen production in cells surrounding the treatment area. Permanent fillers or Temporary hyaluronic acid fillers are the most common treatments for nasolabial and mentolabial folds.

While these cosmetic procedures are widely available in most of cosmetic centres in India today, many cosmetic centres are run by amateur cosmetologists and thus proper research and care must be taken while choosing the right specialist and clinic. It is recommended to seek second medical opinion from a super specialist before opting for any treatment. 

By Medical Opinion

Five Important Questions to Ask your Oncologist

Cancer is among the ten leading causes of death in India taking its toll on five lakh people annually. As per WHO Report 2005, the estimated cancer deaths in India are expected to increase to 7 lakh by 2015. Cancer is fast becoming a major health concern as up to one million new cases of cancer are reported every year. Medical experts opine that delay in diagnosis is one of the main reasons cancer has become a leading life threat. About two third of cancer cases in the country can be prevented if patients seek second medical opinion to rule out misdiagnosis and avoid delay in treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you must seek a second medical opinion  from an oncologist to get your reports cross checked and understand your medical condition. Here are a few questions you must ask your oncologist to get an better insight into your diagnosis and begin with a line of treatment that best suits your case:

What types of diagnostic testing have been performed to conclude my diagnosis?

Cancer diagnosis is not always straightforward. Experts explain that it's not always obvious which cells might be cancerous as every cancer is different. There are many cases of misdiagnosis reported every year wherein patients with benign tumors are treated for cancer. An accurate diagnosis is critical to determine an efficient treatment plan. Make sure your diagnosis has been made using the modern diagnostic equipments that can even detect the smallest lesions before any major symptoms are noticed.

Could you Interpret and explain my diagnostic report?

You must be able to understand the information generated about your medical condition in the tests. Ask your doctor for clear interpretation of the diagnostic report. Some of the questions that may concern you are:  The origin of cancer, size of tumor, stage of cancer and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body.

What treatment options are available for my case?

There are many cancer treatments available depending on the type and stage of cancer. Seek medical opinion from an oncologist to completely understand the available treatment options before committing to one. With the aid of online healthcare companies you can now book appointment with top notch medical specialists or request second medical opinion from the comfort of your home.

Do you have a backup treatment procedure if the suggested approach doesn’t work for me?

The suggested or opted treatment option may not give desired results. It is thus important to keep a back up treatment option beforehand. Feel free to seek a second option from a super specialist if you feel that the line of treatment given by your doctor is not effective. It is advisable to talk to your own doctor about your inhibitions and ask for an alternative treatment method. Settle for an oncologist who is updated with the current oncological trends and is open to try new and effective approaches in healthcare.

What are the side effects of the suggested treatment, and how will you help me cope with them?

Always remember that no two patients have the same response  to similar treatments. Right from recovery time to side effects, every treatment aspect may vary depending on factors, external and internal. Ask your doctor about the potential side effects of the given treatment and how you can prepare yourself for them. Inquire if the care centre offers alternative therapies like nutrition therapy, ayurveda, yoga, pain management to help patients prevent and manage side effects of cancer treatment. 

By Medical Opinion