Health
Infertility Treatment Singapore: Which is the Best Option?
Published
1 month agoon
By
Watson
Infertility is a fairly common problem that affects so many couples. Fortunately, advances in medical technology have made it possible for many people to achieve their dream of starting a family.
The wide variety of options for infertility treatment in Singapore means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Choosing the best infertility treatment in Singapore depends on several factors.
We created this article to explain the most common infertility treatments in Singapore. We will also show you how they work, and how they compare. Keep reading!
First things first, infertility is typically defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse. Infertility may be due to a wide range of issues, including problems with ovulation, sperm quality, the reproductive organs, or unexplained causes.
In Singapore, couples struggling with infertility have access to a range of treatments. Below are the most common infertility treatments available in Singapore:
Ovulation induction is often one of the first treatments offered to women who are not ovulating regularly. It involves the use of oral or injectable medications to stimulate the ovaries to release eggs.
Medications like Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) or injectable hormones (gonadotropins) are used to regulate or induce ovulation.
It is ideal for women with irregular ovulation or conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It is non-invasive and can be combined with timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI) to enhance chances of conception. A major concern with this method is that multiple pregnancies (twins or triplets) are more likely due to multiple eggs being released.
IUI is a simple procedure where sperm is collected, processed, and placed directly into the uterus. This reduces the distance sperm need to travel to reach the egg and increases the chances of fertilization.
IUI is often combined with ovulation induction to time the insemination with ovulation. IUI is suitable for couples where the male partner has mild sperm abnormalities.
It may also be recommended for you as an infertility treatment in Singapore if you’re dealing with unexplained infertility. It is also an option for women with mild ovulation issues.
It is a good first step before moving on to more complex treatments. However, success rates are lower compared to IVF, especially for older women or those with severe fertility issues. Also, it has limited effectiveness for women with blocked fallopian tubes or severe endometriosis.
IVF is a more advanced infertility treatment that involves extracting eggs from the ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab. Once fertilized, the embryos are grown in a controlled environment before being transferred back into the uterus.
IVF bypasses many fertility obstacles, such as blocked fallopian tubes or poor sperm motility. IVF is ideal for couples who have not had success with simpler treatments like IUI.
It is also usually recommended for those with more complex fertility issues like tubal factor infertility, severe male factor infertility, or unexplained infertility. It has high success rates, especially for women under 35 and can help with a variety of infertility causes.
What’s more, IVF also allows for genetic testing of embryos (Preimplantation Genetic Testing) to screen for genetic disorders. However, it is quite expensive and requires multiple steps, including hormonal stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer. It can also be emotionally and physically demanding due to the medications and procedures involved.
ICSI is often used along with IVF. In this procedure, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg to aid fertilization.
ICSI is especially beneficial for men with low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or abnormal sperm morphology. The biggest advantage is that it allows fertilization even when sperm quality is severely compromised.
However, it does not guarantee pregnancy; success still depends on the quality of the embryo and implantation process. Also, it increases the cost of IVF cycles due to the additional procedure.
For some couples, infertility issues may be due to poor egg or sperm quality. In these cases, donor eggs or sperm can be used.
The process involves using a donor’s egg or sperm, which is then fertilized (usually via IVF) and implanted in the uterus. This treatment may be recommended as part of your infertility treatment in Singapore plan if you’re a man with poor egg quality or a woman who have gone through early menopause.
The good thing with this treatment is that it allows couples to achieve pregnancy even when one partner’s reproductive cells are not viable. However, it may be emotionally challenging for some couples, as the child will not share genetic material with both parents.
Sometimes, infertility is caused by structural problems in the reproductive organs, such as fibroids, endometriosis, or blocked fallopian tubes. Procedures like laparoscopy can be used to correct these issues to improve the chances of natural conception or the success of fertility treatments like IUI or IVF.
Surgery is mostly recommended for women with physical blockages or structural abnormalities in their reproductive organs that affect fertility. Done correctly, it can resolve underlying physical causes of infertility and potentially allow for natural conception.
It can also improve the effectiveness of subsequent fertility treatments. However, as with any surgery, there are risks involved, including infection or complications from the procedure. Also, success rates depend on the severity of the underlying condition.
Choosing the best infertility treatment in Singapore depends on several factors, including:
For couples just starting their infertility treatment, less invasive options like ovulation induction or IUI may be a good starting point. However, for those who have tried these treatments without success or who have more complex fertility issues, IVF or ICSI may be more appropriate.
Infertility treatments offer hope to many couples in Singapore, and with so many options available, there’s no reason to lose hope. Whether you opt for less invasive treatments like IUI or decide that IVF is the right choice, working closely with a fertility specialist will help you sieve through the options and find the best path forward.
If you’re considering infertility treatment, consult with a fertility clinic in Singapore to discuss your options and find the best approach for your unique situation. For more information, get in touch with a knowledgeable provider at;
Centre For Endometriosis And Fibroids – A/Prof Fong Yoke Fai | Gynaecologist Singapore
38 Irrawaddy Rd, #05-49 Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical Centre,
Singapore 329563
+65 6334 1981