A Hope in Ayurveda for IVF Failure

A Hope in Ayurveda for IVF Failure – There is nothing more stressful for the patient and the caring gynecologist than having to deal with repeated IVF failure or repeated pregnancy loss after IVF. So giving advice to couples who have failed in one or more attempts is not an easy task to keep trying again and again. Here, one can find the solution in Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda, through its medicines, diet and lifestyle modifications and Panchakarma gives a new hope after IVF failure. Ayurvedic treatment increases the success rate of artificial reproductive techniques (IUI, IVF, ICSI-ET) or increases the chances of natural conception due to infertility.

What is infertility?

• Infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse or the inability to conceive to a full term.
• There are many causes of infertility; Such as tubal block, PID, endometriosis, PCOD in women and low sperm count, low sperm motility in men.
• When severe tubal disease, severe egg factor, unsuccessful IUI treatment, severe male factor, unexplained infertility, grade III and IV endometriosis; Test tube baby is recommended.

So, why does treatment fail?

Can it fail?

Although the success of IVF depends on some key factors like age and overall health, there are two common reasons behind the failure of IVF, and they are:

An abnormal embryo –

The most common cause of unsuccessful IVF is an abnormal or incompetent embryo. In most cases, this is due to the irregular number of chromosomes (aneuploidy) in the embryo. This may be due to an abnormal egg or abnormal sperm or when both gametes are abnormal.

Implantation failure-

An underlying implantation dysfunction can prevent the embryo from attaching to the lining of the uterus. When the thickness of the endometrium is thin (less than 9 mm) at the time of progesterone administration, implantation may fail. Implantation may also fail due to surface lesions in the uterine cavity (due to scarring, polyps or uterine fibroids).

Other causes are poor ovarian response and pre-treatment stress.

Make IVF successful with Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the ancient system of treatment, properly prepares you for IVF treatment. There are three major aspects of this treatment – detoxification, nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Detoxification

The success of IVF largely depends on the proper implantation of healthy eggs and sperms and embryos. Thus, as a first step, Ayurveda suggests that the couple should be purified with Pancha Karma treatment before conception. Known as seed purification and space purification, the detoxification process cleanses the ovum, sperm, and uterus.

Shirodhara helps in reducing the stress level of the couple.

Nutrition

Diet is an inherent component of Ayurveda treatment.

A fertility diet includes fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy proteins, moong dal, soaked almonds and walnuts, dried fruits such as figs, dates and raisins, ajwain seeds, cumin and turmeric.

You should find yourself avoiding spicy and salty foods and those that contain artificial sweeteners, high-fat foods, caffeine, alcohol and excessive meat.

Lifestyle changes

Infertility has become one of the lifestyle diseases. Ayurveda emphasizes that a healthy lifestyle is essential for conceiving a child. According to the constitution of your body, an Ayurvedic specialist can guide you to make lifestyle changes along with Dinacharya and Rutucharya. In addition, you should ensure adequate sleep and practice yoga (Surya Namaskar, Sarvangasana, Dhanurasana, Shalabasana and Pranayama) regularly.

When IVF treatment is failing again and again, you lose hope. However, there is definitely hope of success in pregnancy from Ayurveda.

What are the causes of IVF failure?

• To work on IVF failures, we must look at the reasons for the failure.
• One of the most common causes of IVF failure is abnormal embryos. An abnormal embryo can be formed because of an abnormal egg or abnormal sperm, or if both gametes are abnormal.
• Another common cause is implantation failure. More important is the preparation of the endometrium for implantation of the embryo and its receptivity. The thickness of the endometrium should be 6 mm or more, preferably 8-10 mm.
• The most neglected but important cause is pre-treatment stress.

Hope in Ayurveda:

According to Ayurveda, four factors are necessary for conception; Namely seed (oocyte and sperm), soil (reproductive tract), season (fertile period) and water (nutrition).

Ayurvedic fertility treatments regulate the body’s metabolism, purify the reproductive organs, maintain hormonal balance, improve endometrium lining and receptivity, increase egg and sperm quality, and relieve stress.

The pregnancy preparation treatment of Ayurveda increases the success rate of IUI, IVF, ICSI-ET.

Womb preparation treatment:

1. Ayurvedic Medicines:

Ayurvedic herbs and medicinal preparations act as a natural tonic for the male and female reproductive organs.

They maintain the biological clock of menstruation; Hence the hormonal imbalance is corrected.

They also help in producing the most powerful and healthy sperm and egg and eventually a healthy pregnancy.

2. Panchakarma (Detoxification):

• Ayurveda can treat infertility caused by Panchakarma procedures such as Basti, Uttarbasti, Vamana, Virechana, Nasya and the failure of IVF by using various Ayurvedic formulations as per the constitution of the patient’s body.
• Basti mainly acts on Vata. It increases the power of reproductive organs
• Uttarbasti is the intrauterine instillation of sterile medicated oil or ghee. It acts on endometrial receptors
• Vamana and Virechana detox the entire body and improve the digestive fire for proper nutrition of reproductive hormones and organs
• Yoniprakshalana (irrigation of the vulva and vagina with hot decoction) and pichudharan (inserting a sterile tampon soaked in medicated ghee or oil into the posterior tip of the vagina) are also helpful in infertility.

3. Diet:

• Like other fertility treatments, Ayurvedic treatment does not rely solely on medicines.
• In fact, it ensures that the patient follows a strict dietary regimen as per Ayurveda and avoids spicy and salty food.
• Proper food can help in providing proper nutrition to the reproductive organs.

4. Lifestyle Modifications:

• Nowadays infertility has become a member of lifestyle diseases.
• Ayurvedic doctors can guide you in making lifestyle changes according to your body constitution (Dinacharya) and seasonal changes (rutucharya).
• It is always better to bypass tobacco, cigarette smoking, and alcohol as they reduce fertility.
• Exercise is an essential part of the lifestyle.

Detoxification / Panchakarma

Panchakarma procedures like Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Uttar Basti and Nasya help eliminate toxins from the body and strengthen the reproductive system.

Medicines are selected according to the nature/constitution of the patients.

Amapachan and Agnidipan- When food is eaten, ama is undigested food and due to less digestive fire it is not digested, and then ama is formed. This creates toxins in our bodies. Panchakarma helps to eliminate toxins from the body

Vatanulomana- Vata is the main dosha implicated in infertility. Therefore it is very important to correct the functions of Vata. A medicine that eliminates Vata will help in curing vicious Vata dosha

Vamana and Virechana- Removes all toxins from the body and thus improves metabolism and digestive system and strengthens the reproductive system.

Basti/vasty- Plays a significant role in establishing the reproductive system, removes toxins and increases the chances of conception.

Uttar Basti- is the procedure in which enema is administered through the urethral or vaginal route

All these processes help to eliminate toxins from the body and help in curing ovarian, tubular and uterine problems that lead to infertility. These processes help to nourish our body, revitalize the mind and strengthen the immune system.

How can you test for infertility?

Medical screening for infertility involves different techniques for men and different techniques for women. It usually begins with the therapist trying to understand the sexual habits of individuals. For women, it can be determined using any of the following methods; Ovulation tests, ovarian reserve tests, hysterosalpingography, imaging tests, or tests for other hormones.

For men, tests include; Semen test, hormone test, specialty test, testicle biopsy, or genetic test.