Dr. Arby Jane Igualada

Investigating the probable cause of infertility is essential in the process of conception. Initial workup would include history taking, physical examination, and additional lab tests/ diagnostics.

For female infertility, various tests include: Pelvic examination (including Pap’s smear), Transvaginal ultrasound, Ovarian reserve, Antral follicle count, Antimullerian hormone, Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), Saline infusion sonogram, Hormonal assays, Diagnostic Hysteroscopy, Diagnostic Laparoscopy

For male: Semen analysis (properly timed and properly collected), Hormonal assays, Scrotal / transrectal ultrasound

Various treatments for fertility treatments could start from simple timed contact (natural conception) up to minimal/mild stimulation and eventually in vitro fertilization.

Basic treatments include:

Timing of sexual contact within the window of ovulation as determined by your fertility doctor. Using ovulation induction agents to help women ovulate (minimal/mild stimulation). Insemination of the processed sperm into the uterine cavity for couples with male factor infertility (intrauterine insemination). Operative procedures to repair/eliminate infertility factors.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is a higher form of infertility treatment that includes the handling of eggs / or embryos outside the uterus. Basically, it involves 10-14 days of controlled ovarian stimulation, a surgical procedure to harvest the eggs from a woman’s ovaries, mixing the eggs with sperm, incubating the fertilized eggs in the medium, and transferring the formed embryos afterward, with the primary goal of having a live baby.

Egg freezing is the process of harvesting oocytes and freezing them for years. It will be thawed and used for future IVF when the woman is ready to have a baby. It is ideally done in earlier years because older ovaries lose their capacity to produce eggs as it age, which is more prominent when a woman reaches 35 years old. Social egg freezing is an option for women who would want to pause their reproductive plans and focus on their education or careers, or other commitments.

The reproductive function of cancer patients diminishes as brought about by the cancer treatments that they receive. Oncofertility corresponds to fertility preservation among these patients to help them conceive in the future, once they survived their diseases. It caters to prepubertal, adolescent, and adult patients.

Oncofertility Counseling, Sperm freezing, Egg Freezing, Embryo Freezing, Ovarian tissue cryopreservation, Ovarian protection

Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy are minimally invasive surgeries that can be done in gynecological cases. It involves operation using small incisions, which is beneficial to the patient for a faster recovery period and minimal blood loss. Laparoscopy can be done but is not limited to the removal of ovarian tumors, tubal pathology, and even hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). Hysteroscopy is doing intrauterine surgeries using a scope, to remove an endometrial polyp, submucous myoma, or correct an intrauterine anomaly.

Thinking of talking to your doctor before trying to get pregnant? This is a service to counsel women / couples to make sure that their bodies are ready to conceive. Some tests are done too, to investigate possible medical problems, and treat them prior to conception.