Dr Gautam Allahbadia

Dr Gautam Allahbadia talks about the advantages of IVF treatment

The overlooked benefits of Assisted Reproduction

With advancement in medical technology, assisted reproduction techniques like In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) are gradually gaining popularity among couples trying to conceive. According to Dubai-based IVF consultant Dr Gautam Allahbadia, there are some benefits unique to IVF procedures which are often overlooked:

1. Per-cycle success rates

In a number of cases, doctors recommend a host of other fertility treatments before IVF – the treatment is reserved for few selected couples who fail to conceive through any other method. The per-cycle success rate is better with this method of assisted reproduction, suggests Dr Allahbadia.

2. Almost no limitations to applications

One of the most important benefits of IVF is that the number of barriers to its implementation is quite limited – it isn’t restricted merely to the issues faced by women such as severe endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, or frozen pelvis. The procedure can bring the joy of parenthood to couples with severe male factor infertility as well. Men suffering from problems like absence of sperms in semen but presence of testicular sperm, or very low sperm counts can also benefit from IVF or ICSI.

3. Third party reproduction

IVF is the only Assisted Reproductive Technique that can make use of a third party through donated eggs, uterus and sperm. “Sometimes, if there is a problem in the production of eggs, it is suggested to use donated eggs. In such cases, IVF treatment is the only viable option, as the egg and sperm are fertilised outside the body, before they are placed inside a woman’s uterus,” explains Dr Gautam Allahbadia, IVF head at Millennium Medical Center (MMC) IVF, Dubai.

4. Preservation of female fertility

Women who are passionate and more focussed upon their career often lose track of the ticking biological clock. By the time they begin planning a baby, their fertility rate fails to co-operate. Through cryopreservation (freezing) of their eggs at an early age, women can opt for conceiving a baby through IVF later in life.

5. Elimination of genetic diseases

Older women are prone to a lot of chromosomal abnormalities, resulting in genetically abnormal embryos. These embryos either fail to implant to the uterus, or cause early abortions and in some cases, abnormalities in babies. IVF enables the selection of healthy embryos for implantation through pre-implantation genetic screening. Genetic diseases or mitochondrial diseases running in families can also be eliminated by this method.

As an IVF consultant, Dr Gautam Allahbadia is of the opinion that IVF treatment definitely holds an edge over other assisted reproductive techniques.

Which Assisted Reproductive Technique is right for you?

Assisted Reproductive Techniques like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) are sought after by a large number of childless couples across the globe. While these treatments give people a ray of hope, the success of these procedures varies from person to person and treatment to treatment. We bring you a comprehensive guide to IVF and ICSI – what these terms mean, how these treatments are performed, and which is the ideal assisted reproductive technique for you.

Understanding IVF

In Vitro Fertilisation is a process of fertilization where an egg is combined with sperm outside the body, in vitro. Upon the successful fertilization of the egg, the embryo formed is allowed to develop in the laboratory. Later, it is transferred to the women’s uterus for where it gets implanted and develops further. An IVF cycle consists of five chief steps:

Controlled Ovarian Hyper stimulation (COH) and Follicular Monitoring
hCG Trigger and Oocyte Retrieval
Oocyte Culture, Insemination and Fertilization in the IVF Laboratory
Embryo Transfer
Luteal Support

Understanding ICSI

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) involves the insertion of a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg (called oocyte). Taking the IVF procedure one step further, ICSI uses a special micro-injection pipette (glass needle).

Is IVF the right treatment for me?

According to IVF consultant from Dubai, Dr Gautam Allahbadia; IVF is suggested to patients when alternative treatments either are unlikely to achieve the desired results, or fail to result in a pregnancy. IVF treatment is best suited for women with blocked fallopian tubes or extensive pelvic adhesions preventing the egg from entering the fallopian tubes.

IVF is also suggested in cases where the male partner is suffering from low sperm counts. Since IVF allows super concentrating sperm, successful fertilization can occur even despite the male partner having low sperm counts.
The treatment is also advisable in cases of “unexplained infertility”, which refers to the condition when a couple is unable to conceive despite all tests being normal. In such cases, IVF is a viable option even if you have failed to conceive with Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), suggests Dr Gautam Allahbadia, who heads the IVF team at Millennium Medical Center (MMC) IVF, Dubai.

IVF is also advisable to women having Polycystic Ovaries (PCOS), and in cases where ovulation induction with or without IUI has remained unsuccessful. Women having mild to moderate Endometriosis can try undergoing IUI before proceeding to IVF, suggests Dr Gautam Allahbadia.

Is ICSI the right treatment for me?

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) has emerged as a break through technique in the treatment of male infertility. The procedure is preferred in cases where the male partner’s number of motile sperm is very low, or the morphology is excessively poor. Fertility and IVF consultant Dr Gautam Allahbadia recommends ICSI based on the results of the semen analysis, along with other risk factors.

Health risks involved in IVF and ICSI cycles

The drugs used during IVF and/or ICSI cycles might cause some side effects on occasion. The procedures also come with a small but significant risk of multiple pregnancies, pelvic infection and ectopic pregnancy. Controlled Ovarian Hyper-stimulation (COH) involved in IVF treatments is associated with a risk of Ovarian Hyper stimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Common symptoms of OHSS (in varying degrees of severity) include the following: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, extreme bloating, rapid weight gain, and difficulty in breathing. These symptoms are closely monitored by the doctors to prevent the occurrence of hyper-stimulation.

Success Rates for IVF and ICSI procedures

Talking about the IVF cycle success rates, Dr Gautam Allahbadia says, “The woman’s reason for the infertility, and her age are the two most significant factors that determine the success of an IVF cycle. We discuss the patients’ individual case history before coming up with a treatment plan for them, since each patient is unique.”
As the ICSI procedure fertilizes about 50 to 80 percent of eggs, it is commonly assumed by patients that all eggs will get fertilized during the procedure. However, it is important to note that even when a sperm is injected into the egg, fertilization can’t be guaranteed. Post fertilization, the success rates for ICSI and IVF procedures remain the same.

Dr Gautam Allahbadia | Things you need to know before trying for a baby

While planning a pregnancy, ovulation is often the most overlooked part, albeit its importance in conceiving a healthy baby. Medical experts across the globe reveal that a large number of women experience difficulty in conceiving due to a lack of knowledge about the impact of ovulation upon the reproductive cycle. According to Dr Gautam Allahbadia, a fertility specialist based in Dubai, women must know the following things about ovulation before they plan to conceive:

Your body doesn’t create new eggs every month

Women ovulate an egg each month. However, these eggs are not created by the body monthly. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and thus the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries decreases with time.
Aging decreases the genetic stability, leaving women over the age of 35 at a greater risk for experiencing miscarriage, infertility, or having a child with a genetic disease. However, according to Dr Gautam Allahbadia, egg freezing can help preserve fertility for women.
“Women who want to delay parenting until after 35 often opt for cryogenic preservation of eggs. They freeze their eggs when they are in their 20s, in hopes of using their younger, healthier eggs later in life,” quips Dr Allahbadia, who also heads the IVF team at Millennium Medical Center (MMC) IVF Dubai.

Your overall health affects ovulation months before you conceive

You may not produce new eggs each month, but these eggs do mature into ovulation-ready eggs over several weeks before they are released. Your lifestyle before and during this maturation period can make a big difference in the health of those eggs.

Diet during preconception can affect your fertility and your not-yet-conceived baby’s health. One nutrient that must be present before conception is folic acid, suggests Dr Gautam Allahbadia. Low folic acid levels can lead to problems with fertility, a higher risk of miscarriage, and birth defects.
Another major fertility health risk remains cigarette smoking, which not only lowers your fertility, but also increases the rate at which the eggs in your ovaries age. Being a passive smoker can also have a negative impact on your fertility and your future baby’s health.

Menstruation is not equivalent to ovulation

Some women believe that they are ovulating if they are menstruating. This, however, is just a misconception.
Women who experience an irregular ovulation may have irregular cycles, lighter or shorter than usual periods, or unusually heavy periods. They may also go months without getting their period. On the other hand, it is also possible for women having regular periods to not be ovulating.

“Just because you get a period doesn’t necessarily mean your ovulation or your fertility is normal as well. In case your cycles are irregular, you must speak to your doctor before you start planning a pregnancy,” suggests Dr Gautam Allahbadia, IVF specialist from Mumbai .

Ovulation doesn’t guarantee a pregnancy

Healthy ovulation is crucial to a healthy pregnancy. However, it takes more than a ready egg to conceive.
“For a successful pregnancy, sperm must be able to reach the egg, meaning that the fallopian tubes must be clear and healthy. Also, the fertilized embryo needs a place to implant and develop, so the uterine environment must also be fertility-friendly,” explains Dr Gautam Allahbadia.

The Dubai based IVF consultant adds, “You also need healthy sperm to conceive. About one-third of couples experiencing infertility discover male infertility as the cause. In other cases, both male and female fertility problems might be causing the trouble.”

A woman may have very regular cycles, but if she’s in her 40s already, those eggs may be less than ideal for conception. Your ability to conceive ends much before you actually hit menopause.
Ovulation is an important aspect of a woman’s reproductive cycle. Prior planning and due diligence is needed for a pregnancy to be successful. It is advisable to contact your doctor prior to trying for a baby to ensure your and your child’s health.

The Use of IVF in Treating Infertility Related Conditions

Leading IVF experts such as Dr. J Grifo, Dr Gautam Allahbadia and Dr. Melissa Esposito talk about the use of IVF in treating infertility. Reproduction today, does not happen naturally to a lot of people due to increasing infertility issues.

The problem of infertility is erratic, but with assisted reproductive techniques people have been able to mitigate the deleterious effects of infertility. However, a common question that brews up in every mind is that – Should IVF be the first course of treatment or the last resort?

“Understanding how much infertility can impact your life can help you make better decisions about when you start and how you go about it,” said Dr. Grifo, program director for NYU’s Fertility Center. Although IVF treatment has achieved efficacy in getting couples pregnant while keeping a reasonable safety profile, the awareness around the treatment precludes its absolute use.

IVF isn’t usually the first preference for treatment, but it is one of the most effective alternatives to different conditions. “IVF works using a combination of medicinal supplements and procedures, making conducive conditions to help foster the entire ART process into a pregnancy.

Although a number of treatments are offered through the process of In-vitro fertilization, deciding which one to opt for depends on the patient’s diagnosis,” explains Dr. Gautam Allahbadia, IVF Specialist and head of the Millennium Medical Center (MMC) IVF Dubai.

As the proponent of IVF Lite or Minimal Stimulation IVF, Dr. Gautam Allahbadia has been associated with the study and practice of ART in both India and abroad. Recently elected as the Vice President of the World Association of Reproductive Medicine (WARM), Dr. Gautam has been a pioneer in Third-Party Reproduction in Southeast Asia.

As a treatment methodology, IVF offers treatment for several infertility issues. After completing the infertility evaluation, the treatment plan can be decided mutually by the couple and the IVF specialists.

Having provided clinical pieces of evidence of the highest success rate, IVF is effectual in providing aid for the following:

Female Factor Infertility

Female infertility factors contribute to approximately 50% of all infertility cases. The critical role of a woman in pregnancy not only limits to producing healthy eggs that can transform into a successful pregnancy but also providing a conducive environment for the egg to mature into an embryo.

If the entire process is hindered by any internal anomaly, it is a potential cause of infertility. Problems such as severely damaged fallopian tubes or scarring from endometriosis can also hinder a woman’s ability to reproduce.

How IVF helps:

Through the process of IVF, eggs are retrieved directly from the female’s ovaries and fertilized in the laboratory. Therefore, this eliminates the obstructions in pregnancy due to fallopian damage or any other condition, the women might suffer from.

Male Factor Infertility

“Male infertility is a condition in which the male reproductive tract and sperm have diminished the capacity to lead to the eventual fertilization of the egg to produce an embryo,” explains Melissa Esposito, M.D., a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at Shady Grove Fertility Center in Washington, D.C.

For poor quality sperm, low sperm count, ineffective repetitive tries at getting pregnant, or blockages, IVF is indicated.

How IVF helps:

After the complete evaluation of the male participant, a number of treatment options may be provided such as IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection, where the sperm count is low, or Micromanipulation for enhancing the ability of sperm to fertilize an oocyte (egg).

Fertility preservation for both men and women
With IVF, couples are now able to preserve their fertility and become parents whenever they are completely ready. Fertility preservation is a great option for parents who are currently suffering through systemic diseases or otherwise, as it helps them procreate biological babies in the future.

How IVF helps:

As for women, IVF treatment provides a chance where they can freeze their embryos through a process of cryopreservation and conceive at later stages in life. As for the male counterparts, sperm samples are stored and used later for artificial fertilization.

Patients often think about IVF as a process of artificial fertilization, but it is a great alternative for exploring family planning options and locating unexplained infertility problems. It has successfully assisted couples in their journey towards parenthood and relieving them from different medical complications.

Dr Gautam Allahbadia: The man who revolutionized assisted reproduction in India

A small bundle of joy and life – the inexplicable delight of conceiving a baby is tremendous. It provides perspective, meaning, and happiness to millions around the world. However, thousands of couples are often left childless, wanting a child but unable to conceive, owing to a bevy of medical issues.

With Assisted Reproduction Techniques like IVF giving these couples a renewed sense of hope, it would be unfair to overlook the efforts of the ground-breakers, who played a pivotal role in transforming assisted reproduction to the advanced level it has achieved today.

Often dubbed as ‘The Miracle Man’ by national and international media, Dr Gautam Allahbadia is a man of many accomplishments. While his success as an IVF expert has brought him worldwide recognition, only a few are aware of his journey towards becoming a pioneer in assisted reproduction.

Gautam Nandkishore Allahbadia was born on July 7, 1963 in Mumbai to a family of doctors – his mother was an anaesthetist and his father was a gynaecologist. They worked for 13 years in Ireland. However, the family relocated to Mumbai before Gautam Allahbadia’s birth.

After completing his schooling from St. Josephs High School, Wadala, Mumbai, Gautam Allahbadia went on to study at Jaihind College & Basantsing Institute of Science, and completed his Medical undergraduate & Post-graduate education at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital. Thereafter he did numerous IVF fellowships in Canada, USA & Germany.

Reminiscing of his earlier days, Dr Gautam Allahbadia says, “I was very fond of art. I even passed the elementary and intermediate examinations. But because I was brought up in a family of doctors, I took up medicine. It was during my post-graduation in Gynecology, I got an exposure to the medical conferences organized by the MOGS (Mumbai Obstetric Gynaecological Society) which is the apex body of the gynaecologists.” Later he went on to become the President of MOGS in the year 2010.

Dr Gautam Allahbadia IVF specialist mumbai took up service as a lecturer at his alma mater, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College. This was followed by a 12-year stint at the University of Mumbai affiliated Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, before he finally made the shift to private practice.

Around the time when news of the HIV virus struck the world, and the rise of an HIV epidemic in India, Allahbadia conceived an innovative idea. “In infertility, there is a term called ‘donor insemination’. Some men are born without sperms and they require healthy men to donate sperms. I realized that in India, there was a huge lack of sperms as they had to be HIV tested and there was no sperm bank run to ASRM guidelines in Mumbai. I thought of setting up an assisted reproduction or a test-tube baby centre. However, at that time I didn’t have sufficient funds,” he recollects.

Contrary to what people usually assume, Gautam Allahbadia’s ascent through the global medical circles wasn’t an easy one. “I started my private practice in the garage of my building. I converted it to a clinic and a small lab where we would do semen processing. In 1996, I opened a sperm bank and we found that there were huge demands too. By 2000, we had grown by 30 to 40 times. My father then handed over a small familial property and allowed me to use it,” the IVF specialist shares. Central Bank of India helped with a Medical loan to start the first Rotunda – Center For Human Reproduction at this location in Bandra, Mumbai.

We had to struggle a lot for the first three years, as there were not many patients. However, I continued writing papers and books in that period. Fortunately, I got some more awards in the West and that made me popular, and we started getting patients. I also had the privilege of being elected as the youngest president of the MOGS in 2010.”

After completing his training in IVF/ICSI at the University of Gottingen, Bielefeld IVF Center and the University of Munich, Dr Gautam Allahbadia was honoured with the ‘AOFOG-Young Gynaecologist Award’ in the year 1998. Allahbadia also has more than 150 peer-reviewed publications added to his credentials. His research bagged him ‘FOGSI-CORION National Research Award’ for best original research work in infertility, and six research grants from renowned institutions.

Talking about the way medical practitioners are perceived in India, Dr Allahbadia expresses his regret at people attributing good doctors to white hair, “I was quite young. There were doctors around who would get semen processed from us, take our reports, tear up our letterheads and show it as their reports. However, the main job was done at our centre. But since they were very old and senior doctors, people would still go to them.”

Although the IVF consultant was a known name in the West, the breakthrough for Dr Gautam Allahbadia as well as the assisted reproduction techniques in his home country came in 2004. The year witnessed some ‘firsts’ in the medical arena brought about by Dr Allahbadia – India’s first trans-ethnic surrogate pregnancy involving a Chinese couple’s baby delivered by an unrelated Indian surrogate mother, and India’s first same-sex couple pregnancy and delivery of twins.

Allahbadia feels that things have changed drastically since then, “In 1996, when I had opened my sperm bank, my parents were totally against it. I had no support at all. Also, when I started my IVF center and took a bank loan, they were against it too. People used to criticize and look down on me because I used to collect people’s sperm. However, things have changed radically in last few years, “he says.

He adds, “Today, even single Indian women visit us to get pregnant. We have gay couples corning in for babies and there are no eyebrows raised. Under the provisions of the existing Indian laws at the time, our clinic was the only LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Trans-sexual) friendly clinic in India.”

Dr Gautam Allahbadia’s success is not limited to his work at Rotunda. He is the recipient of over 25 prizes and fellowships in the field. The most notable among them is the ‘Canadian Young Scientist Fellowship Award’ for the year 1994, which allowed him to train in Infertility at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Dr Allahbadia is also a proud recipient of the prestigious ‘Dr Kumud Tamaskar Award’ for original research work in infertility in the year 1991.

With a career spanning over three decades, embellished with numerous awards and accolades, Dr Allahbadia currently heads the IVF team and Millennium Medical Centre (MMC) IVF Dubai. He also works as an IVF specialist with Canadian Specialist Hospital, Dubai; Orchid Fertility & Andrology, DHCC Dubai; Dr Amal Elias IVF Center, Dubai, among other renowned medical institutions.

He is responsible for over 9000 babies in six continents across a career spanning 29 years now!

Understanding IVF: Dr Gautam Allahbadia talks about common concerns expressed by couples trying to conceive

Changing lifestyles and a career-centric approach dictates much of our choices, options and preferences in life. In that context, child-bearing and pregnancy has also come to bear the brunt of new life choices. Nowadays, couples and single women often consider starting a family at a later stage in life – when they are more stable financially. While this contradicts the biological clock that decreases fertility with age, assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) like IVF step in as an option for these couples.

Contrary to non-medical opinion, IVF turns out to be safer option for couples looking to conceive. The methodology, is clear and is vouched for by expert obstetricians and doctors.

According to Dr Gautam Allahbadia, a Mumbai-based IVF specialist, ARTs will now be more invariably linked to reproduction in the years to come. “Several couples and single women make a deliberate choice to conceive through IVF, while others opt for the procedure owing to fertility issues,” he says.

Whichever may be the case, there remain some concerns commonly expressed by patients choosing to undergo IVF and other ARTs. Couples with infertility problems and those who are undergoing the treatment often face many frustrations and disappointments before, during and after IVF treatment. Once started, the treatment can also be physically and emotionally challenging.Waiting for results can be stressful as well.

Talking about the patients’ concern, Dr Gautam Allahbadia says, “It’s only natural for the patients to have some questions in their mind.” He adds that some of common questions raised by couples trying to conceive include queries about the IVF procedure, such as what the procedure is all about and how it is performed. However, one of the major concerns expressed by patients remains the genetic health of the child, and the chances of a successful conception.

“The advancement in genetics has greatly improved the success rates of IVF procedures. Through procedures like Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) and Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD),embryos are screened and tested for abnormalities. Through research in the field, it was found that nature does not let chromosomally abnormal babies stick to the uterus, passing it down in the form of abortions or miscarriages,”says Dr Gautam Allahbadia, who also heads the IVF team at Millennium Medical Centre MMCIVF, Dubai.

He further explains, “With PGTAIVF, we can screen the embryos for all 24 chromosome pairs. We transfer the normal embryos into the uterus, which are then expected to go to term as healthy pregnancies, in the form of chromosomally normal offspring. This has proved to be a miracle for women who previously suffered the oddities of abnormal pregnancies.”

PGD procedure, on the other hand, was initially used to diagnose hereditary disorders like thalassemia or severe muscular dystrophies, and avoid their transfers. Through PGD the gene that carried the abnormality was identified and the affected embryo discarded, hence its primary purpose was to eliminate genetic disorders in the next generation. However, with the advent of NGS, over 400 diseases can be screened and normal embryos can be transferred, explains Dr Allahbadia.