`Seeds of Innocence’: Why are urban women having a low fertility rate?

 New Delhi:  Kajol (name changed) had given up hope of becoming a mother after two failed IVF blastocyst transfers (implantation of the embryo in the uterus).

Slipped into depression, she had been dealing with primary infertility for the past eight years. She was diagnosed with a low Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) concentration, a sign that indicates how many viable egg cells a woman still has.

Donor eggs are almost usually necessary in these cases because the woman’s body does not produce enough eggs to be retrieved. During an ultrasound, Kajol was also diagnosed with a very low Antral Follicle Count (AFC), which further dashed hopes. 

Enter Dr. Gauri Agarwal, Director, and Co-founder, `Seeds of Innocence’. She used Ovarian Rejuvenation therapy, commonly known as ovarian PRP, to let Kajol become a biological mother of a daughter, putting an end to her long wait.

 “Ovarian PRP is a quick and easy procedure that improves the organ’s ability to generate eggs. This is critical for women with low AMH, because the typical stimulation of the ovaries during IVF may not produce the optimum results. Preparing the ovaries and then stimulating them boosts the odds of retrieving high-quality eggs and, as a result, higher-quality embryos. To generate platelet-rich plasma (PRP), we drew around 5ml of blood, spun it, and added reagents — the entire procedure took about 20 minutes. The PRP was then injected into the ovaries at least twice during the menstrual cycle’s first 14 days. In the following cycle, we stimulated her ovaries for eggs and discovered that ovarian PRP worked for her,” said Dr. Agarwal

Two grade-1 blastocysts were generated through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and frozen embryo transfer was performed in the following cycle, with the implant being successful on the first try. Nuchal translucency scan, dual marker, and non-invasive prenatal testing were all normal during antenatal screening.

Kajol is one of many women who have struggled to conceive for years due to a low egg reserve. With reproduction rates on the decline, egg freezing is more important than ever for women. This procedure allows a woman to plan her pregnancy without having to worry about becoming infertile in her 30s. 

“As a result of increased awareness, the number of young women opting to freeze their eggs is increasing. Since the last year, we have seen a lot of women under 35 who elected to freeze their eggs. This is a safe and trustworthy option for any woman, whether she is married, single, or in a relationship. The eggs can be kept for up to ten years and then thawed and fertilized whenever she desires,” Dr. Agarwal said.

One of the biggest factors to lower fertility rates in urban women is the growing problem of low egg reserve. Some of the key reasons for this condition are stress, pollution, exposure to pesticides, and addiction to smoking and alcohol.

According to a recent study, one out of every two women who were unable to conceive had low egg reserve. Earlier, it was a problem that emerged with the growing age, however that has changed. Low egg reserve is a prevalent concern among today’s young girls, with women as young as 27 years old failing to conceive as a result.