Definitely there is concern ,as these methods are not natural . But till date there is no clear cut correlation between these method and genetic diseases compared to population. It is a protective phenomenon of nature to go for the best selection of the pregnancies either achieved naturally or by artificial means. Abnormal fetuses are usually aborted whether they are created by natural intercourse or by ART ( assisted Reproductive techniques ) It is wide range of Fertility Treatments .

The rate of birth defect is related directly to the age of the mother. The chance of having a child with a birth defect is the same for a woman using IVF or ICSI techniques as it is for a woman of the same age having a child naturally.

Complication called Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome is always feared during this treatment .It is more in younger females and esp. females with Polycystic Ovaries. To avoid that, treating physician always keeps a check on growing follicles and titrates the doses of Gonadotropins. If it is still imminent ,then we do not transfer the embryos in that particular cycle and Freeze them to transfer later on. Chances of this complications are very low and usually treated in a conservative manner.

One complete IVF or ICSI cycle takes approximately six to eight weeks. First, the normal menstruation cycle of the woman is down regulated by injection or nasal application of specific hormones each day. This part of the cycle can vary from a few days to several weeks. When the ovaries have become inactive, shown on ultrasound control and laboratory findings, the stimulation of the ovaries start by muscular or subcutaneous injections of hormones.

IVF and ICSI treatment should not be considered to be a single treatment solution. Patients should be prepared to go through at least 3 to 4 cycles to give themselves a fair chance of becoming pregnant as the likelihood of conception is cumulative. For example, with 4 treatment cycles, the chance of getting pregnant is about 70 %.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the scientific name given to the process with is used to conceive a child outside the body. During the IVF process, an egg is removed from the woman’s ovary and is then fertilised with her partner’s sperm. The fertilised egg and sperm will then be inserted back into the patient through the cervix. IVF is often the only means of achieving a pregnancy for women whose fallopian tubes are blocked.

Yes, Now test Tube Baby procedure is offered to almost all patients who fail to conceive by conventional or simpler mode of treatment. It is very successful for patients with very few sperms / nil sperms. Other patients with endometriosis, egg problem, elderly patients, IUI failures can also achieve motherhood by this wonderful procedure.

Besides these there are chronic diseases with strong genetic basis like cancer, diabetes, malformations etc.

There is a higher rate of multiple births for women treated with fertility drugs than in the general population. The actual rate depends on the type of drugs used and the chosen procedure. There are many strategies to minimize the risk of multiple births, but it is always a risk to some degree.

IVF is the common acronym for In-Vitro Fertilization, a frequently used conception practice when there are certain issues with the reproductive health of the mother, father, or both. IVF is simply the uniting of egg and sperm in vitro (in the lab). Subsequently the embryos are transferred into the uterus through the cervix and pregnancy is allowed to begin. The process is done in conjunction with ovulation induction through drugs, monitoring of hormone levels and follicle scans with ultrasound.

IVF charges are Rs.70,000 ( US$ 2000 ) and ICSI Charges are Rs.80,000 (US$ 2300 ) .It includes all ,like drugs ,disposables and tests and sonography examinations. Special discounts are given if female partner is less than 27 yrs and with good antral follicle count ( discretion depends on the physician ).These costs are for one attempt and this information is updated in March 2007. Compromise in quality during IVF treatment never gives success.

IVF or ICSI does not need hospital stay or any sort of surgery. During egg retrieval we give general anesthesia ( Inj Propofol ) for 10 – 15 minutes and it is given by qualified anesthesiologist. Eggs are retrieved by simple needle under ultrasound guide.

Absolute bed rest is not needed but we instruct the female partner to abstain from heavy exhaustive work and avoid intercourse for few weeks.

ICSI is a procedure in which one immobilized sperm is sucked into a very narrow pipette and then injected inside the egg, allowing fertilization to take place.

The National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research estimates that over 40 million Americans are chronically ill with various sleep disorders, that 38,000 cardiovascular deaths occur annually as a direct result of sleep apnea, yet, "the vast majority of Americans with sleep disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated".

The way a patient is investigated and managed for a genetic disorder depends on the condition and mode of inheritance. Thorough history recording including consanguinity, defects or health of family members for at least 3 generations

If there has been any genetic disease in the family give particulars to your doctor, so that carrier test or prenatal diagnostic tests may be planned.