Dear Vidya,

Please do not worry.

Since you had IUI 6 times, you must have been investigated for infertility. However I would like to explain to you the basic mechanism of conception and then what are the possible reasons for not conceiving and the remedies.

Normally, every month in women with regular periods one egg is produced and released from the ovary around day 14 of menses. It remains available for 36 hours. If a sperm meets this egg pregnancy results. So contact during the fertile days only can lead to pregnancy.

Any problem with production and release of egg, defective sperm, defects or blocks in the path from sperm deposition to its reaching the egg ( from cervix to tubes), problems with improper preparation of the uterine lining not allowing fixing of baby to the uterus and infections, diseases that cause problems with immune system and defects in uterine tubal positions, shapes and sizes can all lead to problems in conception. In 30% cases the cause is in females, in 30% males and 10% both and 30% no cause is found.

So the basic test needed are tests to look for anatomic defects like hysterosalpingogram and laproscopy, they also help rule out blocks, ultrasound, ovulation study and semen analysis. A hormonal evaluation is mandatory if there is problem with ovulation, irregular cycles and ovarian cysts.

If there is a cyst, please check if it was removed during laproscopy as it is very easy to remove it then. This corrects the defects in many cases.

Regular exercise, weight loss, de stressing and following a healthy lifestyle are the pillars for managing infertility.

So please see if all the above investigations have been done and start lifestyle modification. Keep sexual contact on fertile days using ovulation predicting kits and let me know if there are any other issues.

Best of luck from my side.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks for asking us.
Feel free for further queries.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Ob gyn.