In this guide, the fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain what blocked fallopian tubes are, why they are so common in East Africa, how the HSG test works, what a hydrosalpinx means for your treatment, and how to choose between tubal surgery and IVF.

What Do the Fallopian Tubes Do?

The two fallopian tubes connect the uterus to the area around each ovary. Far from being simple pipes, they do remarkable work every month: the finger-like ends (fimbriae) sweep up the egg after ovulation; sperm swim up the tube to meet it; fertilisation takes place inside the tube; and tiny hair-like cells then carry the developing embryo down into the uterus over the next three to five days.

Because so much happens inside them, tubes can affect fertility in several ways. A tube can be completely blocked, partially narrowed, stuck down by scar tissue (adhesions) so the fimbriae cannot catch the egg, or open but damaged inside so the embryo is not carried along properly.

Types of Tubal Blockage

What Causes Blocked Fallopian Tubes?

Most tubal damage is caused by inflammation and scarring. The main causes are:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — infection of the uterus, tubes and ovaries, most often caused by chlamydia or gonorrhoea. These infections are frequently silent, so many women are never diagnosed or treated. Studies have found that roughly 1 in 10 women develop tubal infertility after a single episode of PID, with the risk rising sharply after repeated infections.
• Infection after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion — infection of the womb after a pregnancy, especially when care was delayed, can spread to the tubes. This is one reason women with secondary infertility (difficulty conceiving after a previous pregnancy) are often found to have tubal damage.
• Genital tuberculosis — in countries where TB is common, including Kenya, TB can silently infect the tubes and the lining of the womb. It is an under-recognised cause of tubal infertility and needs specific treatment before any fertility procedure.
• Endometriosis — can cause adhesions that distort or block the tubes (see endometriosis and fertility).
• Previous surgery or ectopic pregnancy — operations on the abdomen or pelvis, including caesarean sections, appendicitis and treatment for ectopic pregnancy, can leave scar tissue around the tubes.
• Tubal ligation (sterilisation) — the tubes are deliberately cut, clipped or tied as permanent contraception.
• Fibroids — a fibroid near the corner of the uterus can press on the tube opening (see fibroids and fertility).

Why is tubal infertility so common in East Africa? Research across sub-Saharan Africa has consistently found that tubal damage — mostly from past infections — makes up a far larger share of female infertility than in Europe or North America. Silent sexually transmitted infections, limited access to testing, and infections after delivery or pregnancy loss all play a part. The encouraging flip side is that much of it is preventable — and all of it is now treatable.

Does Family Planning Cause Blocked Tubes?

This is one of the most common worries we hear in Kenya — and the answer is no. Contraceptive pills, injections, implants and the copper or hormonal IUD (coil) do not cause blocked fallopian tubes. Research on women with tubal infertility has linked the damage to past infection — particularly chlamydia — not to IUD use. Fertility returns after you stop contraception, although after injectable contraception it can take several months. The only method designed to block the tubes is tubal ligation, which is intended to be permanent.

Symptoms: Why Blocked Tubes Often Go Unnoticed

Most women with blocked tubes have no symptoms at all — they have normal periods and feel completely well. The first sign is usually difficulty getting pregnant. Some women do notice:

• Ongoing pelvic or lower abdominal pain, sometimes on one side
• Painful periods or pain during sex — often from endometriosis or adhesions
• Unusual vaginal discharge — which may signal an active infection needing prompt treatment
• A previous ectopic pregnancy

Because symptoms are unreliable, your history matters more. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a pelvic infection or STI, a complicated delivery or miscarriage, abdominal surgery, TB or an ectopic pregnancy.

How Are Blocked Tubes Diagnosed? The HSG Test and Beyond

An ordinary ultrasound can sometimes show a hydrosalpinx (a swollen, fluid-filled tube), but a normal scan cannot confirm that the tubes are open.

What to expect during an HSG:

• Timing — after your period has finished but before ovulation, usually days 6–11 of your cycle, so there is no chance of an early pregnancy.
• The procedure — a speculum is inserted (as for a smear test), a fine tube is placed in the cervix and dye is gently injected while X-ray images are taken. The test itself usually takes about 10–15 minutes.
• Comfort — period-like cramping for a few minutes is common. A simple painkiller about an hour beforehand helps; ask your doctor which one is suitable.
• Afterwards — light spotting and sticky discharge for a day or two are normal. Antibiotics may be given if you have a history of pelvic infection. Report fever, worsening pain or foul-smelling discharge promptly.
• A possible bonus — some studies suggest a small rise in pregnancy rates in the months after an HSG, especially when oil-based dye is used, possibly because the dye flushes the tubes.

A blockage seen on HSG right where the tube meets the uterus is not always real — the tube can go into spasm during the test. If your HSG shows a proximal block, your specialist may suggest repeating it or confirming with laparoscopy before deciding on treatment.

Hydrosalpinx: Why It Matters So Much for IVF

A hydrosalpinx is a tube that is blocked at its far end and has filled with fluid. It deserves special attention, because the fluid doesn’t just sit there — it can leak back into the uterus, where it is toxic to embryos and can physically wash them out of the womb.

Studies show that a hydrosalpinx can reduce IVF pregnancy rates by up to half and increase the risk of miscarriage. Removing the damaged tube (salpingectomy) or blocking it where it joins the uterus before IVF significantly improves the chance of success. That is why checking for a hydrosalpinx is an essential step before IVF for any woman with suspected tubal disease.

Many women understandably worry about “losing” a tube. It helps to know that a tube that is already badly damaged and fluid-filled is not contributing to your fertility — and IVF does not need the tubes at all, because the eggs are collected directly from the ovaries.

Treatment Options for Blocked Fallopian Tubes

The right treatment depends on where the tubes are blocked, how badly they are damaged, whether one or both tubes are affected, your age and ovarian reserve, your partner’s semen analysis, and how many children you hope to have.

If only one tube is blocked. If the other tube is healthy and open and you ovulate normally, you can still conceive naturally. Your doctor may suggest timing intercourse — or IUI with ovulation monitoring (see how IUI works) — in cycles where you ovulate on the side of the open tube. If the blocked tube is a hydrosalpinx, removing it may improve the chance of natural conception as well as IVF.

Tubal surgery. Several procedures can be performed by laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) or hysteroscopy:

• Adhesiolysis — releasing scar tissue around the tubes and ovaries.
• Fimbrioplasty or salpingostomy — reopening or reconstructing the end of the tube; works best when damage is mild and the inner lining of the tube is healthy.
• Tubal cannulation — a fine catheter clears a blockage near the uterus.
• Tubal ligation reversal — microsurgery to rejoin the tubes after sterilisation. Success is best in younger women, when a good length of healthy tube remains and the partner’s sperm is normal.

The advantage of successful surgery is that you can try to conceive naturally every month — and potentially have more than one child without further treatment. The disadvantages are recovery time, the months it takes to know whether it has worked, a higher-than-average risk of ectopic pregnancy afterwards, and much lower success when the tubes are severely damaged.

IVF — the most reliable option for severe tubal damage. IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes completely: eggs are collected directly from the ovaries, fertilised in the laboratory, and the embryo is placed straight into the uterus (see what to expect during egg retrieval and embryo transfer). In fact, IVF was invented for exactly this problem — Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, born in 1978, was conceived because her mother had blocked fallopian tubes. IVF is usually recommended when both tubes are blocked or severely damaged, when you are over 35 or have low ovarian reserve and time matters, when there is also male-factor infertility, or when tubal surgery has not worked.

Can “Natural Remedies” Unblock Fallopian Tubes?

We understand the appeal of a non-surgical fix, and many products are marketed in Kenya and online — herbal teas, “womb cleansing” pessaries, castor oil packs, fertility massage and steaming. There is no scientific evidence that any of these can open a blocked tube. Tubal blockages are made of scar tissue, which does not dissolve with herbs, and inserting products into the vagina can introduce new infection. The real cost is time: every month spent on unproven remedies is a month of declining egg quality, especially after 35 (see fertility after 35 and 40).

Preventing Tubal Damage

• Practise safer sex, and get tested for STIs — both partners — when starting a new relationship or planning a pregnancy.
• Treat infections promptly and completely: finish the full antibiotic course, and make sure your partner is treated too, so the infection is not passed back.
• Seek care quickly for fever, pelvic pain or foul-smelling discharge after delivery, miscarriage or any procedure on the womb.
• Complete TB treatment fully if you are diagnosed.
• If you are having trouble conceiving and have any history of pelvic infection, ask for your tubes to be checked early rather than waiting.

A Note on Ectopic Pregnancy

Damaged tubes increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants in the tube instead of the uterus — a medical emergency. If you have known tubal disease or have had tubal surgery, contact your doctor as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test, so an early ultrasound at around six weeks can confirm the pregnancy is in the uterus. Seek urgent care for one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, vaginal bleeding, dizziness or fainting in early pregnancy.

Tubal Factor Care at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, women with suspected tubal problems receive complete, joined-up care:

• Complete tubal assessment — tubal testing such as HSG or laparoscopy with dye test, as part of a full fertility work-up for both partners.
• Laparoscopic surgery — removal of pelvic adhesions and tubal ligation reversal, through small keyhole incisions with a fast recovery.
• Hysteroscopy — to examine the uterine cavity and the openings of the fallopian tubes, and treat problems in the same sitting.
• IVF and ICSI in our ISO 9001 certified laboratory — bypassing the tubes entirely when that is the fastest, most reliable route.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, our team led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija has helped many couples with tubal factor infertility welcome their baby.

Conclusion

Blocked fallopian tubes are one of the most common — and most treatable — causes of infertility in Kenya. Because they rarely cause symptoms, the most important step is simply to get tested, especially if you have had a pelvic infection, a complicated delivery or miscarriage, or abdominal surgery. Once your tubes have been assessed, the path forward is usually clear: try naturally or with IUI if one tube is open, consider surgery for mild damage or a sterilisation reversal, and move to IVF when both tubes are blocked or time matters.

If you have been trying to conceive without success, don’t spend more months wondering. Speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre — a simple test can answer the question, and a clear plan can follow.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

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In this guide, the fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain which fibroids affect fertility and which don’t, when removing them genuinely improves your chances, the surgical options from hysteroscopic myomectomy to laparoscopy, how fibroids fit into IVF, and what to expect if you become pregnant with fibroids.

What Are Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids — medically called leiomyomas or myomas — are non-cancerous growths of the muscle tissue of the womb (uterus). They can be as small as a seed or as large as a melon, and many women have several at once. Their growth is driven by the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which is why fibroids typically develop during the reproductive years, can grow during pregnancy, and usually shrink after menopause.

Fibroids are remarkably common. By the age of 50, around 70% of women have developed at least one — and the figure rises to over 80% among women of African descent, who also tend to develop fibroids at a younger age, in larger numbers and with more severe symptoms. For women in Kenya and across East Africa, fibroids are one of the most frequent gynaecological diagnoses, and often one that arrives just as they are planning a family.

Factors linked to a higher risk of fibroids include:

• African ancestry
• Age — fibroids are most common in the 30s and 40s
• Family history — if your mother or sister had fibroids
• Starting periods early
• Obesity and low vitamin D levels
• Never having been pregnant — pregnancy appears to have a protective effect

The Types of Fibroids — and Why Location Matters Most

Doctors classify fibroids by where they grow in the uterus, using a system developed by FIGO (the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics). For fertility, location is far more important than size:

This is why two women with “a 3 cm fibroid” can receive completely different advice. A 3 cm submucosal fibroid inside the cavity is worth removing before trying to conceive; a 3 cm subserosal fibroid on the outside of the uterus is usually best left exactly where it is.

How Do Fibroids Affect Fertility?

Fibroids can interfere with conception and early pregnancy in several ways:

• Distorting the uterine cavity — submucosal and some intramural fibroids change the shape of the space where the embryo must implant.
• Affecting the womb lining — fibroids can alter blood flow and the signals that make the endometrium receptive to an embryo, even in parts of the lining away from the fibroid itself.
• Blocking the fallopian tubes — a fibroid near the upper corners of the uterus can press on the openings of the tubes (see our guide to blocked fallopian tubes).
• Obstructing the cervix — a cervical fibroid can make it harder for sperm to pass and can complicate IUI or embryo transfer.
• Disrupting uterine contractions — fibroids can interfere with the gentle, wave-like contractions that help sperm and embryos move to the right place.

The research on submucosal fibroids is clear. A major review of the evidence found that women with submucosal fibroids had roughly one-third the chance of implantation and live birth compared with women without fibroids, along with a higher miscarriage rate — and that removing these fibroids improved pregnancy rates. For subserosal fibroids, no such effect has been found.

Just as important is what fibroids usually don’t explain. Fibroids are present in 5–10% of women with infertility, but they are the sole cause in only around 1–2% of cases. So if you are struggling to conceive and a scan shows a fibroid, it is essential to complete a full fertility work-up — ovulation, ovarian reserve (AMH), the fallopian tubes and a semen analysis — before assuming the fibroid is the problem. Surgery for a fibroid that was never the real cause costs months you may not have.

Symptoms: When to Suspect Fibroids

Many women with fibroids have no symptoms at all and only discover them on a routine scan. When symptoms do occur, the most common are:

• Heavy or prolonged periods, sometimes with clots — often leading to iron-deficiency anaemia, tiredness and breathlessness
• Pelvic pressure, fullness or a swollen lower abdomen
• Frequent urination or constipation, from a fibroid pressing on the bladder or bowel
• Lower back pain or pain during sex
• Difficulty conceiving or repeated miscarriage

Heavy bleeding that soaks through pads every hour, leaves you exhausted, or keeps you home from work is not something to simply endure. It deserves investigation — whether or not you are planning a pregnancy right now.

How Are Fibroids Diagnosed?

For fertility planning, the goal is not just to confirm that fibroids are present but to map them precisely — their number, size and exact relationship to the womb cavity:

• Transvaginal ultrasound — the first-line test: quick, painless and widely available. 3D ultrasound gives an even clearer picture of the cavity.
• Saline infusion sonography (SIS) — a small amount of sterile saline is placed in the uterus during the scan, outlining the cavity and showing exactly how far a fibroid protrudes into it.
• Hysteroscopy — a thin camera passed through the cervix looks directly inside the uterus. Submucosal fibroids can often be removed in the same procedure.
• MRI — used when there are many or very large fibroids, to plan surgery in detail.

Alongside fibroid mapping, we always recommend a complete fertility assessment for both partners, so that the treatment plan addresses every factor at once.

Treatment Options If You Want to Get Pregnant

The right treatment depends on the type, size and number of fibroids, your age and ovarian reserve, your symptoms, and whether you plan to conceive naturally or with IVF. These are the main options:

Two points about surgery are worth knowing. First, if a myomectomy involved deep cuts into the uterine wall, your doctor may recommend delivering future babies by planned caesarean section, to avoid the small risk of the scar opening during labour. Second, new fibroids can grow in the years after a myomectomy — one reason surgery is best timed close to when you plan to conceive, rather than years in advance.

Treatments to avoid if you want a baby. Some fibroid treatments are good for symptom relief but are not recommended for women planning a pregnancy. Uterine artery embolisation (UAE), which blocks the fibroid’s blood supply, has been linked to higher miscarriage rates, and its pregnancy data is less reassuring than for myomectomy. Radiofrequency ablation and focused ultrasound (HIFU) have limited pregnancy data. Endometrial ablation and hysterectomy end the possibility of carrying a pregnancy. If you have been advised to have a hysterectomy for fibroids and still hope to have children, please get a second opinion from a fertility specialist first — in most cases, a womb-sparing option exists.

Surgery First or IVF First?

For women who need IVF anyway — because of age, low ovarian reserve, blocked tubes or male-factor infertility — the order of treatment matters:

• If a fibroid distorts the cavity: it is usually removed before embryo transfer, because a submucosal fibroid lowers the chance of implantation and raises the risk of miscarriage.
• If time is short: for women over 35 or with low AMH, one strategy worth discussing with your specialist is to stimulate the ovaries and freeze embryos first, have the myomectomy, then transfer a frozen embryo once the uterus has healed. This protects egg quality during the months of recovery (see frozen vs fresh embryo transfer).
• If intramural fibroids don’t touch the cavity: management is individual. Larger intramural fibroids may modestly reduce IVF success, but surgery has its own costs in recovery time and scarring. Your specialist will weigh size, number and your timeline.
• If the uterus cannot safely carry a pregnancy: rarely — with very many or very large fibroids, or after multiple operations — pregnancy may not be safe. In these situations, gestational surrogacy using your own embryos can be an option.

Pregnancy With Fibroids: What to Expect

Most women with fibroids have healthy pregnancies and deliveries. Most fibroids stay about the same size during pregnancy; some grow, mainly in the first trimester. Possible issues to be aware of include:

• Pain from “red degeneration” — when a fibroid outgrows its blood supply. It is usually managed with rest and pregnancy-safe pain relief.
• A somewhat higher risk of miscarriage, preterm labour, the baby lying in a breech position, placental problems and caesarean delivery — particularly with large or multiple fibroids, or fibroids close to the placenta.
• Heavier bleeding after birth (postpartum haemorrhage), which your delivery team can plan for in advance.

If you have fibroids, tell your antenatal team early. An early scan that maps the fibroids in relation to the pregnancy and placenta allows any risks to be anticipated and monitored.

Fibroid Myths That Cost Women Time

Fibroid Care at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, women with fibroids receive fertility-first care, where every decision is made with your future family in mind:

• Precise fibroid mapping — detailed ultrasound and diagnostic hysteroscopy to classify every fibroid by type and position.
• Hysteroscopic myomectomy — removal of submucosal fibroids through the cervix, with no abdominal incision, as a day-case procedure.
• Laparoscopic myomectomy — keyhole removal of selected intramural and subserosal fibroids, with faster recovery than open surgery.
• A full work-up for both partners — so surgery happens only when it will genuinely help, and is timed around your natural conception or IVF plans.
• IVF, embryo freezing and surrogacy — when fibroids are one part of a bigger fertility picture.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, our team led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija helps women with fibroids build their families — keeping the uterus, and your options, intact wherever possible.

Conclusion

Fibroids are common, usually harmless to fertility, and — when they do get in the way — very treatable. The questions that matter are where your fibroids are, whether they reach the womb cavity, and what else is affecting your fertility. Answer those, and the right plan usually becomes clear: leave them alone, remove them with the least invasive surgery possible, or work around them with IVF.

If you have been diagnosed with fibroids and are hoping to conceive, don’t wait for symptoms to get worse — and don’t accept a hysterectomy without a fertility opinion. Speak with our specialists at Myra IVF Centre about a plan built around your future family.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

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In this guide, the specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, give you what actually helps: the real numbers — natural and IVF success rates at each age, the tests that reveal where you stand, and every option on the table, from timed conception to egg freezing and donor eggs.

Why Age Matters: The Two Declines

A woman is born with every egg she will ever have — about 1–2 million. From that day, the supply only falls: roughly 300,000 remain at puberty, around 25,000 by age 37, and about 1,000 at menopause. But quantity is only half the story — and not the more important half.

• Egg quantity (ovarian reserve): fewer eggs each cycle means fewer chances per month and a weaker response to fertility drugs. This is what AMH testing measures.
• Egg quality: as eggs age, the machinery that divides chromosomes during maturation becomes error-prone. More embryos carry chromosomal abnormalities — so fewer implant, and more of those that do implant end in miscarriage. At 35 roughly 40–50% of embryos are chromosomally abnormal; by 42 it is 80% or more.

This is why fertility declines even in perfectly healthy women with regular cycles — and why no lifestyle change, however good, can fully reverse it. (Male age matters too, more gradually: sperm quality and DNA integrity decline from the mid-40s — see our guide to male infertility.)

Your Real Chances, by the Numbers

These are typical per-cycle chances of natural conception, alongside the miscarriage risk once pregnant:

Two honest notes on this table. First, these are averages — ovarian reserve varies enormously between women of the same age, which is exactly why testing beats guessing. Second, per-cycle odds compound: even at 5% per month, many women aged 40–42 do conceive naturally within a year. Lower odds are not zero odds.

Trying After 35: What to Do Differently

• Shorten the waiting rule: at 35–39, seek a fertility assessment after 6 months of trying — not the 12 months advised for younger couples.
• Test early: AMH blood test, antral follicle count ultrasound and a semen analysis take one visit and replace months of uncertainty.
• Track ovulation sensibly — but don’t let cycle-tracking apps delay real evaluation when months keep passing.
• Treat what’s treatable now: thyroid problems, PCOS, fibroids and endometriosis (see our guide on endometriosis and fertility) all compound the age effect if left unaddressed.

Trying After 40: The Honest Picture

After 40, the single most valuable thing you can do is compress the timeline:

• See a specialist immediately — there is no 6-month waiting rule at 40. Every cycle spent “just trying” without information has a real cost.
• Expect a direct conversation about IVF sooner: at this age, stepping through months of timed intercourse and then IUI often wastes the most valuable resource you have. IUI success after 40 is low (typically under 5% per cycle), so many specialists advise moving to IVF early or first.
• Consider genetic testing of embryos: PGT-A screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer — valuable after 40, where most embryos are abnormal, because it avoids transfers destined to fail or miscarry (see our PGS/PGT guide).
• Know where the donor egg conversation sits: from around 43–45, success with own eggs becomes very low, and donor egg IVF becomes the option with realistic odds. Knowing this early lets you make choices, not have them made for you by time.

IVF Success Rates by Age — and What Changes Them

IVF does not reverse egg ageing — it maximises the chance from the eggs you have. Typical live-birth rates per cycle with a woman’s own eggs:

What can shift these numbers in your favour: choosing a clinic with a strong laboratory (blastocyst culture, ICSI, PGT-A where appropriate), tailored stimulation protocols for lower reserve — including minimal stimulation IVF — and honest cycle planning, sometimes banking embryos across two or three collections before transfer. If a previous cycle has failed, our guide to IVF failure and what to do next explains the levers that matter.

Not Ready Yet? Freeze the Clock

If you are in your mid-to-late 30s and pregnancy is not on this year’s agenda, egg freezing deserves a serious look. Eggs frozen today keep today’s quality forever — a 36-year-old’s eggs used at 42 behave like 36-year-old eggs. The best results come from freezing before 35, but 36–38 is still far better than waiting. Our full guide to egg freezing in Kenya — best age, process, cost and success rates covers the details, including how many eggs to bank at each age.

What You Can Control (and What You Can’t)

You cannot control the calendar — but these genuinely help protect the fertility you have:

• Stop smoking — smoking advances ovarian ageing by years and is the single biggest controllable factor.
• Keep a healthy weight — both underweight and obesity disrupt ovulation and reduce IVF success.
• Limit alcohol, manage stress and sleep well — sensible foundations, not magic bullets.
• Eat well — a balanced, antioxidant-rich diet supports egg and sperm health; see nutrition and fertility.
• Treat medical conditions — thyroid disorders, diabetes and high prolactin all impair fertility and are very fixable.

What these steps cannot do is stop egg ageing. Pair them with information — an assessment, an AMH result, a plan — not in place of it.

Fertility Care After 35 at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, women and couples over 35 receive care built for exactly this situation:

• Same-week fertility assessment — AMH, antral follicle count, ultrasound and semen analysis, with results explained honestly.
• Age-appropriate treatment planning — from timed conception and IUI where suitable, to IVF with ICSI, blastocyst culture and PGT in our ISO 9001 certified laboratory.
• Protocols for low ovarian reserve — including minimal stimulation IVF (see also low AMH treatment options).
• Fertility preservation and donor programmes — egg freezing and a well-established donor egg programme with counselling support.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, our team led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija has helped many women in their late 30s and 40s bring home a healthy baby.

Conclusion

Fertility after 35 and 40 is neither the catastrophe nor the non-issue the internet makes it. The truth is simpler: your chances are real, they are falling, and they are measurable. The women who do best are the ones who act on information early — a 6-month rule at 35–39, an immediate assessment at 40+, an AMH result instead of a guess, and a willingness to hear honest numbers about every option from IVF with PGT to donor eggs.

Whatever your age, the most expensive thing you can spend right now is another year of uncertainty. Speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre — one consultation replaces guesswork with a plan.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

The post Fertility After 35 and 40: What Are Your Real Chances? appeared first on Dr. Sarita Sukhija IVF Specialist.

In this guide, the fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain what recurrent miscarriage really is, the causes we look for, the tests every couple should have, and the treatments — from simple medication to IVF with genetic testing of embryos — that turn repeated loss into a healthy pregnancy.

What Is Recurrent Miscarriage?

Recurrent miscarriage — also called recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) — is defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies before viability. Older textbooks required three losses before investigating, but modern guidelines (and our own practice at Myra IVF Centre) recommend a full work-up after two consecutive miscarriages, particularly when the woman is 35 or older, because every month matters.

Some perspective helps here. A single miscarriage is very common — it happens in roughly 15–20% of recognised pregnancies, usually because of a random chromosomal error in that particular embryo. It says almost nothing about your future chances. Recurrent miscarriage is different: when losses repeat, the chance that an underlying, fixable cause is at work rises — and that is exactly what testing is designed to find.

What Causes Recurrent Miscarriage?

Recurrent pregnancy loss rarely has one universal explanation. These are the main categories we investigate:

Notice what is not on this list: normal exercise, working, lifting your toddler, stress, arguments and intimacy. None of these cause miscarriage — and letting go of self-blame is a genuine part of treatment.

Testing: The Work-Up Every Couple Deserves

A proper recurrent miscarriage work-up is systematic, not random. At Myra IVF Centre it includes:

• Karyotype (chromosome) testing of both partners — a blood test to detect balanced translocations and other rearrangements.
• Genetic testing of miscarriage tissue — where available, testing the products of conception tells us whether that loss was chromosomal, which powerfully guides next steps.
• Pelvic ultrasound — a detailed scan (often 3D) to assess the shape of the uterine cavity and detect fibroids, polyps and ovarian issues.
• Hysteroscopy — a thin camera examines the inside of the uterus directly, and can treat septa, polyps and adhesions in the same sitting.
• Antiphospholipid antibody screen — blood tests for lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein antibodies, repeated 12 weeks apart to confirm.
• Hormonal and metabolic screen — TSH (thyroid), prolactin and HbA1c (blood sugar). Thyroid problems are common and very fixable — see our guide on managing thyroid in pregnancy.
• Semen analysis ± sperm DNA fragmentation — the male side matters too; see our guide to male infertility.
• Ovarian reserve testing (AMH) — not a cause of miscarriage itself, but essential for planning treatment, especially over 35 (see low AMH and poor ovarian reserve).

Treatment: Matching the Solution to the Cause

This is where testing pays off — because most identified causes have a specific, proven treatment:

When Does IVF with Genetic Testing (PGT) Make Sense?

IVF is not the automatic answer to recurrent miscarriage — but in specific situations it changes the game:

• A balanced translocation in either partner: PGT identifies the embryos that inherited a normal chromosome set, dramatically cutting the miscarriage rate per transfer.
• Repeatedly chromosomal losses: when miscarriage tissue keeps showing aneuploidy — especially over 35 — screening embryos before transfer avoids transferring the embryos destined to be lost.
• Recurrent loss combined with infertility: when it is also taking a long time to conceive at all, IVF addresses both problems at once.

PGT does not create good embryos — it selects them. That honest distinction matters, and it is exactly the kind of straight answer you will get in a consultation with our team. If you have also experienced failed IVF cycles, our guide to IVF failure and what to do next covers the overlapping territory.

The Emotional Side: Grief Is Part of the Diagnosis

Recurrent miscarriage is not just a medical problem — it is repeated bereavement, often grieved silently. Anxiety in the next pregnancy is almost universal. We encourage every couple to:

• Take time to grieve each loss — it was a real pregnancy and a real hope.
• Seek counselling support; it measurably improves wellbeing and helps couples stay united rather than divided by loss.
• Ask for early reassurance scans in the next pregnancy — frequent monitoring in the first trimester reduces anxiety and is associated with better outcomes in unexplained RPL (“tender loving care” protocols).

Recurrent Miscarriage Care at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, couples with recurrent pregnancy loss receive complete, joined-up care:

• Full RPL work-up under one roof — chromosomal, anatomical, hormonal, immune and male-factor testing.
• Hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgery for uterine causes, performed by experienced surgeons.
• IVF with PGT in our ISO 9001 certified laboratory when genetic screening of embryos is the right tool.
• Structured early-pregnancy monitoring for every RPL patient who conceives — you are never left to “wait and see” alone.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, our team led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija has guided many couples from repeated loss to a healthy baby.

Conclusion

Recurrent miscarriage is devastating — but it is also one of the most hopeful diagnoses in fertility medicine. A structured work-up finds a treatable cause in about half of couples, and even when every test is normal, most women go on to deliver a healthy baby. The keys are simple: investigate after two losses (or one, if you are over 35), treat the specific cause rather than guessing, and get supported early monitoring in the next pregnancy.

If you have experienced repeated pregnancy loss, please don’t keep trying in the dark. Speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre — answers exist, and so does a plan.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

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Once considered experimental, egg freezing is now a routine, proven part of fertility care — and more Kenyan women than ever are choosing it. In this guide, the specialists at Myra IVF Centre, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain who should consider egg freezing, the best age to do it, the step-by-step process, real success rates, and what it costs in Kenya.

What Is Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation)?

Egg freezing is a fertility preservation procedure in which a woman’s mature eggs are collected, frozen unfertilised, and stored in liquid nitrogen at −196°C. At that temperature all biological activity stops, so the eggs remain exactly as they were on the day of freezing — a 32-year-old who freezes her eggs can use “32-year-old eggs” at 40.

The breakthrough that made this reliable is vitrification — an ultra-rapid freezing technique that turns the egg into a glass-like state without forming the ice crystals that damaged eggs under older slow-freezing methods. Vitrification is the same technology used in sperm and embryo freezing and is a core strength of our laboratory.

Who Should Consider Freezing Their Eggs?

Women choose egg freezing for many reasons — all of them valid:

• You want children later: career, education, finances or simply not having met the right partner yet. This is often called “social” or elective egg freezing, and it is the fastest-growing reason worldwide.
• Before medical treatment: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some surgeries can permanently damage the ovaries. Freezing eggs before treatment protects your chance of a biological child.
• Conditions that threaten ovarian reserve: endometriosis, ovarian cysts requiring surgery, a family history of early menopause, or a low AMH / declining ovarian reserve result.
• During IVF for ethical or practical reasons: some couples prefer to freeze eggs rather than embryos.

What Is the Best Age to Freeze Your Eggs?

Age at freezing is the single biggest factor in whether your frozen eggs eventually become a baby. Here’s the honest picture:

The takeaway: the best age to freeze your eggs is before 35 — but the second-best time is now. Even at 36 or 38, eggs frozen today are younger than eggs collected two years from now.

The Egg Freezing Process: Step by Step

From your first scan to frozen eggs takes about two to three weeks — most women fit it around work with only two or three short clinic visits and one procedure day:

• Step 1 — Fertility assessment: an AMH blood test and antral follicle count ultrasound tell us your ovarian reserve and let us design your protocol and predict how many eggs to expect.
• Step 2 — Ovarian stimulation (10–12 days): daily hormone injections encourage the group of follicles your body recruited that month to grow together, instead of losing all but one naturally.
• Step 3 — Monitoring: two to three ultrasound scans and blood tests track follicle growth so doses can be adjusted and the trigger timed precisely.
• Step 4 — Trigger injection: when the follicles are ready, a final injection matures the eggs, and collection is scheduled about 36 hours later.
• Step 5 — Egg retrieval: a 20–30 minute procedure under sedation, done through the vagina with ultrasound guidance — no cuts or stitches. You go home the same day. (Read our detailed guide to what to expect during egg retrieval.)
• Step 6 — Vitrification and storage: the same day, our embryologists assess the eggs and freeze all mature ones by vitrification. They are stored in secure, continuously monitored liquid nitrogen tanks.

How Many Eggs Should You Freeze?

Not every egg becomes a baby — some won’t survive the thaw, some won’t fertilise, and some embryos won’t be healthy. That’s normal and expected, which is why banking enough eggs matters:

Your AMH result and first-cycle response tell us early whether one cycle is enough — we’ll always give you a realistic, personalised target rather than a one-size-fits-all number.

Egg Freezing Success Rates: What Really Matters

• Thaw survival: with vitrification, around 90–95% of mature eggs survive warming.
• Fertilisation: thawed eggs are fertilised with ICSI, with fertilisation rates similar to fresh eggs.
• Live birth: depends overwhelmingly on age at freezing and number of eggs banked — eggs frozen before 35 give the highest chance per egg.
• Storage time doesn’t reduce quality: healthy babies have been born from eggs stored for over a decade.

When you’re ready to use your eggs, the pathway is essentially an IVF cycle: thaw, fertilise with ICSI, culture the embryos, and transfer the best one in a prepared cycle — the same approach we explain in our frozen embryo transfer guide.

Egg Freezing vs Embryo Freezing

How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost in Kenya?

The total cost depends on three things: your medication doses (which vary with age and ovarian reserve), the number of cycles needed to reach your egg target, and annual storage fees. Beware of headline prices that exclude medication or storage — always ask for the full picture.

At Myra IVF Centre we provide a transparent, personalised treatment plan and cost estimate after your initial assessment, with no hidden charges. Contact us for a detailed consultation.

Egg Freezing at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, fertility preservation is delivered with the same rigour as our full IVF programme:

• Vitrification by experienced embryologists in our ISO 9001 certified laboratory.
• Personalised stimulation protocols designed around your AMH and antral follicle count — including gentler options like minimal stimulation where appropriate.
• Secure, continuously monitored storage in liquid nitrogen with strict chain-of-custody labelling.
• Honest counselling — we’ll tell you realistically how many eggs you should bank, not just what you want to hear.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, our team led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija has helped thousands of women across Kenya and East Africa take control of their fertility timeline.

Conclusion

Egg freezing doesn’t guarantee a baby — but it is the most effective tool we have for protecting your options against time. The two decisions that matter most are when you freeze (younger is better, ideally before 35) and how many eggs you bank (usually 15–20 or more). Everything else — the injections, the procedure, the storage — is routine, safe and well within reach.

If you’ve been thinking about it, the most valuable first step costs nothing but an hour of your time: a fertility assessment to learn your AMH and ovarian reserve. From there, you can make an informed decision — whatever you choose.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

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Here’s the message we want every woman to hear first: endometriosis reduces fertility, it does not end it. With the right diagnosis and a personalised treatment plan, the majority of women with endometriosis can and do become mothers. In this guide, the specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain how endometriosis affects fertility, the warning signs, and every treatment path — from laparoscopy to IVF.

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus — most commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the ligaments supporting the uterus, and the lining of the pelvis. Like the uterine lining, this tissue responds to your monthly hormones: it thickens and bleeds with each cycle, but the blood has nowhere to go. The result is inflammation, pain, scar tissue (adhesions) and, on the ovaries, blood-filled cysts called endometriomas (“chocolate cysts”).

Endometriosis is classified into four stages:

Importantly, pain does not always match stage — a woman with stage I disease can have severe pain, while a woman with stage IV disease may feel nothing and discover it only during a fertility work-up.

How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility?

Endometriosis can interfere with conception at almost every step:

• Chronic pelvic inflammation: inflammatory fluid in the pelvis can be hostile to eggs, sperm and early embryos.
• Adhesions and distorted anatomy: scar tissue can bind the ovaries and tubes, stopping the tube from picking up the egg at ovulation.
• Tubal damage: the fallopian tubes can become blocked or lose their function.
• Endometriomas: ovarian cysts that can destroy healthy ovarian tissue and lower ovarian reserve — as can the surgery to remove them (see our guide to low AMH and poor ovarian reserve).
• Egg quality and implantation: the inflammatory environment may affect egg quality, and implantation rates may be slightly lower in some women.

The overall effect: around 30–50% of women with endometriosis will experience some difficulty conceiving. That also means many conceive without any help at all — the condition exists on a wide spectrum.

Warning Signs: When Painful Periods Are Not “Normal”

See a specialist if you recognise several of these:

• Period pain severe enough to miss work, school or daily activities
• Pain during or after intercourse
• Chronic pelvic pain between periods
• Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
• Painful bowel movements or urination, especially during your period
• Fatigue, bloating or nausea around your period
• Trying to conceive for 6–12 months without success

And remember the silent version: infertility may be the only symptom. If you’ve been trying without success, endometriosis should be on the checklist even if you have no pain.

How Is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

• History and examination: a detailed menstrual and pain history is often the biggest clue.
• Transvaginal ultrasound: reliably detects endometriomas and can identify deep disease in experienced hands.
• MRI: occasionally used to map deep infiltrating endometriosis before surgery.
• Laparoscopy: the gold standard — a keyhole camera procedure that both confirms the diagnosis and allows treatment in the same operation.
• Fertility work-up alongside: AMH testing, antral follicle count and a semen analysis for your partner, so the whole picture guides the plan — not just the endometriosis. (Male factors matter too — see our guide to male infertility.)

Treatment Options: Matching the Plan to the Stage

There is no single “right” treatment — the best path depends on your age, ovarian reserve, disease stage, symptoms and how long you’ve been trying:

Surgery or IVF First? The Honest Answer

This is the decision patients ask about most, and it deserves nuance:

• Surgery first makes sense when pain is a major problem, when mild-moderate disease is found in a young woman with good reserve, or when large endometriomas would interfere with egg retrieval.
• IVF first is usually wiser when age or low AMH make time precious, when tubes are already damaged, or when previous surgery has already reduced ovarian reserve — because operating on ovaries always risks removing healthy tissue along with the cyst.
• Repeat surgery is rarely helpful for fertility — if endometriosis returns after an operation, IVF almost always beats a second surgery for achieving pregnancy.

The right answer is individual. At Myra IVF Centre we assess your AMH, scan findings, symptoms and history — and give you a clear recommendation with the reasoning, not just a menu of options.

Endometriosis Care at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, women with endometriosis receive joined-up care under one roof:

• Expert diagnosis — detailed ultrasound assessment and AMH/ovarian reserve testing at every fertility work-up.
• Advanced laparoscopic surgery when it genuinely helps, performed with ovarian-tissue-sparing technique.
• The full fertility ladder — from IUI to IVF with ICSI and blastocyst culture in our ISO 9001 certified laboratory.
• Fertility preservation — egg freezing before ovarian surgery or for women not yet ready for pregnancy.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, our team led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija has helped thousands of women — many with endometriosis — become mothers.

Conclusion

Endometriosis is common, real and too often dismissed — but it is not the end of your fertility story. Mild disease frequently allows natural conception; moderate and severe disease have proven, effective treatment paths through surgery, IUI and especially IVF. The keys are early diagnosis, knowing your ovarian reserve, and not losing time — because age remains the one factor no treatment can reverse.

If painful periods, pelvic pain or months of trying without success sound familiar, don’t wait for it to be “bad enough.” Speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre — an assessment today gives you options tomorrow.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

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In this guide, the fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain how fresh and frozen transfers actually compare on success rates, safety and cost — and how we decide which one gives you the best chance of a healthy pregnancy.

First, What Do “Fresh” and “Frozen” Actually Mean?

Both fresh and frozen transfers use embryos created in the same way — eggs are collected during egg retrieval, fertilised with sperm (through conventional IVF or ICSI), and grown in the lab, often to the blastocyst stage. The difference is purely one of timing.

• Fresh embryo transfer: The embryo is placed into the uterus 3–5 days after egg retrieval, in the same stimulated cycle.
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET): The embryos are cryopreserved (frozen) and transferred in a later, separately prepared cycle — weeks or even months afterwards.

How Modern Embryo Freezing Works (Vitrification)

Concern about “damaging” embryos by freezing them is understandable, but largely outdated. Today’s clinics use vitrification — an ultra-rapid freezing technique that turns the embryo and its surrounding fluid into a glass-like state without forming the ice crystals that used to cause damage with older slow-freezing methods.

The results speak for themselves: in a good embryo freezing laboratory, more than 95% of vitrified embryos survive thawing, and a thawed embryo that survives is considered just as capable of implanting as a fresh one. This single advance is the reason frozen transfers have become so successful — and so common — worldwide.

The Real Question: Which Has Better Success Rates?

Here is where it gets interesting. In a fresh cycle, the same high doses of hormones used to grow multiple eggs can also make the uterine lining (endometrium) less receptive at the exact moment of transfer. In some women, progesterone also rises too early, pushing the lining “out of sync” with the embryo.

A frozen transfer sidesteps this. Because the transfer happens in a later cycle, the body has recovered from stimulation and the lining can be prepared in a calmer, more natural hormonal environment. Better embryo–endometrium synchrony is the main reason FET can improve implantation in certain patients.

But — and this is important — frozen is not a magic upgrade for everyone. Large studies show that for women who respond normally to stimulation, fresh and frozen transfers produce very similar live birth rates. The clear advantage of FET shows up mainly in specific groups:

• High responders (for example, many women with PCOS) who produce a large number of eggs and have very high hormone levels.
• Women at risk of OHSS, where a “freeze-all” approach is safest.
• Cycles using genetic testing (PGT), where embryos must be frozen while results are awaited.
• Cases of premature progesterone rise or a lining that was not ideal on the planned fresh transfer day.

Fresh vs Frozen Embryo Transfer: Side-by-Side Comparison

What Is a “Freeze-All” Cycle?

A freeze-all (or “elective freeze”) cycle is when all viable embryos are frozen after retrieval and no fresh transfer is done — the transfer is deliberately postponed to a later, optimised cycle. It has become a cornerstone of safe, modern IVF and is typically recommended when:

• There is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) — freezing avoids the pregnancy hormones that can make OHSS worse.
• Progesterone rises too early in the stimulation cycle, which would reduce a fresh transfer’s chance of success.
• You are undergoing genetic testing (PGT/PGS) and embryos must be frozen while results are prepared.
• The uterine lining is not optimal, or a medical issue needs treating before pregnancy.

When Fresh Transfer May Be the Better Choice

Frozen transfers get a lot of attention, but fresh transfer remains an excellent option for the right patient. It may be recommended when:

• You respond moderately to stimulation, with a normal number of eggs.
• Your hormone levels and uterine lining are ideal on the planned transfer day.
• You are not undergoing genetic testing.
• You prefer the shortest path to pregnancy and, in some cases, a lower cost for that cycle.

Safety and Baby Health: Is One Safer?

Both approaches are well established and safe. A few evidence-based points worth knowing:

• OHSS: Freeze-all FET almost eliminates the risk of severe OHSS, because retrieval and transfer are separated.
• Birth weight: Some studies associate FET with a lower chance of low birth weight and preterm delivery compared with fresh transfer.
• Balance: Certain hormone-prepared FET cycles have been linked to a slightly higher chance of some pregnancy conditions, which is one reason your specialist chooses the protocol carefully.

In short, neither is “risky” — the safest choice is the one tailored to your body and history.

So, Which Should You Choose?

The takeaway is reassuring: you don’t have to choose alone, and there is rarely a wrong answer. Your fertility specialist looks at your age, ovarian response, hormone levels, uterine lining, whether you need genetic testing, and your personal preferences — then recommends the approach most likely to give you a healthy baby. Very often the plan is a hybrid: a fresh transfer if conditions are ideal, with any remaining good embryos frozen for the future.

Frozen & Fresh Embryo Transfer at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, we personalise the transfer decision for every patient rather than applying a one-size-fits-all rule. Our care includes:

• Personalised transfer planning based on your hormone response, lining and embryo quality.
• State-of-the-art, ISO 9001 certified embryology laboratory using vitrification for high embryo survival.
• Freeze-all and elective FET protocols to protect against OHSS and maximise success.
• Advanced options — blastocyst culture, assisted laser hatching and genetic testing (PGT/PGS) where appropriate.
• Secure long-term embryo storage for future pregnancy attempts.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, Myra IVF Centre has helped thousands of couples across Kenya and East Africa build their families.

Conclusion

Frozen and fresh embryo transfers are both powerful, proven paths to pregnancy. Fresh transfer offers a faster route when your body is in ideal condition, while frozen transfer can match or beat it for high responders, PGT cycles and anyone who benefits from a recovered, better-prepared uterus. Thanks to vitrification, freezing no longer means compromise. The real key to success is a personalised decision made with an experienced fertility team.

If you’re weighing up your options, speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre — we’ll explain exactly which transfer gives you the best chance, and why.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

The post Frozen vs Fresh Embryo Transfer: Which Has Better Success Rates? appeared first on Dr. Sarita Sukhija IVF Specialist.

But the terminology is confusing, and not everyone needs it. In this guide, the specialists at Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija, explain exactly what PGS/PGT is, the different types, how it works, who benefits — and its honest limitations.

PGS vs PGT: What’s the Difference?

The two terms cause a lot of confusion, so let’s clear it up:

• PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening) is the older name for screening embryos for the correct number of chromosomes.
• PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Testing) is the current umbrella term for all embryo genetic testing. What used to be called PGS is now known as PGT-A.

In other words, PGS hasn’t disappeared — it has simply been renamed and now sits within the broader PGT family.

The Three Types of PGT

There are three distinct tests, each answering a different question about the embryo:

How Genetic Testing of Embryos Works: Step by Step

PGT is woven into a normal IVF cycle. Here is what actually happens:

• Step 1 — Egg retrieval and fertilisation: Eggs are collected during egg retrieval and fertilised, almost always using ICSI to avoid stray sperm affecting the genetic result.
• Step 2 — Blastocyst culture: Embryos are grown to the blastocyst stage (day 5 or 6), when they are robust enough for biopsy.
• Step 3 — Embryo biopsy: An embryologist gently removes a few cells from the trophectoderm — the part of the embryo that later becomes the placenta, not the baby.
• Step 4 — Freezing: The biopsied embryos are frozen by vitrification while the cells are analysed. (This is why PGT cycles use a frozen embryo transfer.)
• Step 5 — Genetic analysis: The sample is tested in a specialised genetics laboratory, usually with next-generation sequencing.
• Step 6 — Transfer of a healthy embryo: Once results are ready, a single healthy embryo is thawed and transferred in a later, carefully prepared cycle.

Who Should Consider PGT?

PGT is not necessary for every patient, but it can be especially valuable for:

• Women of advanced maternal age (usually 35+), as the chance of chromosomal abnormalities in eggs rises with age.
• Couples with recurrent miscarriage, many of which are caused by chromosomal errors.
• Those with repeated IVF failure or failed implantation despite good-quality embryos.
• Known carriers of a genetic condition such as sickle cell disease or thalassaemia (PGT-M).
• Carriers of a chromosomal rearrangement such as a translocation (PGT-SR).
• Couples choosing single embryo transfer to reduce the risk of twins while keeping success rates high.

The Benefits of PGT

• Higher implantation rate per transfer — selecting a chromosomally normal embryo improves the chance it will implant.
• Lower miscarriage risk — most early miscarriages are linked to chromosomal errors that PGT-A can detect.
• Fewer failed cycles and, often, a shorter time to a healthy pregnancy.
• Safer single embryo transfer — reducing multiple pregnancies without lowering success.
• Prevention of specific inherited diseases with PGT-M and PGT-SR.

Honest Limitations to Understand

PGT is powerful, but it is not a magic wand. It’s important to know the boundaries:

• It is not 100% accurate, and some embryos show “mosaic” results that can be harder to interpret.
• It does not test for every condition — only the specific chromosomes or genes assessed.
• It does not replace routine pregnancy screening and antenatal care.
• It requires biopsy and freezing, adding steps and cost to the IVF cycle.
• The benefit is smaller for younger women who already produce many healthy embryos.

PGT and Family Balancing

Because PGT-A examines all of an embryo’s chromosomes, it also reveals the sex chromosomes. Where it is legally and ethically permitted, this allows family balancing. At Myra IVF Centre, this is offered through our dedicated PGS / family balancing programme and gender selection service, always within applicable regulations and after appropriate counselling.

PGT at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, genetic testing is delivered as part of a carefully coordinated IVF pathway:

• Expert embryo biopsy performed at the blastocyst stage in our ISO 9001 certified laboratory.
• Advanced genetic analysis covering PGT-A, PGT-M and PGT-SR as clinically indicated.
• Freeze-all and frozen embryo transfer protocols to give the healthiest embryo the best environment.
• Genetic counselling and clear guidance so you can make an informed choice.
• A dedicated PGS / family balancing facility for eligible couples.
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, Myra IVF Centre has helped thousands of couples across Kenya and East Africa build healthy families.

Conclusion

PGS/PGT lets your fertility team look beyond how an embryo looks and check its genetic health before transfer. For the right patients — older women, those with recurrent miscarriage or IVF failure, and carriers of genetic conditions — it can meaningfully improve the chance of a healthy pregnancy and reduce heartbreak along the way. It is not needed by everyone, and it is not a guarantee, but used wisely it is one of the most valuable tools in modern IVF.

If you’d like to know whether genetic testing is right for your embryos, speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre — we’ll explain your options clearly and honestly.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

The post PGS/PGT Explained: Genetic Testing of Embryos Before Transfer appeared first on Dr. Sarita Sukhija IVF Specialist.

Thanks to advances in ICSI and surgical sperm retrieval, a large number of men diagnosed with azoospermia go on to father their own biological children. The key is an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment plan.

This guide explains what azoospermia is, why it happens, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment options available — including how men with seemingly “zero sperm” can still become fathers. At Myra IVF Centre in Kenya, under the guidance of Dr. Sarita Sukhija, we offer comprehensive male fertility evaluation and advanced treatment for azoospermia.

What Is Azoospermia?

Azoospermia is a medical condition in which a man’s ejaculate (semen) contains no measurable sperm. It is one of the most severe forms of male infertility, but it is also one of the most treatable in the right hands.

Azoospermia is confirmed only when no sperm are found in at least two separate semen samples, even after the sample is concentrated using a centrifuge. It affects roughly 1% of all men and around 10–15% of men who are infertile.

Importantly, azoospermia is usually silent — most men have a normal sex drive, normal erections, and normal ejaculation. The condition is often discovered only when a couple struggles to conceive and a semen analysis is done.

Types of Azoospermia

Understanding the type of azoospermia is the single most important step, because it determines treatment. There are two main categories:

1. Obstructive Azoospermia (OA)

In obstructive azoospermia, the testicles produce sperm normally, but a blockage prevents the sperm from reaching the semen. Think of it as a healthy factory with a blocked delivery pipe. Common causes include:

• Vasectomy or previous pelvic/scrotal surgery
• Congenital absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) — sometimes linked to the cystic fibrosis gene
• Infections such as epididymitis or sexually transmitted infections
• Ejaculatory duct obstruction

The outlook for obstructive azoospermia is excellent — sperm can almost always be retrieved successfully.

2. Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA)

In non-obstructive azoospermia, the testicles produce little or no sperm due to a problem with sperm production itself. There is no blockage; the “factory” output is reduced. Common causes include:

• Genetic conditions — such as Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) or Y-chromosome microdeletions
• Hormonal imbalances — including hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
• Varicocele — enlarged veins in the scrotum that affect sperm production
• Undescended testes (cryptorchidism)
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation
• Testicular injury or infection (e.g. mumps orchitis)

Even in non-obstructive azoospermia, small pockets of sperm can often still be found inside the testes using advanced techniques such as micro-TESE.

What Are the Symptoms of Azoospermia?

For most men, the only sign of azoospermia is difficulty conceiving. However, depending on the cause, some men may notice:

• Low ejaculate volume or watery semen
• Reduced libido or difficulty with erections
• Decreased facial or body hair (a sign of hormonal imbalance)
• Small or soft testicles
• Swelling, lump or discomfort in the testicle area

Because symptoms are often absent, a semen analysis is essential for any couple facing fertility challenges.

How Is Azoospermia Diagnosed?

An accurate diagnosis is the foundation of successful treatment. At Myra IVF Centre, the evaluation typically includes:

• Semen analysis (×2): Two separate samples are examined, including after centrifugation, to confirm the complete absence of sperm.
• Hormone blood tests: FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin help distinguish obstructive from non-obstructive azoospermia. A high FSH often points to a sperm-production problem.
• Physical examination: Assessing testicular size, the presence of the vas deferens, and any varicocele.
• Genetic testing: Karyotype, Y-chromosome microdeletion and CFTR gene tests, particularly in non-obstructive cases.
• Ultrasound: Scrotal or transrectal ultrasound to detect blockages or structural issues.
• Diagnostic testicular biopsy: A small tissue sample to confirm whether sperm are being produced.

Can Men With Azoospermia Have Children? (The Key Question)

Yes — in a great many cases, they can. This is the most important and reassuring fact about azoospermia. The phrase “no sperm” refers to the ejaculate, not necessarily the entire reproductive system.

Modern reproductive medicine has made it possible to:

• Retrieve sperm directly from the epididymis or testicles, even when none appear in the semen
• Use a single sperm to fertilise an egg through ICSI — only a tiny number of sperm are needed
• Correct underlying causes such as hormonal imbalance, varicocele or obstruction

This means that even men previously told they would “never” have children are often able to become biological fathers.

Treatment Options for Azoospermia

Treatment depends entirely on the type and cause of azoospermia. The main options are:

Surgical Sperm Retrieval (SSR)

When sperm cannot reach the semen naturally, they can be collected directly through minor procedures. Retrieved sperm are then used with ICSI as part of an IVF cycle. The main techniques are:

• PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration): A fine needle collects sperm from the epididymis — ideal for obstructive azoospermia.
• TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration): A needle aspirates sperm directly from the testicle.
• TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction): A small tissue biopsy is taken to extract sperm.
• Micro-TESE (Microdissection TESE): The gold standard for non-obstructive azoospermia, using an operating microscope to identify and extract the tiny tubules most likely to contain sperm.

Hormonal Therapy

When azoospermia is caused by a hormonal imbalance (such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism), medication to restore normal hormone levels can sometimes restart natural sperm production.

Surgery to Correct Blockages

For some men with obstructive azoospermia, microsurgery can reconnect or unblock the reproductive tract — for example, a vasectomy reversal — allowing sperm to return to the ejaculate naturally.

Varicocele Repair

Repairing a varicocele can improve sperm production in selected men with non-obstructive azoospermia, sometimes allowing sperm to appear in the semen or improving retrieval rates.

Obstructive vs Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: Comparison

What Happens After Sperm Retrieval?

Once sperm are successfully retrieved, the path to pregnancy usually involves:

• ICSI fertilisation: A single healthy sperm is injected directly into each mature egg in the laboratory.
• Embryo culture: Fertilised eggs are grown into embryos over several days.
• Embryo transfer: The best embryo is placed into the female partner’s uterus.
• Sperm freezing: Any extra retrieved sperm can be frozen for future cycles, avoiding repeat procedures.

What If No Sperm Can Be Found?

In a small number of men, no sperm can be retrieved even with micro-TESE. This is understandably difficult news — but a family is still possible. Options include:

• Donor sperm used with IUI or IVF
• Embryo donation
• Counselling and support to help couples make the choice that feels right for them

Our team discusses every option openly and compassionately, ensuring you never feel rushed or alone in the decision.

Azoospermia Treatment at Myra IVF Centre, Kenya

At Myra IVF Centre, we offer a complete male fertility programme for men with azoospermia, including:

• Advanced andrology evaluation — semen analysis, hormonal and genetic testing
• Full range of sperm retrieval techniques — PESA, TESA, TESE and micro-TESE
• State-of-the-art, ISO 9001 certified embryology laboratory for ICSI and sperm freezing
• Experienced specialists led by Dr. Sarita Sukhija
• Donor sperm and embryo options when needed, with sensitive counselling
• Three convenient locations — Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu

With over 15 years of experience and a 79% overall IVF success rate, Myra IVF Centre has helped thousands of couples across Kenya and East Africa overcome even complex fertility challenges.

Conclusion

An azoospermia diagnosis can feel devastating, but it is rarely the end of the journey to fatherhood. With accurate diagnosis, the condition can be classified as obstructive or non-obstructive — and in the majority of cases, sperm can be retrieved and used with ICSI to achieve a pregnancy. Even when retrieval is not possible, donor and other family-building options remain.

If you or your partner has been diagnosed with azoospermia or zero sperm count, speak with our fertility specialists at Myra IVF Centre. The right evaluation can reveal options you may not have known existed.

Book a consultation today. Contact us at +254 786656236 or drsarita2007@gmail.com.

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