Fertility treatments take a summer break

Hyderabad: Most fertility clinics have stopped scheduling In Vitro Fertility treatments during May and for a larger part of the summer due to the heat.

Experts say that the environment alters critical hormones in women, affecting the quality of eggs. This, experts say, is a huge risk since low quality of eggs could mean that the entire IVF treatment process is jeopardised. Studies around the world have also shown a relation between the success rate of IVF treatments and the season during which it is performed.

“Fertility clinics don’t do IVF treatments anymore in summer because the results tend to drop at this time. Over the last few years, we have realised that IVF results can be good or bad in particular situations. And during the summer months, the success rate drops,” said Dr K. Suma Prasad, gynaecologist and fertility expert.

Experts say that the heat can potentially alter some of the female hormones, critical to production of eggs, and the conceiving women may not produce eggs at all. Experts also say that heat and air-conditioning affects the incubation process.

“In May, we don’t do IVF treatments at all. June is a good month and even April gives good results sometimes but in May, we don’t schedule any treatments,” said Dr Roya Rozati, gynaecologist and infertility specialist.

A study had hypothesised that IVF treatments have the best success rates during spring. Winter and summer have the lowest success rates. “It is a very emotional, sensitive and important issue. Those who come for IVF treatment would already have waited for a few years. So there is no harm in letting the summer months pass and they also recognise that,” Dr Suma Prasad explained.