Treatments
Treatment of infertility depends on your circumstance and personal preferences. Many treatments can successfully resolve infertility, including medications, surgery, assisted reproductive technology (ART) and other procedures. Once a diagnosis is made, fertility specialists are able to develop a plan that suits your particular situation. You can also build your family through adoption and other alternative family building methods. Just make sure the treatment or option YOU select is RIGHT for you and/or your spouse physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Pending your condition, below are some treatments your doctor may discuss with you..
Lifestyle Change
More intercourse with your spouse - two to three times a week - may improve fertility. However, be mindful that too frequent ejaculation may decrease sperm quality.
Reduce Stress. While there is no concrete proof that stress causes infertility, stress can make many body organs work harder than normal and increases the production of some important chemicals in your body. This includes hormones which can delay or prevent the releases of a woman's egg. To alleviate stress, join a support group, learn stress reduction techniques (ex. meditation, yoga, or acupuncture), avoid taking too much caffeine, exercise regularly and have a medical treatment plan with which both you and your partner are comfortable.
Lose the pounds as obesity is a major health problem that is associated with women infertility (such as ovulation problems and irregular menstrual cycles) and miscarriage. Studies show that weight reduction often leads to resumption of normal menses and increased pregnancy rates. For obese men, hormonal changes and increased scrotal temperature are potential underlying causes of impaired semen parameters. Discuss your weight with your doctor and determine the best weight loss plan for you.
Go green or reduce your chemical environment. Some doctors suggest that numerous chemicals found in the home, on the job or in our environment may contribute to infertility. For example exposure to anti-rust agents, welding, plastic manufacturing, pesticides, car exhaust fumes, cosmetic chemicals, textile dyes, dry cleaning chemicals, lead, and mercury are some elements reported to have an impact on fertility. Research and talk to your doctor about different household products and the environment in which you work to determine the best way to handle your situation.
Treatment for men
Medication or behavioral approaches are generally used to treat sexual problems, usually addressing impotence or premature ejaculation. This can improve fertility.
Surgery or hormones may be used if a lack of sperm is suspected as the cause of a man's infertility.
ART is possible. Sperm sometimes can be taken directly from the testicles or recovered from the bladder and injected into an egg in the laboratory setting. The doctor can then place a viable fertilized egg in the woman to increase the chance of pregnancy.
Treatment for Women
- Medications are often used to help treat infertility. Some common medicines used to treat infertility in women include:
Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) which causes ovulation and is often used in women who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or other problems with ovulation.
Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (Repronex, Pergonal) is often used for women who don't ovulate due to problems with their pituitary gland.
Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim) is used to help the ovaries begin the process of ovulation.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) analog is used for women who don't ovulate regularly each month or ovulate before the egg is ready.
Metformin (Glucophage) is used for women who have insulin resistance and/or PCOS. This drug helps lower the high levels of male hormones in women with these conditions.
Bromocriptine (Parlodel) is used for women with ovulation problems due to high levels of prolactin ( which is a hormone that causes milk production.)
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is another method used to help women become pregnant. Common methods of ART include:
In vitro fertilization (IVF) which means fertilization outside of the body. IVF is said to be the most effective ART. It is often used when a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man produces too few sperm. Doctors treat the woman with a drug that causes the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are removed from the woman. They are put in a dish in the lab along with the man's sperm for fertilization. After 3 to 5 days, healthy embryos are implanted in the woman's uterus.
Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) or Tubal Embryo Transfer is similar to IVF. Fertilization occurs in the laboratory. Then the very young embryo is transferred to the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) involves transferring eggs and sperm into the woman's fallopian tube. So fertilization occurs in the woman's body. It is said that few practices offer GIFT as an option.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is often used for couples where there are serious problems with the sperm. Sometimes it is also used for older couples or for those with failed IVF attempts. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected into a mature egg. Then the embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube.
Note: ART procedures sometimes involve the use of donor eggs (eggs from another woman), donor sperm, or previously frozen embryos. Donor eggs are sometimes used for women who can not produce eggs. Also, donor eggs or donor sperm is sometimes used when the woman or man has a genetic disease that can be passed on to the baby.
- Treating Miscarriages can be difficult as the reason for miscarriage is varied, and most often the cause cannot be identified. Where the cause is identified medications or surgery may be recommended by your doctor. For example, a weak cervix (incompetent cervix) is a condition in which the cervix opens early and can cause preterm labor and delivery. In such cases, a cervical cerclage may be recommended where stitches are placed in the cervix to hold it closed. This is usually done preventively at 12 to 14 weeks before the cervix thins out, or as an emergency measure after the cervix has thinned. However, once you find out that you are pregnant, the goal is to be as healthy as possible and to create a healthy environment for your baby to grow. Regular exercise, healthy foods, stress management, smoke free environments, and a daily intake of folic acid can help. Discuss your regimen with your doctor.
Alternative Family Building Methods
Individuals or couples work with a public or private agency to legally become the parents of a child born to another. Many infertile couples build families through adoption.
When one agrees to use donor eggs (eggs from another woman), donor sperm (sperm from another man), or donor frozen embryos. Sometimes this option is selected by women or men who might not otherwise be able to get pregnant using their own eggs or sperm. Also, donor eggs or donor sperm is sometimes used when the woman or man has a genetic disease that can be passed on to the baby.
Surrogacy is when another woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry a child for a woman who is not able to carry a pregnancy to term. The surrogate undergoes intrauterine insemination with sperm from the man who wants to be the legal father or an embryo is transferred to the woman who agrees to gestate the baby, the gestational carrier.
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