After an infertility diagnosis, the next thing is to get the right treatment. Depending on the cause of your infertility, treatment may involve medication, surgery, or assisted reproduction. Infertility treatment plans are often individualized because each patient’s goals and the factors that cause infertility are different. Here is what to expect when making a treatment plan with your fertility specialist:
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Follow-up Consultation
A follow-up consultation can happen after testing and diagnosis with your fertility doctor. During the follow-up consultation, your fertility specialist can review your test results to help you understand your diagnosis. Your fertility specialist may also examine your medical history to determine which treatment option can give you the best results. Some factors that fertility specialists consider to determine the best infertility treatment include the following:
- Age
- Possible side effects
- Treatment success rate
Understand Your Options
Your doctor can tell you what treatment options are available for you and discusses the success rate, risks, and costs for each. Below are some options for infertility treatment:
Medication
Fertility issues such as irregular ovulation can be resolved by taking fertility medicines. Your doctor may prescribe certain medications to encourage ovulation. Doctors prescribe certain medications for women with polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormones are also used to promote ovulation and improve fertility in men. Ovulation-stimulating medicine may not work for a patient that has unexplained infertility.
Intrauterine Insemination
During intrauterine insemination (IUI), your fertility doctor can insert sperm directly into your uterus using a thin plastic tube that passes through the cervix. Doctors only select the best sperm to increase your chances of conception. Depending on your treatment plan, the sperm used for IUI may be from your partner or a donor.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a lab procedure where fertility doctors inject sperm directly into a mature egg to increase the likelihood of reproduction. This method is used when there are sperm quality, quantity, and motility issues. ICSI can also be recommended when there are issues with sperm penetration of the egg. Doctors do ICSI in conjunction with a patient’s IVF cycle.
In Vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproduction treatment where fertility specialists remove mature eggs from your ovaries and put them with sperm. The fertilized eggs mature to become embryos, and your doctor returns one of the embryos to your uterus. If the embryo implants successfully, you can have a viable pregnancy.
Doctors preserve many viable embryos, so if an embryo does not implant successfully, they transfer another to your womb. IVF is the recommended treatment when a woman has reduced fertility potential. You may use a donor egg for IVF if you have ovulation issues.
Surgery
Your fertility doctor may recommend surgery when infertility results from an issue with your reproductive organs. If you have blocked or scarred fallopian tubes, your doctor may perform surgery to repair them. After removing the blockage, it may be easier for fertilized eggs to pass through your tubes.
Doctors use laparoscopic surgery to remove cysts caused by endometriosis. The surgery also effectively removes submucosal fibroids, which develop in the womb and may prevent implantation. Surgical extraction of sperm is also necessary for male patients with an obstruction that prevents the release of sperm. Surgery may also be used to repair varicose veins in testicles, which contribute to male infertility.
Check-ups During Treatment
During treatment, your fertility specialist may want to check up on you to determine the treatment’s effectiveness. Regular check-ups can allow your doctor to adjust your treatment plan when needed, putting you on the best path to conceiving successfully.
Set up an appointment with your fertility doctor to test for pregnancy after IVF treatment. Your doctor may monitor your pregnancy for some time to confirm continued viability and then hand you over to an obstetrician after some time. The fertility treatment process can be mentally and emotionally draining, so it may help to get counseling or therapy while undergoing treatment.
Get Help From a Fertility Specialist Today
An infertility diagnosis does not mean the end of someone’s chances of becoming pregnant. Consulting a fertility specialist and getting on a treatment plan are the first few steps a patient should take. Find a reliable fertility doctor to learn more about possible fertility treatment plans.
