Infertility is a common condition that affects about one in six couples in their childbearing years. Fort Worth infertility can be caused by various factors, including age, male hormone levels, previous fertility problems, and other medical conditions.
In some cases, it is possible to diagnose the cause of infertility within a short period. In others, it may take several years to find the right treatment plan. Here are some common treatments available for women with infertility:
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common method of treating infertility in women. IVF is a process that involves sperm being put into an egg outside the body. Doctors can do this through a surgical procedure or medication taken by mouth. The drug used in IVF is called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In some cases, combining the two can help you get pregnant more quickly than just one treatment.
Pregnancy rates with IVF vary depending on how many eggs are retrieved and how well the sperm fertilize them. If you have more than one egg, it takes longer to get pregnant because there are two chances for an egg to be fertilized successfully.
Gonadotropin therapy (GnRHa)
GnRHa therapies stimulate the pituitary gland to produce hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. GnRHAs are often prescribed to help prepare the body for IVF by increasing ovarian reserve and the number of eggs retrieved during an IVF cycle.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or artificial insemination (AI)
These procedures involve placing sperm directly into an egg using either a syringe or a condom filled with semen. IUI may be an alternative to IVF for some women with no other treatment options. AI may be used as an option for women with male partner factors that make IVF more complicated, such as advanced age and low sperm count.
Ovulation induction
Ovulation induction is a process by which women are encouraged to ovulate. It involves using fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg for fertilization. Doctors often use human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG, clomiphene citrate, and gonadotropins for ovulation induction.
Fertility specialists usually use natural or assisted reproduction techniques to achieve ovulation induction. Natural methods include effective oral contraceptives and injectable medications such as Clomid, Follistim, and Menopur. Assisted reproductive techniques involve artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Doctors sometimes use ovulation induction with other infertility treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI). They can sometimes use it with in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a procedure that involves injecting sperm directly into an egg before fertilization. ICSI allows for using a single sperm for conception after failed IVF attempts. This procedure increases pregnancy rates in IVF cycles compared to standard IVF treatment methods.
Many treatments are available for infertility in women. You can learn about different treatment options at a fertility clinic. If you are having trouble getting pregnant and your husband or boyfriend has no infertility problems, you might be a good candidate for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Contact CARE Fertility and book an appointment with a doctor to discover more about infertility in women.