Infertility Treatments
Hello friends! Are you facing a serious challenge in getting pregnant? About 25% of the couples are facing this serious problem of infertility. Do you have any idea about infertility? Infertility is a stage where despite unprotected intercourse between couples not allowing the female partner to conceive a baby. Infertility is may be due a combination of factors or may be due to a single cause. Luckily, we have got various effective infertility treatments which further really improve the chances of getting pregnant.
There are some infertility problems which can be more easily treated than some of the major ones. About around and above the age of 35, chances of women getting pregnant goes down with time but chances of miscarriage increases. There are various steps which younger couples usually take but doctor doesn’t recommend to older couples. This is just because that being older in age, chances of getting pregnant decreases year by year. If anyhow, at older age a women conceive then there is no guarantee that she will have a healthy baby. On the other hand, there are many other developments done which have made many couples dreams come true.
How to get pregnant with twins?
We hope that you all have a certain idea about infertility. Infertility means within some parameters, you are not able to get pregnant. It is pretty common problem among 10% women of above 35 years of age. It can be due to the women (33%), man (33%) or can be from both (33%) due to some unknown problems. Here we will discuss about some causes of infertility, risk factors which increases the cause of infertility and treatments. In terms of infertility treatment, doctors use the history of both the partners and then they may run the tests which include sperm studies, laparoscopy, ultrasound, ovulation tests or hysterosalpingography. Based on the tests results and various other factors, the problem of infertility can be treated by assisted reproductive technology, medicine, artificial insemination or surgery.
Causes of Infertility
Table of Contents
- About 25% chances are of unexplained infertility
- About 25% chances are of ovulatory disorders
- There are about 20% chances of tubal damage
- Highest around 30% chances are male factors
- Least 10% chances are of uterine or peritoneal disorders
In about 40% of the infertility cases, the defects are found from both of the partners. Factors like gamete or embryo defects, uterine or endometrial defects play very crucial role and other pelvic conditions like endometriosis.
Infertility is a very common problem among the couples but this problem is not at all related to women only. This problem is related to both of the counterparts many a times. Its only about one-third factors of man and woman for these infertility problems while other being the mixture of both the factors.
Infertility Symptoms
Within about six months of trying, couples achieve pregnancy. About over 12 months of unprotected intercourse, around 90% of couples get pregnant. Mostly people conceive without treatments but few having infertility problems are tending to have treatment so as to conceive a baby.
A major sign of infertility is not getting pregnant after much trying. And finally couples need to consult a doctor for a treatment. Usually, in some cases women those are infertile may have irregular or absent menstrual periods. In case of infertile men, may be because of some hormonal problems including hair growth or sexual function.
Do you think that infertility is a common problem only in women? Yes! Then you are wrong. In fact, infertility is a very common problem among both women and men. Only about 1/3rd of the infertility cases are caused by women infertility. Infertility treatment plans depends on the causes of infertility as well as from whom the problem is whether from women’s side or men’s side or both or unexplained causes. Here is one good news for our all readers that about 85%-90% of the couples who are dealing with the problem of infertility are treated with various low-tech treatments with 100% results which includes surgery, medication and many more.
Causes of Infertility in Men
- Varicocele (veins of the testicles are too large)
- Producing too many or none sperms
- Sperm movement depends on the shape of the sperm
Factors Increases the Man’s Risk of Infertility
- Heavy consumption of alcohol or drugs
- Smoking
- Environmental toxins
- Heavy medicine doses
- Age factor
- Cancer treatment which includes chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Various health problems such as problem of hormones, serious disease
Causes of Infertility in Women
- Ovulation problems
- Fallopian tubes blocked
- Any physical defects with uterus
- Uterine fibroids
Factors Increases the Woman’s Risk of Infertility
- Age factor
- Stress or poor diet
- Weight being over or under
- Smoking or excess alcohol consumption
- Diseases which are sexually transmitted
- Health problems which includes primary ovarian insufficiency or ovarian syndrome
Treatment of Infertility in Men
- Sexual problems like premature ejaculation as well as impotence are treated with medicines as well as can be treated through behavioral therapy.
- At times, surgery may help out in the problems like few sperms or none at all. Through surgeries, doctors try to remove the sperms from the reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also help.
- No sperm movement due to blocking of the system tract. Surgeries may help.
Surgeries do help in correcting the problem of infertility in women as well. But women are advised to follow some medicines:-
- Clomiphene citrate (Clomid)
- Repronex, Pergonal
- Gonal-F, Follistim
- Metformin (Glucophage)
- Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
These are the fertility drugs which further will help in treating the woman’s infertility problem. They even may further lead to the chances of conceiving twins or multiples.
Infertility Treatments
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Unexplained infertility
Cervical mucus problem
Male factors infertility (mild)
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- IVF (in vitro fertilization)
- ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer)
- ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
- Surrogacy
- Gestational carrier
When is the need to consult a Doctor?
Women
- Age between 35-40 years, trying to conceive
- Age above 40 years, should get a treatment
- Irregular menstruation
- Painful periods
- Cancer treatment
- More than one miscarriage
Men
- Sperm problems such low count
- Sexual problems history
- Cancer treatment
Complications
Have you ever given a thought about complications you will be dealing with your infertility treatment? No! Don’t worry at all. We are here to help you all out in dealing with the complications. Various complications are related to multiple pregnancies. Treatment of Elective Single Embryo Transfer is pretty much associated with reduced risks of preterm birth as well as low birth rate as compared to Double Embryo Transfer, but it is associated with higher preterm birth risks as compared to spontaneously conceived singletons.
The most serious complication of all the complications is Ovarian Hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This complication occurs while on-going treatment with ovarian stimulation techniques. It is usually present with lower abdominal discomfort, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting. The signs which include severe disease and further need to be hospitalized are:-
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
- Presence of ascites
- Oliguria
- Rapid weight gain
- U&E/other metabolic abnormalities
These incidents might get reduced with careful tailoring of all the embryo implantation techniques which are used as well as all the pharmacological agents. Various new strategies are introduced as well so as to prevent OHSS from developing during the treatment.
A General Care
The time of treatment is really a difficult time for the couples and at that point of time they need support and reassurance only if they have much pressure from in-laws as well as their parents. We have many stories where couples conceived after losing their hopes. Couples having infertility problems might consult doctor at the very first stage because sometimes counseling does appropriate, infertility problems just creates psychological stress.
Women those who are tending to conceive must be informed about their dietary supplementation with folic acid just before the conception and continue it up to 12 weeks of gestation. This will only help in reducing the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects.
All you need is to think and take time. Before starting any treatment, discuss with your partner about how far you both can and will go for the treatment. For instance, you want to try medicines or surgery or both. It might be possible that you change your mind in between your treatment and in order to be secure it is pretty good to have an idea till where you want to go and end. Treatments are pretty expensive and even insurance doesn’t cover all of the expenses. Decide and take decisions accordingly. Infertility treatments are expensive but one should consult their doctors so the problem might not become more serious.
Did you find this article helpful? Are you suffering from infertility? Did you even undergo an infertility treatment?
Please share your valuable views with us.