Don't Ignore the Treatments Options for Infertility Pt. 1

When a couple trying to conceive reaches the point where they are seeking medical assistance to achieve pregnancy, they may not be aware of each option available to them for treating their infertility. Because there are many possible causes to infertility, there could be a variety of treatment options, one which may be more appropriate than another depending on the physical barriers to conception. Sometimes when a couple gets a diagnosis of infertility, their first thought regarding possible treatment options are the more invasive ones, such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or IUI (Intrauterine Insemination). There may be a myriad of less invasive treatments or other alternatives available, but much of this can depend on the type and severity of the diagnosis. 

The main impediments to conception for women may be lack of or inadequate ovulation, conditions that increase risk of miscarriage, poor egg health, conditions that prevent sperm from reaching the ovum or other impediments to effective implantation of a fertilized zygote. The main barriers to fertility for men relate to sperm production: low sperm count, poor sperm morphology or low motility of sperm. 

For couples with one or more of these barriers, there can be a variety of treatments that range from least invasive to highly intensive. Understanding what your options are can be essential to carefully weighing which ones are best for you and your partner. 

Infertility Myth Busted: "Slow down, you have plenty of time to have kids!"

Although infertility has no age boundary, the older a couple gets, the higher the incidence of miscarriages or difficulty in conceiving. According to RESOLVE among the risk factors to conception:

A woman's age can affect her fertility. By age 40, a woman's chance of pregnancy has decreased from 90 percent to 67 percent. By age 45, the chance of becoming pregnant declines to 15 percent. Infertility in older women may be due to a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities that occur in the eggs as they age. Older women are also more likely to have health problems that may interfere with fertility. The risk of miscarriage also is much greater for older women. 

I don't know how many times  when sharing my fertility hopes and despair that a well-meaning friend or co-worker would pipe up with "You're young, you have plenty of time!" Such a comment stings in several ways.

• It instantly invalidates your struggles and fears. A comment like this says "You have no right to worry and your pain is unimportant."
• It also sends the message that the speaker is somehow bored or impatient with you and hasn't the time to comfort you about your concerns.

• One of the most frustrating aspects of this comment is it's complete ignorance to actual risk factors to fertility. 

The truth is, for most couples over the age of 35 the risk of infertility is heightened. Also, the actual likelihood of achieving conception from intercourse during the fertile period (3-5 days around ovulation) is only around 20-25% for healthy couples.

A couple ages 29-33 with a normal functioning reproductive system has only a 20-25% chance of conceiving in any given month (National Women’s Health Resource Center). After six months of trying, 60% of couples will conceive without medical assistance. (Infertility As A Covered Benefit, William M. Mercer, 1997) 

 So, it's incredibly frustrating and demoralizing when someone waves off your infertility concerns with a "You're young, this will pass!" It makes me want to scream and tear out my hair. I know the proverbial "biological clock" is over-used, but it has basis in fact! I say this not to be hopeless, but realistic, that each woman's fertility dwindles with each cycle. That's one less egg, one less opportunity to achieve pregnancy and one more step towards overall potential medical conditions that can affect your chances.

I guess the type of support I want from a friend when I am despairing over my last BFN and whether or not I'll EVER achieve a BFP is "I know it's so tough, but you'll get there!" I think that support is more welcome than advice, especially poor advice.

To get the low-down on Infertility, visit RESOLVE's Infertility 101 Check out RESOLVE for more information on National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW) and how you can get involved in your community!

Infertility Myth Busted: Having an infertility diagnosis means I must see a specialist

Infertility Myth: "Having an infertility diagnosis means I must see a specialist."

Many infertility diagnoses can be simply treated by the couple's OB/GYN (obstetrician/gynecologist). Most couples go to their OB/GYN to get assistance in diagnosing the obstacles to successful conception. He or she may also be able to treat the issue by assisting the couple with tracking the woman's ovulation and/or prescribing medications or other treatments to combat the particular issue. Depending on the doctor, he or she may be able to do further treatments. If further specialist intervention is needed, the OB/GYN will refer the couple to an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) for further treatment.

I myself was diagnosed with hyperprolactinemia for my anovulation. Upon reviewing my medications, my OB/GYN identified one of them as a possible culprit. Two weeks after stopping that med, I had my first crosshairs on my fertility chart!!! So far I haven't sought additional help, but am thinking of looking into another round of tests to see if there is something else occurring that might be causing my spotting around 9DPO (or full AF at that date). 

For an Infertility 101 go to RESOLVE.org to learn more about infertility. For more on how to participate in National Infertility Awareness Week.