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. 

• Fertility Medications
• Ovulation Inducing Drugs
• Oral Medicines--These are usually prescribed for women who have lack of or inadequate ovulation. 
• Miscarriage Prevention
• Depending on the condition causing the risk of miscarriage, there can be a variety of oral medications to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss.
• Progesterone
• Inadequate progesterone levels can cause problems in achieving and maintaining a pregnancy. It can also be commonly given to prevent miscarriage, but can also affect a woman's ability to conceive. Read this article at RESOLVE.org to find out the impact on fertility. Progesterone can be given in oral pills, vaginal suppositories or intramuscular injection.
• Hormone Balancing Drugs
• There can be medical conditions that cause hormone imbalances that can directly or indirectly affect fertility. Many times oral medications to treat these conditions can eliminates its effects on reproduction. Read about the various conditions and options for treatment by following the links below.
• Thyroid Imbalance
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Hyperprolactinemia--Scroll to bottom of page.
• Injectibles
• These are medications to induce ovulation primarily used in conjunction with various Assisted Reproductive Procedures (ART).
• For more details on the various medications available check out this page at RESOLVE.org

• http://www.resolve.org/infertility101  (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
• http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)