Fertility treatments differ depending on the underlying cause, medical condition, and personal circumstances. If you’ve had past IVF failure, repeated miscarriages, or unexplained infertility, a specialist can assess markers for endometriosis and progesterone resistance. They can also screen males to identify and address male factor issues, such as low sperm quality and count. Here are five fertility treatments for couples:
Fertility Medication
Medications can be prescribed for ovulation induction in procedures such as IVF. Fertility doctors might also prescribe medication to treat or manage conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Treating underlying conditions helps to prevent IVF failure and may increase the likelihood of successful conception. Fertility doctors could also prescribe supplements, folic acid, and prenatal multivitamins to optimize your health for pregnancy. Medications, such as gonadotrophins, gonadotrophin-releasing hormones, and dopamine agonists, have been shown to improve fertility in men and women.
Surgical Procedures
Fertility issues caused by medical conditions, like endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and scars, might require surgery. Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissues that usually grow in your uterus grow in the fallopian tubes and other places. The tissues cause blockage and prevent fertilization. Fertility doctors use BCL-6 tests to assess markers for endometriosis and inflamed uterine lining.
A positive result indicates inflammation and further tests are required to confirm endometriosis. This is a common cause of infertility among women. The doctor can recommend laparoscopy to remove the tissues and blockage. Fallopian tube surgery may also be used to repair scarred or blocked fallopian tubes.
Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Fertility specialists can recommend assisted conception for conditions that don’t respond to medication or corrective surgeries. IVF involves selecting the healthiest sperm and egg, completing fertilization outside the womb, and implanting the healthiest embryo back into the mother. The treatment also allows you to screen and address genetic conditions before the embryo is transferred back into the womb for development. IVF is usually used to treat male infertility, maternal age issues, and unexplained infertility. The procedure involves placing the healthiest sperm cells in the uterus during ovulation to increase the chances of fertilization.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Preconception care and adjustments may be able to help improve your fertility chances and reproductive health. Your doctor collaborates with you to develop personalized meal plans that are high in folic acid and prenatal vitamins and consist of a healthy, balanced diet. They also offer help with weight management to treat conditions that are caused by being over or underweight, which can affect pregnancy and IVF results.
Other adjustments could include stress management through therapy, regular moderate exercise, and getting enough sleep. Fertility specialists advise against smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug abuse. Lifestyle changes also improve underlying conditions and strengthen your immunity. Maintaining a healthy body supports fertility, conception, and pregnancy.
Donors and Surrogacy
Third-party reproduction involves using donor eggs and sperm when one partner’s eggs or sperm are not viable. The treatment is used for severe infertility cases or same-sex couples. Fertility clinics can offer surrogacy services, which involve another woman carrying the pregnancy. Other treatments include freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos for future use. Such treatments are suitable for couples preparing for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other treatments that may affect egg or sperm quality. The preserved eggs and sperm can be used to create healthy embryos for IVF and surrogacy programs. Donors and surrogates also undergo various evaluations and treatments to address underlying issues and concerns.
Reduce the Risk of IVF Failure Today
Infertility can improve with medication and lifestyle changes, but others require assisted reproductive technologies, like IVF. You can speak to a specialist to complete the necessary pre-cycle tests, including BCL-6, hormonal assessment, hysterosalpingograms, and imaging. Get tested today to reduce the risk of IVF failure and learn more about fertility treatments.
