Treating Infertility: 4 Steps

Although conceiving a child becomes more challenging with age, women of any age or background can experience fertility issues.

Infertility may be a problem even when there are no other underlying health conditions. Genetic factors might be at play if a close female relative has had similar concerns.Infertility can be an intimidating problem to face. That said, millions of women all over the United States have successfully conceived after appropriate fertility treatments. 

Which fertility healthcare approach is right for you will depend on your current health status and goals.

Let’s look at the key steps involved in treating infertility:

1. Talk to Your OB/GYN

Almost all discussions about fertility start with the OB/GYN. If you currently wish to get pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends trying for a full year if you are under age 35 and for at least six months if you are over 35.Your OB/GYN will discuss your medical history and any known genetic factors or contributing conditions that may affect conception and pregnancy.

Generally, this results in a referral to a fertility specialist. You may see a specialist sooner if you or your partner experience any of the following:

● Problems with sperm quality or motility

● Endometriosis● Uterine, tubal, or peritoneal disease

● Infrequent or absent periods

2. Fertility Specialist Consultation and Screening 

Before fertility treatments, most patients should undergo a series of screening tests to ensure that no undiagnosed conditions are interfering with conception. Tests will generally be used to rule out PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), uterine fibroids, endocrine imbalances, or metabolic issues.

Treatment recommendations focus on the findings of these tests and any other known factors. Some of the above conditions are treatable with medication. Others may require surgery. Patients can receive guidance on timing their attempts to conceive so they fall within the maximum fertility window.

3. Infertility Treatment Options

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most common and successful fertility treatments in the U.S. today. 

However, it is not always the first option explored. Many women opt for intrauterine insemination, or IUI. This involves inserting sperm directly into the uterus at the appropriate time in the woman’s cycle. IUI has a success rate as high as 20% per cycle. 

However, IUI is much less likely to be effective after the third cycle. At this stage, many women look to IVF. During IVF, medication is used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then retrieved and fertilized in the lab. Finally, the fertilized embryos are re-implanted.

When using the patient’s own egg, IVF has an extremely high success rate:

● 35 and under: 48.5%

● 35-37: 47%

● 38-40: 35.8%

● Over 40: 20.1% 

The likelihood of success continues to grow with multiple cycles of IVF. In a recent study involving 157,000 women with a median age of 35, nearly a third of the participants became pregnant as a result of their first IVF cycle. The success rate was nearly 70% for women who had six IVF cycles.

4. Other Family-Building Options

While IVF is the best fertility treatment available for many patients, it is not right for everyone. Some women may not wish to undergo surgical procedures. If this describes you, you might wish to consider other family-building approaches, such as adoption.

Every year, thousands of families grow by bringing a child in need of a loving home into their lives. If desired, you can also explore surrogacy. Gestational surrogates may use the father’s sperm, mother’s egg, or both.