Some couples just seem to get lucky. They decide that they want to have a baby and within two or three months they’re picking out birth announcements and scheduling childbirth classes. Other couples have a much harder time of it, and no matter what they do they can’t seem to get pregnant. Sometimes, all you need is a little help; sometimes, you need more than just a little help. In the long run, if you want to get pregnant, you need to keep your options open.

Here are some of the kinds of options that a fertility specialist is going to present to you and your partner when you’re struggling with infertility:

• Medications. There are a number of different types of fertility drugs that your doctor might prescribe. Most of these medications offer help for women that have problems with ovulation. The key thing is to talk to your doctor about what kind of medication she wants to use, and do some research of your own, as well. Drugs often have side effects, and you need to know what those are going in. In addition, you need to recognize that most fertility drugs may also increase the odds of becoming pregnant with twins or multiples.
• Surgical options. If you have damaged fallopian tubes, for example, surgery might be the only option to get things moving. Some male factor infertility problems must be treated surgically, as well.
• IUI. Intrauterine insemination is a procedure where the male partner’s sperm is injected into the woman’s reproductive tract. IUI is often used alongside fertility medications, and is often helpful when there is a problem with the man’s sperm count or sperm motility.
• IVF. In Vitro Fertilization is a much more involved process than any of the other options. It involves creating embryos in the lab and then placing the embryos into the woman’s uterus. Success rates for IVF vary greatly based on a number of important factors.
• Other options. There are other possibilities – such as using donor eggs or donor sperm, that you might consider. Some couples opt for surrogacy, where another woman carries the baby. Many couples treat adoption as a last hope, as well, if they’re not able to have a child of their own.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 and is filed under Fertility.