If you and your partner are one of the 13% of couples who struggle with infertility, you are aware of how challenging it can be to deal with the condition. While fertility treatments might greatly increase your chances of conceiving, it’s possible that learning your way around them will cause you even more anxiety.
Having an overview of the options, though, can be useful. To help you understand the current treatments available you can go through this guide. You can then see your doctor and conduct additional research to determine which option is best for you.
What is infertility?
If a couple tries to conceive and fails for 12 consecutive months, medical professionals will diagnose them as infertile. An infertility diagnosis can be made in as little as six months if a woman is older than 35. Any woman crossing the age of 35 should get an instant checkup.
If you experience miscarriage or waiting for quite a long time to get pregnant, it is not due to infertility. In medical terminology if you are trying to get pregnant for the 12 months, and still pregnancy does not take place, it is called infertility. Under this definition, infertility affects any couple or individual who does not have a child.
Male-specific factors
Male infertility typically results from the following:
- Varicocele, a condition where the testicles’ sac has enlarged veins, is present.
- Cystic fibrosis and other genetic diseases.
- Tight clothing or frequent usage of hot tubs or saunas can cause dangerously high temperatures in the testicles.
- Scrotal or testicular trauma.
- Insufficient sperm production or insufficient testosterone (hypogonadism).
- Using anabolic steroids for improper purposes.
- Ejaculating too soon is also known as retrograde ejaculation.
- Cancer of the testicles and its treatment.
- Undescended testicles.
Females-specific factors
There is a wide range of potential factors for female infertility.
- Disturbed menstruation.
- A blockage in fallopian tubes.
- Allergy to gluten
- Kidney issues
- A previous tubal pregnancy.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Cushing’s syndrome and other disorders of the pituitary gland.
- Common ovarian conditions include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian cysts, and primary ovarian insufficiency.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome.
- Uterus issues like endometriosis, fibroids, and polyps.
- Abnormal working of thyroid gland.
How can doctors diagnose infertility?
If you’re having trouble conceiving, your infertility doctor will want to know about your medical history, medications, sexual history, and sex habits, such as how often you engage in sexual activity.
The health of the sperm is evaluated through a study of the sperm collected from the man.
A pelvic exam and medical history are the starting points for any diagnostic procedures performed on a female patient.
The medical professional then verifies the patient’s regular ovulation and egg release. Hormone levels are checked through blood testing. Ultrasound can check the ovaries and uterus, and a specialized X-ray can look at the fallopian tubes.
Treatment
Successful treatment of infertility is dependent upon:
- Why are people unable to have children?
- How longer have you struggled to conceive?
- The age difference between you and your partner
- Personal preferences
- There are intractable infertility causes.
Treatment for men
Men may get the following kinds of treatments for general sexuality problems or a shortage of good sperm:
- Changing lifestyle. Modifying lifestyle factors may be used as a kind of treatment for men with general sexual issues or low sperm counts. Reducing or eliminating certain substances, increasing the frequency and timing of sexual activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and maximizing other aspects that may hinder fertility are all ways to enhance your lifestyle and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
- Medications. One’s chances of getting pregnant and one’s sperm count may both increase with the use of certain drugs. The effectiveness of the testes and the quality of the sperm they produce may both improve with the use of these drugs.
- Surgery. Surgery can sometimes release sperm that has become trapped and restore fertility. In some women, surgically treating a varicocele may improve fertility.
- Sperm retrieval. This kind of treatment is used when a man faces problem while ejaculating or when there is no sperm present in the ejaculated fluid, several methods can be used to collect sperm. When sperm counts are low or aberrant, they may be used to facilitate IVF or other forms of assisted reproduction.
Treatment for females
Single or double therapy may be sufficient for certain women. Treatments may include:
- Ovulation stimulation medication. To treat infertility caused by ovulation abnormalities, fertility medicines are typically the first line of defense for infertile women. In addition to controlling or inducing ovulation, these drugs also treat related conditions.
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment in which healthy sperm are introduced into the uterus directly after the ovary has released an egg or eggs. IUI can be timed to coincide with your menstrual cycle or with fertility drugs, depending on the underlying cause of infertility.
- Reproductive surgery. Hysteroscopic surgery is effective for the treatment of a variety of uterine conditions, including endometrial polyps, uterine septum’s, intrauterine scar tissue, and certain fibroid tumors. Larger fibroids, pelvic adhesions, and endometriosis can all necessitate either laparoscopic or open abdominal surgery.
Conclusion
It’s not easy dealing with infertility. As a result, your personal connections and mental health may suffer. Moreover, infertility treatments might put a hardship on your budget. Infertility causes can be identified by consulting with a best doctor. It’s important to take this first step since it helps decide the best treatment for you to have a successful pregnancy and subsequent child.
FAQs
1. What factors contribute to infertility?
Environmental variables, such as pesticides, other chemicals, and radiation, can be overexposed, leading to negative health effects. Medications for bacterial infections, high blood pressure, and depression, as well as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, marijuana use, and anabolic steroids, can all have negative effects on fertility.
2. What is the most common fertility problem people face?
The failure to ovulate accounts for 40% of cases of female infertility.
3. What are the physical manifestations of fertility?
Common ones include breast soreness, changes in cervical mucus and saliva, changes in body temperature, and abdominal pain or cramps.
