Infertility Treatments: A Guide for Couples

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Infertility is the inability to conceive despite frequent and unprotected intercourse for at least a year. It affects about 15% of couples worldwide and can have various causes, such as hormonal disorders, structural abnormalities, infections, or lifestyle factors. Infertility can be a source of stress and emotional distress for many couples who want to have a baby.

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Fortunately, there are many treatments available for infertility, depending on the underlying cause, the couple's age and health, and their personal preferences. Some of these treatments are:

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• Medication: Some drugs can help stimulate ovulation in women, improve sperm count or quality in men, or correct hormonal imbalances that affect fertility. For example, clomiphene citrate is a common drug that stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs, while gonadotropins are hormones that can be injected to stimulate egg or sperm production.

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• Surgery: Some cases of infertility may require surgical intervention to repair any physical problems that prevent conception. For example, varicocelectomy is a procedure that removes enlarged veins in the scrotum that may impair sperm function, while hysterosalpingography is a procedure that uses an X-ray contrast to check and clear any blockages in the fallopian tubes.

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• Assisted reproductive technology (ART): This is a term that describes several techniques that involve manipulating eggs, sperm, or embryos outside the body to achieve pregnancy. The most common forms of ART are:

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• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This involves placing washed and concentrated sperm directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. This can increase the chances of sperm reaching and fertilising an egg.

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• In vitro fertilisation (IVF): This involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries and fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the uterus for implantation. IVF can overcome many causes of infertility and is the most effective form of ART.

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• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): This is a variation of IVF that involves injecting a single sperm into an egg. This can be helpful for cases of severe male factor infertility or when previous IVF attempts have failed.

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• Donor eggs, sperm, or embryos: Some couples may choose to use eggs, sperm, or embryos from a donor to achieve pregnancy. This can be an option for couples who have genetic disorders, low egg or sperm quality, or who are same-sex or single.

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• Gestational carriers or surrogates: This is when another woman carries and delivers a baby for a couple who cannot do so themselves. The gestational carrier may be implanted with an embryo created by the couple using their own eggs and sperm, or by using donor eggs or sperm.

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The choice of infertility treatment depends on many factors and should be discussed with a doctor who specialises in reproductive medicine. Some treatments may have side effects, risks, or ethical implications that need to be considered. Some treatments may also be expensive or not covered by insurance. Therefore, it is important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option and make an informed decision.

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Sources

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- Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). Fertility Treatments For Infertility: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/fertility-treatments

- NICHD. (2012). What infertility treatments are available? https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/treatments