Infertility Treatment Options: What You Need to Know

Infertility is, unfortunately, one of the most common obstacles faced by couples who want to have children in modern times. There are multiple methods you can use to find out if you are infertile, specify the cause, and evaluate your infertility treatment alternatives. Before determining your infertility treatment options, it is necessary to look at your medical history, the drugs you are taking or have been on until recently, your sexual preferences, and your lifestyle habits. Following these steps, it can be determined whether you are infertile, and accordingly, an infertility treatment plan can be drawn up. In the treatment of infertility, couples can choose clinics in their own country, or they can choose well-known clinics and hospitals that are located abroad. Here you can find everything you need to know about infertility and the most popular infertility treatment options for both men and women.

First Things First: What is Infertility?

The infertility meaning is defined as not being able to have children after regular attempts for more than 1 year without resorting to birth control methods. This period is automatically reduced to 6 months for individuals aged 35 and over. For men and women over 40 years of age, however, it is recommended to consult a doctor before trying to get pregnant.

What Are the Main Causes of Infertility?

The most common cause of infertility in women is ovulation, or in other words, lack of it. In men, it’s usually about how sperm cells function. Other infertility causes include age, lifestyle choices and general health. However, sometimes other than these reasons, infertility can still be encountered. Infertility without any cause is called unexplained infertility and is quite common amongst couples as well. The most important factor directly related to infertility is age. The rate of a woman getting pregnant in a single menstrual cycle ranges from 25 to 30 percent. This rate is generally seen in individuals between the ages of 20 and 30. However, these rates start to drop drastically as women hit their 30s. Up to the age of 40, a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant naturally decreases to 10 percent. At this age, men – though not at the same rate as women – can be adversely affected in terms of infertility. Women who are overweight, underweight, do not exercise enough, or exercise too much may also experience difficulty conceiving at some point in their lives. High-dose alcohol consumption and heavy smoking are also among the factors that affect both men and women in terms of infertility.

What Are the Most Common Infertility Treatment Options?

The infertility treatment options you will be advised to choose usually vary depending on your infertility reason. Infertile families facing any of the above-mentioned natural causes can increase their chances of getting pregnant by removing the related factor. Quitting smoking and alcohol, switching to a more controlled and healthy lifestyle, reaching ideal weight and body health, or making exercise a regular part of your life are among the actions you can take in terms of your organic infertility treatment options. However, when it comes to advanced age, lifestyle changes can be weak in increasing your chances of getting pregnant without outer intervention. In such cases, it is best to turn to professional infertility treatment options. These methods can be listed as follows:

Infertility Treatment Medications

Among the most common infertility medications are clomiphene, tamoxifen, metformin, and gonadotrophin-based drugs. Clomiphene stimulates monthly egg production, while tamoxifen is recommended for ovulation problems. Metformin is recommended for women facing PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), while gonadotrophins are used to stimulate fertilization in both men and women. When infertility is chosen to be treated with medication, some mild infertility treatment side effects may occur. In such cases, nausea, vomiting, headache, and hot flashes are the most common side effects patients can come across. However, these side effects are usually expected to disappear on their own after the drug cycle is completed.

Surgical Infertility Treatment

Fallopian tube surgery, correcting an epididymal blockage to retrieve sperm, endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS treatment are the most common surgical procedures sought after when looking for infertility treatment options. During fallopian tube surgery, the surgeon repairs the fallopian tubes and prepares the ground for a healthier ovulation system. In the method of treating endometriosis and fibroids, laparoscopic surgery comes into play. During this procedure, the womb lining, which has started to grow outside the womb, is refitted and repaired. These methods can also be used in fibroids and PCOS conditions. One of the most important problems that cause infertility in men is an epididymal blockage. In such cases, your physician may recommend a surgical operation to remove the related blockage.

IUI: Intrauterine Insemination

Intrauterine insemination is also known as artificial insemination. In this method, sperm is injected into the womb and is then artificially fertilized. During this procedure, the best quality sperm are first identified, collected, and then are passed through the cervix with the assistance of a thin plastic tube. IUI is known to be one of the most sought-after infertility treatment options in developing countries, with more and more clinics and hospitals leaning towards this procedure in order to help eager parents-to-be get pregnant.

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization, on the other hand, is one of the most successful and effective methods that come to mind when it comes to infertility treatment success rates. In this method, an egg is fertilized outside the body. Fertility medicine is given before the treatment so that the ovaries can produce more eggs than usual. Then the eggs produced are harvested from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory. After this process is completed, the product, which essentially becomes an embryo, grows by being placed back in the womb. Most infertile couples prefer international hospitals and clinics that are experienced and famous for their IVF practice and success rates. Egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, and adaptation are also other common infertility treatment options that are recognized worldwide. For more information on IVF and other infertility treatment options, including infertility treatments in India, click here and examine the list of the most preferred IVF clinics in the world.