There are many treatments for infertility.
When a woman is not able to get pregnant after trying for at least one year, this is considered infertility. A woman who becomes pregnant but is not able to remain pregnant is also considered infertile. Infertility can happen when there is a problem with any of the steps that are needed in order to become pregnant. Nearly a third of infertility problems are a result of the man being infertile.
Womenshealth.gov states that 10 percent of women aged 15 to 44 have a problem becoming pregnant, however, there are many treatment options for infertility. Medication is typically the first step, but other treatments are available if medicinal treatment is not successful.
Initial Visit
At the initial consultation with a doctor, the doctor works to diagnose the reason a couple hasn't gotten pregnant. The doctor may run screening tests for the woman and the man to establish the health of the reproductive organs in both partners. These tests include blood tests, swabs and an assessment of the man's semen.
Most doctor's may request that the couple go through counseling, according to LondonWomensClinic.com.
Clomid
The typical first line of treatment for infertility for a woman who has a weak ovulation cycle or does not ovulate at all is the medication Clomid. Clomid stimulates the gonadotropins, which stimulate the ovarian follicles. Clomid can produce side effects such as depression, hot flashes, blurred vision, ovarian enlargement and an increased risk of multiple pregnancy.
In a clinical investigation of Clomid, 30 percent of women treated with Clomid were successful in becoming pregnant, according to drugs.com.
Injectible Medications
The next step is to use stronger, injectible medications. A few of these injectible medications include Pregnyl, Profasi, Fertinex and Follistem. These injections work to induce the maturation process of the eggs and stimulate follicle growth in the ovaries.
These injections can cause a serious side effect called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), resulting from the skyrocketing estrogen levels and many eggs being produced. OHSS occurs in less than 5 percent of women who take these injections, however, OHSS can be serious and even fatal.
Between 20 and 60 percent of women who use injectible drugs will become pregnant.
Intrauterine Insemination
If fertility drugs don't work, the doctor may recommend intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination. During this procedure, the women is injected with sperm that is specially prepared on the day following the release of the woman's ovaries. This method may be done with the regular scheduled cycle or with ovulation inducing medication.
Other Options
Your doctor will go over other choices to consider, including in vitro fertilization and tubal reconstruction, along with surrogacy, using donor sperm or egg donation, or an ovary or womb transplant.
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