What Are Your Infertility Treatment Options

Infertility is a condition characterized by the failure of conceiving after a long period of unprotected sex. The condition occurs in males and females due to different factors such as aging, where older adults are at high risk of infertility. Also, excessive use of alcohol and drugs, eating disorders like bulimia, and structural problems like uterine abnormalities can cause infertility. Fortunately, once your doctor runs fertility tests and determines that you're infertile, you can get infertility treatment. So what are the common infertility treatment options?

Surgery

Doctors perform different infertility treatment surgeries, including:

• Laparoscopic surgery

Doctors perform this surgery to correct a problem called endometriosis. This condition occurs when some sections of the womb's lining grow abnormally, usually outside the womb. During the surgery, doctors eliminate cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs. In return, the lining starts growing normally.

If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and your medication isn't working, doctors may perform laparoscopic ovarian drilling. This is a minor surgery where doctors use a laser to destroy the fluid-filled follicles in the ovary.

• Fallopian tube surgery 

This infertility treatment option is mainly for repairing scarred or blocked fallopian tubes. The surgery unblocks the tubes or repairs the scarred tissue, allowing unobstructed movement of the ova through the fallopian tubes, increasing your chances of conceiving.

• Surgical Sperm Extraction 

This procedure is ideal if there's an obstruction stopping sperm release. The surgery is minimally invasive and allows doctors to collect samples of your sperm for testing.

After a thorough assessment, your doctor will recommend the most suitable surgical procedure to treat your infertility.

Assisted Conception

The assisted conception infertility treatments include:

• Artificial or intrauterine insemination (IUI). Doctors gather sperm and insert it inside the uterus during ovulation.

• In vitro fertilization (IVF). Doctors collect an egg and sperm and fuse them in the lab. The doctors then place the fertilized egg in the uterus.

• Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). Doctors place the eggs and sperm inside the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs.

• Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). Doctors fuse the egg and sperm in the lab and place the already fertilized egg in the fallopian tubes.

Your doctor will choose the ideal assisted conception procedure for your condition.

Medication

Infertility treatment medications help maintain the correct hormonal levels to help with ovulation or erection problems. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat infected reproductive organs. Different infertility medications are available, and your doctor will recommend the ideal drugs depending on the cause and extent of your infertility. However, the medicines may cause side effects like nausea and headaches. Therefore, understand the possible effects of the drugs to manage the effects accordingly.

The common infertility treatment options are surgery, medication, and assisted conception. Consider these treatments to solve your infertility problems.