Choices of Fertility Treatments
If you have tried to conceive a baby for months or years with no results, you may have an infertility problem. Given today's advance in medical technology, your chances are good for conceiving with a little help.
Perhaps all you need is a prescription, or you may need an invasive procedure. Either way, the chances of conceiving these days are much better than in the past. Below are some of the options available for couples having trouble conceiving.
Clomid and Pergonal
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If anovulation is your problem, and over the counter remedies have not worked. these are the two drugs most often prescribed to induce ovulation. Both work fairly well, with Clomid being the most popular one prescribed. Pergonal is usually prescribed if Clomid doesn't work. The chances of conceiving multiples are increased with these drugs.
Lupron and Danazol
These drugs are prescribed to suppress ovulation in the cases of women with endometriosis, (to allow the endometriosis to subside) and are also used in conjunction with the high-tech invasive infertility treatments.
IUI (Intrauterine insemination)
Also known as artificial insemination. This is used when a man's sperm count, is low or when a woman is experiencing poor quality cervical fluid or unexplained infertility. The sperm are taken from the man, and inserted just outside of the cervix or directly into the uterus by means of a catheter.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
This procedure is done when the woman's fallopian tubes are blocked. It involves the use of prescription drugs such as Pergonal, Lupron, and the hormones HCG and progesterone. The procedure takes 1 to 2 months to complete. It involves removing eggs from the ovaries, and uniting them with her partner's sperm. The fertilized egg is then placed into the uterus, in hopes of implantation.
GIFT (Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer)
This procedure is almost the same as IVF, except that the fertilized egg(s) are placed in the fallopian tubes. Sometimes a failed IVF will lead to a procedure called GIFT, in which the fertilized egg will have to travel from the tubes into the uterus, more like normal conception. The success rate of GIFT is higher than that of IVF.
ZIFT (Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer)
This procedure is similar to GIFT accept it is used when the man has a low sperm count and the woman's tubes are open. In ZIFT the fertilized egg is allowed to mature to the zygote stage, then the procedure is performed.
Micromanipulation
When the sperm appear unable to penetrate the egg, this procedure inserts a single sperm into an egg, and the fertilized egg is then placed into the woman's uterus for implantation.
Ovum Transfer
This procedure involves your partner's sperm and donor eggs. This is done when a woman has already gone through menopause, or for some reason isn't producing eggs. The ovum is then transferred into the uterus.
These drugs and procedures are used if infertility has been properly diagnosed by a physician. Insurance companies may or may not cover these, or may only partially cover the costs. The more invasive the procedure, the more it will cost. While the degree of success varies from woman to woman, the chances of conception are fairly good with the help of medical technology.
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