Infertility is a condition that affects both genders where you fail to become pregnant for one year or more of having frequent unprotected sexual intercourse. It can result from one or both partners. Infertility in women mainly results from fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, and hormonal issues. Sperm disorders, hormonal imbalance, and reproductive organ defects are men’s leading causes of infertility. Most infertility cases are treatable. Your specialist, Dr. Peter L Chang, can do diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your infertility for effective treatment. There are many treatment options available for infertility, which include:

Treatment in females

Medications: Fertility medications change hormone levels to trigger ovulation. You can also use them if you ovulate to stimulate better or extra egg production. Clomifene can promote ovulation if you do not ovulate regularly or you cannot ovulate at all. Metformin can help if you have polycystic ovary syndrome. Antibiotics can be used to treat infections in your reproductive organs.

Surgery: Your doctor can recommend surgery to open blocked fallopian tubes and remove uterine growths like fibroids and polyps. If you have endometriosis, surgery can destroy or remove the cysts to help increase your chances of getting pregnant. Laparoscopic surgery can help correct structural uterine disorders and remove pelvic or uterine adhesions.

Treatment in males

Medications: You can take medications to increase testosterone levels and other hormones. You can also use drugs for erectile dysfunction. Gonadotropins can help improve fertility in men. Your doctor can combine medications with counseling to treat erections and ejaculation disorders.

Surgery: If your epididymis is blocked, preventing you from ejaculating sperm normally, you may need surgery to unblock it. Surgical extraction can be done if you have an obstruction preventing the release of sperm or had a vasectomy. If you were born without the vas deferens tube that drains the sperm from your testicles, a surgical extraction could help.

Treatment for all genders

Before trying these treatment options, a woman may need to take medications to stimulate ovulation. Ovulation stimulation increases the chances of conception. These treatments include:

Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This treatment involves your healthcare provider using a long thin tube to place healthy sperm directly into the uterus. The sperm are placed around the ovulation period.

In vitro fertilization (IVF): In vitro fertilization is a form of assisted reproductive technology. IVF involves your doctor harvesting the eggs after stimulation and placing sperm and eggs together in a lab dish for fertilization. If fertilization is successful, the doctor transfers one of the fertilized eggs into the uterus. IVF is the most effective assisted reproductive technology. It needs regular blood tests and getting hormone injections daily.

Egg and sperm donation: If you and your partner have an infertility issue, you can receive eggs or sperm from a donor to help you conceive. Treatment involving donor eggs is done using IVF. This treatment has many guidelines, so ensure you understand them to avoid future child ownership problems.

Although some causes of infertility are known, most cases can be treated. Schedule an appointment at Noble Fertility Center for infertility treatment to achieve your dream of having a family.