Infertility treatment options
Infertility affects about 15% of Australian couples and is defined as not conceiving after 12 months of trying. It can affect women at any stage, regardless if they’ve had a child before or not.
RELATED: What causes infertility?
Infertility can be a physically, mentally, and emotionally painful experience for everyone involved, but luckily, there are a number of treatment options for those having trouble conceiving.
We spoke with Fertility Specialist & Gynaecologist, Dr. Raewyn Teirney, to find out what treatment options are available so you know what to expect during this difficult time.
RELATED: How to increase your chances of conceiving
Menstrual Cycle Monitoring
The first treatment method Dr. Raewyn suggests is menstrual cycle monitoring. “The menstrual cycle can be monitored for follicle growth and time of ovulation to get the timing of intercourse precise.”
She explains that this treatment is ideal for those with variable menstrual cycles to alleviate stress and uncertainty around the right time to try to conceive.
Ovulation Induction Treatment
“Ovulation induction fertility treatment is recommended for women who do not ovulate regularly,” says Dr. Raewyn. “The aim is to encourage the ovaries to develop the follicles needed to produce and release a mature egg.”
Inducing the egg can be done in two ways: by using a tablet called Clomiphene Citrate, and by doing daily injections with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). It’s monitored using scans and blood tests to establish when a woman’s follicle is ready. “Then we trigger ovulation with Human Chorionic Gonadatrophin. Women should ovulate 36 – 48 hours later, and have timed intercourse,” Dr. Raewyn explains.
Intra-Uterine Insemination Treatment (IUI)
Dr. Raewyn describes IUI as “fertility treatment for unexplained infertility. That means there is no obvious medical reason found for infertility.”
The IUI treatment involves giving the woman hormones to stimulate her ovaries to produce an egg. On the day of ovulation, the IUI procedure takes place. This involves passing the semen sample (gathered from the father/donor) through the cervix and into the womb using a fine straw. “During IUI, the hope is that the sperm will meet the egg and that fertilisation will take place in the fallopian tube, just as it does in a natural pregnancy.”
Reproductive Surgery
If a woman has any problems causing her pain or infertility, Dr. Raewyn says that reproductive corrective surgery may be an option. This is a keyhole surgery, called a laparoscopy or a hysteroscopy.
This surgery is used to repair endometriosis, ovarian cysts, adhesions, uterine fibroids, and polyps.
Advanced Reproductive Fertility Treatment with IVF and ISCI
Finally, Dr. Raewyn explains that IVF, a treatment that’s been around for 30 years, may need to take place. “Most couples I see after organising comprehensive tests do not need to have IVF, however around 10% will need IVF to greatly improve their chances of a baby. Common reasons for needing IVF include male factor problems with poor sperm quality, advanced female age, women with endometriosis, and blocked fallopian tubes.”
A standard IVF cycle takes around four weeks, where the first two weeks involve stimulating the woman’s ovaries with hormones to produce eggs. “Her eggs are collected from the ovaries using a fine needle. On the same day that eggs are collected, we combine the eggs with her partner's sperm in the laboratory.”
The eggs are then monitored in a lab to confirm they become fertilised and develop into embryos. The embryos are placed back in the uterus after 5 days when it’s become a blastocyst. “One of the benefits of IVF is that there may be remaining, good quality day 5 embryos that can be frozen for future use,” Dr. Raewyn details.
In addition, she describes that an extra technique during IVF, called intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may increase the chances of fertilisation. This involves injecting sperm directly into the egg and is recommended during the IVF process if sperm count is low.
Have you tried any infertility treatments? Do you have any advice for people who may be going through it now?
36 Member Comments
my partner and I have been trying for a baby for over two years now, We were going to a fertility clinic for about 5 months before somebody at baby center told us to contact this spell caster who is so powerful, We contacted him at this email; babaka.wolf@gmail.com or Facebook at priest.babaka , for him to help us, then we told him our problem, he told us that we will conceive once we follow his instructions ,but after two years of trying we were at a point where we were willing to try anything. And I'm glad we came to Priest Babaka, Because his pregnancy spell cast and herbal remedy help us, and I honestly believe him, and his gods really helped us as well, I am thankful for all he has done. contact him via email: babaka.wolf@gmail.com or Facebook at priest.babaka if you are trying to have a baby or want your lover back. he has powers to do it, he has done mine
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Thank you PRIEST ODUNGA for making me fertile after 22 years of marriage. I am a barren woman, in fact now its, I was a barren woman. I say this testimony in regards of Priest Odunga who granted my wish after 22 years of marriage. No one of my people and friends or family believed i would ever get pregnant not to talk of giving birth. Now i am a mother of twins? I am indeed the most happiest woman to say this testimony for everyone to read. I am Eunice Stein. I am 54 years of age. This is my first writing on the net about anything this serious especially as for 22 years i have not been for once pregnant since i got married to my husband. Please, do you need help with your fertility problem? CONTACT PRIEST ODUNGA. Do you need your problem solved such as getting your ex back? CONTACT PRIEST ODUNGA. He is the solution to all your problems. His online email is odungaspelltemple@gmail.com he will solve all your problems
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I've marked Peggy Rothchild's post, a few posts below this post, as SPAM!
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Wow this makes me so sad, so many good people can't have kids. I can't imagine what it would be like having to go through something like that.
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Should mention that sometimes its not all about the women.
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They are improving with the technology all the time. Glad of it for those who desperately want their own family. Wish it wasn't so expensive for them though.
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I have a friend that went through an inability to conceive. Eventually, she had medical intervention and she had a child, but the years beforehand were heartbreaking.
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One of my daughters has Endo and she was told at age 18 that if she wanted children then she should have them sooner rather then later. 8 years on she does not have any children but not because she cant but because for a start at 18 she felt she was too young....and she was and she also have not been with the right guy. All we can hope is that she wont have problems when the right time comes along.
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Much love to anyone going through fertility issues. It's heartbreaking.
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Having a close friend go through this i know how hard it can be emotionally and financially. Its really sad .
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Great to know for the future if I do encounter any problems.
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I know women who have gone through IVF in order to get pregnant and while it has been thankfully successful the toll it takes on the family is immense.
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I do as well, it must be physically, financially and emotionally challenging. Thankfuly everyone I know who has tried IVF has had a baby but some unfortunately aren't as fortunate.
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Glad technology has advanced to help with pregnancy. Although IVF sounds simple there is a high monetary and emotional cost.
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I’m so glad that, that part of my life is over. It still makes me feel sad that I lost over a decade and my 30’s trying to conceive. IVF gives you options but sadly doesn’t work for everyone and it can be very cost prohibitive.
Good luck and big hugs to anyone in the process of IVF, I know exactly what the roller coaster of emotions feels like.
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I sympathise with anyone struggling with infertility issues, it is good to see that there are different options and that the technology keeps getting better
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Difficult to think how awful this must be for those who are affected.
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I have PCOS and have just been approved to go ahead with Ovulation Induction Treatment. Got the news today. im so excited to get started. we have been trying for a few years so far and it has already cost us a bunch!
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That's lovely that you've been approved, Deeknight. I do hope all goes really well for you. All the very best.
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I prefer the word subfertility over infertility.
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