Different treatments for infertility are recommended
depending on what the problem is. About 90 percent of cases are treated with
drugs or surgery. Various fertility drugs may be used for women with ovulation
problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the drug to be used.
You should understand the drug's benefits and side effects. Depending on the
type of fertility drug and the dosage of the drug used, multiple births (such as
twins) can occur in some women. If needed, surgery can be done to repair damage
to a woman's ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus. Sometimes a man has an
infertility problem that can be corrected by surgery.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Assisted reproductive technology (ART)
uses special methods to help infertile couples, and involves handling both the
woman's eggs and the man's sperm. Success rates vary and depend on many factors.
But ART has made it possible for many couples to have children that otherwise
would not have been conceived. ART can be expensive and time-consuming. Many
health insurance companies do not provide coverage for infertility or provide
only limited coverage. Check your health insurance contract carefully to learn
about what is covered. Also, some states have laws for infertility insurance
coverage. Some of these include Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii,
Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas, and West Virginia.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of ART that is often used when a woman's
fallopian tubes are blocked or when a man has low sperm counts. A drug is used
to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once mature, the eggs are
removed and placed in a culture dish with the man's sperm for fertilization.
After about 40 hours, the eggs are examined to see if they have become
fertilized by the sperm and are dividing into cells. These fertilized eggs
(embryos) are then placed in the woman's uterus, thus bypassing the fallopian
tubes.Gamete intrafallopian transfer(GIFT)
is similar to IVF, but used when
the woman has at least one normal fallopian tube. Three to five eggs are placed
in the fallopian tube, along with the man's sperm, for fertilization inside the
woman's body. Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), also called tubal embryo
transfer, combines IVF and GIFT. The eggs retrieved from the woman's ovaries are
fertilized in the lab and placed in the fallopian tubes rather than the uterus.
ART sometimes involves the use of donor eggs (eggs from another woman) or
previously frozen embryos. Donor eggs may be used if a woman has impaired
ovaries or has a genetic disease that
could be passed on to her baby. And if a woman does not have any eggs, or her
eggs are not of a good enough quality to produce a pregnancy, she and her
partner might want to consider surrogacy. A surrogate is a woman who agrees to
become pregnant using the man's sperm and her own egg. The child will be
genetically related to the surrogate and the male
partner, but the surrogate will give the baby to the couple at birth.
A gestational carrier might be an option for women who do not have a uterus,
from having had a hysterectomy, but still have their ovaries, or for women who
shouldn't become pregnant because of a serious health problem. In this case, the
woman's eggs are fertilized by the man's sperm and the embryo is placed inside
the carrier's uterus. In this case, the carrier will not be related to the baby,
and will give the baby to the parents at birth.
Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis implants are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity. They can also be found in the vagina, cervix, and bladder. Treatment of endometriosis can be with medication or surgery.
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy located outside the inner lining of the uterus. The majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube. Symptoms include abdominal pain, amenorrhea, and vaginal bleeding. Treatment options include observation, medication, or surgery.
A miscarriage is any pregnancy that ends spontaneously before the fetus can survive. Miscarriage usually occurs before the 13th week of pregnancy. The cause of a miscarriage cannot always be determined. The most common causes of a miscarriage in the first trimester are collagen vascular disease (lupus), hormonal problems, diabetes, chromosomal abnormalities, and congenital abnormalities of the uterus.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus and are usually round or semi-round in shape. The most common symptom of a uterine fibroid is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include pressure, pelvic pain, pressure on the bladder, or pain during a bowel movement. Treatment options vary from surgery to medication.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also known by the name Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a hormonal problem that causes women to have a variety of symptoms including irregular or no menstrual periods, acne, obesity, and excess hair growth. Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman's stage of life and the symptoms of PCOS.
Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman. There are some symptoms that are more frequent in some women. These symptoms include a missed period, nausea, vomiting, bloating, weight gain, headaches, food cravings, and mood changes.
Infertility is the diminished ability to conceive a child. The primary cause of infertility in men is a sperm disorder. In women, the primary cause of infertility is an ovulation disorder. Most forms of infertility can be treated. Conventional infertility therapies include drugs or surgery.
Amenorrhea is a condition in which there is an absense of menstrual periods in a woman. There are two types of amenorrhea, 1) primary and 2) secondary. Treatment of amenorrhea depends on the type (primary or secondary). In prmiray, surgery may be an option and in secondary amenorrhea medication or lifestyle changes may be treatment options.
The female reproductive system is designed to carry out several functions, including producing the female egg cells, conception, and producing female sex hormones that maintain the reproductive cycle. During menopause the female reproductive system gradually stops making the female hormones necessary for the reproductive cycle to work.
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Some of the symptoms of Graves' disease include hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, trouble sleeping, enlarged thyroid, thinning of the skin or fine brittle hair. Causes of Graves' disease are thought to be multifactorial such as genes, gender, stress, and infection. Treatment for Graves' disease is generally medication.
Preeclampsia is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine. Preeclampsia typically begins after the 20th week of pregnancy. When preeclampsia causes seizures, it is termed "eclampsia" and is the second leading cause of maternal death of in the US. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of fetal complications. Risk factors for preeclampsia include high blood pressure, obesity, multiple births, and women with preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. Pregnancy planning and lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
Premature menopause is when a woman goes through menopause before the age of 40 because of genetics, illness, or a medical procedure. Symptoms of premature menopause include irregular or missed periods, mood swings, hot flashes, periods that are heavier or lighter than usual, vaginal dryness, bladder irritability, incontinence, dry skin, eyes or mouth, sleeplessness, and decreased sex drive. Though premature menopause cannot be reversed, the symptoms can be managed with methods similar to those used for natural menopause.
Premature ovarian failure (POS) is the cessation of normal functioning of the ovaries in women under the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure may be caused by follicle depletion or dysfunction. The most common symptom of premature ovarian failure are irregular periods. There is no "treatment" that will restore the ovarian function, but there are treatments that my relieve symptoms.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Sexual health information including birth control, impotence, herpes, sexually transmitted diseases, staying healthy, women's sexual health concerns, and men's sexual health concerns. Learn about the most common sexual conditions affecting men and women.
Taking prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs or supplements should be discussed with your doctor. There are some medications that have been found to cause no problems in pregnancy, however, medications such as Accutane for acne, should never be taken during pregnancy.
Women experience and tolerate pain differently. For some pregnant women, focused breathing is all they need to get through labor and childbirth; but for others, numbing of the pain is desired.
There are a number of different medications a woman can take during labor and childbirth. It is important for you to learn what pain relief options are available. Please discuss the options with your health care provider well before your "birth day" so that when you are in labor you understand the choices.
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