Whether you’re just starting your fertility journey or feel like you’ve been here for a while, heading to a fertility clinic can feel like a big step. Taking that first step, however, is also an opportunity to gain more insight and possibly help with your journey to becoming a parent. Plus, 10% of women have received fertility services, according to Pew Research, so you’re not alone. As you explore different fertility clinics, you’ll notice many different treatment options available. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most common treatments you’ll find.
Medications
Let’s talk about some of the medication options fertility clinics use to help increase your chances. According to Forbes, the most commonly used form of fertility treatments are oral medications. One of the most common is clomiphene citrate, also known as Serophene or Clomid. This oral medication works to stimulate your ovaries to release an egg each month by blocking the hormones that would normally prevent ovulation. It’s usually the first line of medication treatment tried.
Another medication many fertility clinics use is letrozole, brand name Femara. Like Clomid, letrozole works to induce ovulation but has fewer side effects. Both medications are usually taken for five days, starting on day three of your cycle, according to MedlinePlus. Monitoring with ultrasounds and blood tests allows the clinic to track follicle development and determine your best day for conception.
Intrauterine Insemination
If medications alone don’t work after a few cycles, your fertility clinic may recommend an intrauterine insemination, also called IUI. During IUI, washed and prepared sperm are placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. This basically gives the sperm a bit of a boost to reach the egg. At your clinic, they’ll likely do an ultrasound to check follicle development and time it to perform the insemination. The process only takes a few minutes but does require some planning and monitoring of your cycle. IUI adds that extra step to give your chances of fertilization a little bump.
In Vitro Fertilization
For some couples, the preferred option from the start is to try in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF. IVF is a multifaceted treatment involving several weeks of medication and monitoring cycles at a fertility clinic. Eggs are stimulated to develop with injectable medications, then surgically retrieved for fertilization with sperm in a lab dish. The resulting embryos are then transferred back into the woman’s uterus in the hopes of implantation and pregnancy. IVF allows for fertilization to happen outside of the body, which can help with certain fertility issues. It also gives the ability to screen embryos before transfer and often results in higher success rates than other methods, especially for those with diagnosed infertility. However, it does require a significant time commitment and financial investment. IVF should only be considered after careful discussion with reproductive endocrinologists at your fertility clinic.
Alternatives
While medications, IUI, and IVF are the major treatments offered, some fertility clinics also provide other options worth exploring. For example, artificial insemination involves preparing and placing washed sperm directly into the uterus or cervical canal, without the help of an IUI procedure. It allows for lower cost and less medical intervention than IUI. Donor sperm or eggs are also options if needed, allowing conception for single women and couples where one partner lacks viable gametes. Discuss all the options with your fertility clinic, so you can choose the treatment path that feels right.
As with any medical decision, choosing a fertility clinic and treatment path is very personal. Factors like cost, health issues, and the physical and emotional commitment required all weigh into your decision. That’s why it’s important to interview multiple fertility clinics to understand what each offers and their success rates. Your general doctor can also help guide you in deciding when to seek infertility treatment versus continuing to try naturally. Taking that first step of a fertility workup can be intimidating, but it’s an important step toward understanding all that’s involved in building your family. With treatment at a fertility clinic, you gain knowledge and support toward achieving your goal of bringing home a baby. The process can be lengthy for some couples, so it is important to start as soon as possible. Reach out to Fertility Center of San Antonio today to schedule your consultation.
