I have been trying to get pregnant and have not been successful– What do I need to know about infertility?
When it comes to understanding infertility, it can often seem like there is a lot of information out there to sift through. Although it may seem like a daunting task to learn about the causes, signs, and treatments of infertility, there are many helpful resources available to educate couples and point people in the right direction towards being able to finally start their family. There are helpful fact sheets, current articles, and a wealth of support and resources available online through their website. For those who are just starting out on this journey, there are three important ideas to know about that will make it much easier to learn about and address infertility. 1) Both women and men experience infertility: Nearly 6.7 million people in the United States are affected by infertility. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), men represent half of these individuals affected by infertility. Clearly, infertility is not just a woman’s problem! The good news is there are many resources available to treat both male and female infertility. 2) Simple changes can make a big difference: When it comes to treating infertility in the early stages, there are many simple lifestyle changes that can be made that will have a big impact on your ability to conceive. For example, both men and women can focus on eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding damaging habits such as smoking or excessive caffeine consumption, and taking time to relax. For some people, this is all it takes to be able to finally conceive. 3) It is a good idea to discuss early treatment options with your doctor: Don’t worry, your doctor will not require you to take a clinical fertility test before you are ready. If you have had difficulty getting pregnant and want some good advice on ways to optimize your ability to get pregnant, you should make an appointment to visit with your OB/GYN. Your OB/GYN will be able to identify early steps you can take to enhances your ability to conceive and can outline your other fertility options or recommend a fertility specialists should you eventually choose to go that route.
Can infertility be treated at home?
Perhaps. Some forms are infertility can be treated at home without invasive procedures. Not every person has to go through invasive clinical testing and treatments to overcome infertility. In fact, there is now a prescription treatment known as the Conception Kit® at-home system that can be used in the privacy of home and does not require fertility testing. It combines times ovulation with cervical cap insemination to effectively treat common male and female infertility issues such as low sperm count, low, sperm motility and an acidic vaginal pH environment. It can be obtained with a prescription from your doctor and is a covered pharmacy benefit under most insurance companies.
My husband has low sperm count; is there anything we can use to help us get pregnant?
When a man has low sperm count, there are not as many sperm available to fertilize the egg. This is very important when you consider that 90% of all sperm die within the first ten minutes inside the vagina. Similarly, men with low sperm motility produce sperm that are not able to move as well within the vagina and consequently have a difficult time reaching the egg. Both of these issues can be addressed with intra-uterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or, less invasively, with the Conception Kit® at-home system. The Conception Kit® (www.conceptionkit.com) is FDA cleared and is indicated for assisted insemination with low sperm count, low sperm motility, or hostile vaginal environment. It includes 24 ovulation predictors for timing the Luteinizing Hormone Surge (LHSurge) and provides medical-grade materials to protect and concentrate sperm near the cervix to optimize the opportunity fertilization.
I am having a hard time getting a pregnant and a friend told me to try Clomid-Should I?
After consulting with their medical professional, fertility medications may be part of the overall treatment plan. There are a variety of fertility medications listed by the CDC: • Clomiphene citrate (also known as Clomid® or Serophene®) – This medicine acts on the pituitary gland to stimulate ovulation. • Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG (also known as Repronex® or Pergonal®) – This medicine is injected and acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. • Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH (also known as Gonal-F®, Follistim®) – This medicine also works on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. These are just a sampling of some of the common fertility medications available. In many cases, the medicines are designed to stimulate or regulate ovulation. When this occurs, it is important to optimize the conditions for every available sperm to reach the egg. Couples can further increase their chances of fertilization by using the Conception Kit® at-home system while they are on any of these medications.
My husband and I are not on the same page with seeking further treatments, any suggestions?
Although it can be frustrating and disappointing when a couple is unable to conceive in the first few months, not all people are eager to seek further testing or treatment immediately. There are many reasons why one or both partners may be hesitant to seek clinical infertility treatments. For example, fertility testing can seem like a potentially embarrassing or uncomfortable situation for men due to the nature of the semen collection experience. The pressure of having to perform on demand or the embarrassment of having to hand in the specimen may be enough to keep some men away from the clinic. When this is the case, it is important for the partners to be compassionate and empathetic towards one another. Couples should provide each other the time and space necessary to consider both invasive and non-invasive fertility treatment options.
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