Couples who are having trouble conceiving can be devastated to learn that they suffer from infertility of some degree or type and may not initially be aware that infertility treatments are an option. However, a diagnosis of infertility does not necessarily mean that a successful pregnancy is not possible. There are many medical and alternative options for couples who wish to increase their fertility.
Medical infertility treatments vary widely depending on the degree of the infertility, whether the male or the female partner is infertile, and whether there are outside factors exacerbating the problem. Many potential treatments are mechanical in nature. A cervical cap is one such treatment that may be prescribed. This device is similar to the cervical cap used for contraception, but instead of preventing sperm from entering the uterus, it encourages sperm to come into contact with the cervix. Ideally this allows natural fertilization to occur on normal terms. These caps may come in the form of a medical conception kit that is prescribed by a doctor, allowing the patient to apply the cap at home when convenient.
If mechanical fertilization aids do not result in pregnancy, other options exist that are more invasive but also have higher success rates. In vitro fertilization involves harvesting eggs from the ovaries of the female partner and fertilizing them with the sperm of the male partner in a liquid medium that is conducive to sperm and egg health, encouraging healthy fertilization outside of the body. Once the egg is fertilized and becomes a zygote, it is implanted into the uterus of the female partner. In vitro or IVF pregnancies are significantly more likely to result in twins or triplets because multiple zygotes are usually implanted at once to increase the odds of success.
Some patients prefer alternative treatments to medical infertility treatments, especially invasive reproductive technologies such as in vitro. Psychological intervention has proven to result in statistically higher rates of success compared to patients that did not receive the intervention. Acupuncture is another alternative that has proven successful in Germany, but in conjunction with IVF treatments, not in place of them. Physical therapy has worked for some patients, specifically those who suffer from blockages in the fallopian tubes.
Getting pregnant can be a battle for couples who are infertile, but it does not have to be impossible. The wide range of infertility treatments available now makes it possible that most fertility patients can successfully conceive if they find a treatment that works for their body. Becoming a parent is now a possibility for many patients that previously did not have options.
James Copper writes articles for hereshowtogetpregnant.org where you can find information different treatments for infertility.
