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Medical Video: Top 10 Solutions for Infertility with Dr. Patrick Flynn
Do you experience some symptoms that you suspect are infertility? For most couples, the first sign of infertility is when they cannot get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. However, some couples have never detected any early signs.
It is possible to have a regular menstrual cycle, a healthy sex life, no clear risk factors, general body health is classified as prime, but still not fertile. But for some, there are early warning signs.
Bring this list of questions with you when meeting with your obstetrician. Use the list as a good starting point for discussion of fertility problems and ways to overcome them.
Various questions related to fertility problems
1. What are the reasons that have enabled us to have children too?
Infertility can be caused by a single cause in one partner, or it can be a result of a combination of factors; ranging from age, history of medical conditions, to lifestyle. Studies show that a little more than half of total infertility cases are the result of conditions that women have, while the rest are caused by sperm disorders or unspecified factors.
Reporting from Medical News Today, about 20% of cases of infertility are caused by problems from men. 40-50 percent of the total cases are caused by problems in women, and 30-40 percent of cases of infertility are caused by problems that both parties have.
2. What tests do we need?
For women, a number of tests can be used to try and determine the cause of infertility. Your doctor can recommend you undergo hormone testing, uterine tests with ultrasound, venereal disease tests, hysterosalpingogram, and laparoscopy.
For men, during a physical examination, the doctor can examine the testis (to look for any lumps or abnormalities) and your penis (to see the shape and structure, and for any abnormalities that may exist). Further testing may include: semen analysis (to determine whether you have a low sperm count, low sperm mobility, or abnormal sperm) and a chlamydia test (where your urine sample will be tested to determine whether you are positive for chlamydia).
Fertility tests and investigations can be a long process, and women's fertility decreases with age so making appointments as early as possible is the best step.
3. What treatment do you recommend for our first try?
Before you and your partner start treatment, discuss together about how far you want to get treatment. For example, you might want to try drugs but don't want to undergo surgery. You can change your mind during your treatment, but starting with an idea of what you want and boundaries that cannot be overlooked is a good step.
Treatment for fertility problems depends on the root of the problem. Sometimes the cause is unknown. Your doctor may advise you to try insemination first — sperm is collected and then extracted to increase the number of healthy sperm for insemination.
Treatment for fertility costs not a little. And insurance usually does not cover this cost. If costs are a problem for you, ask how much you have to spend on medicines and procedures. Then find out if your insurance covers the costs. Talk to your partner about what you can.
4. What are the side effects of the recommended treatment?
Fertility drugs can create "miracles" and are generally effective. However, it is important to know what risks can occur and how to reduce your chances of complications. Fertility drug side effects and risks depending on the drugs where you take oral fertility drugs (such as Clomid or letrozole) have lighter side effects than injectable fertility drugs (such as gonadotropin or GnRH agonists and antagonists).
The most common side effects of fertility drugs are bloating, headache, breast pain, abdominal pain, hot flashes, and mood swings. The most common risk of fertility drugs is multiple pregnancies (twins or more) and developing uterine hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). These two conditions are not the only potential side effects and risks, only the most common.
Insemination will not work exactly for everyone. Some couples try several times before they get pregnant, while others may not succeed at all.
5. What are my chances of having twins from the treatment you recommend?
Medications and certain medications greatly increase the likelihood of having twins or multiples that are higher. Fertility drugs stimulate your ovaries, increasing the possibility that you will release a few eggs at the same time.
If you undergo a IVF program, your chance of having more than one child varies depending on your age, how many embryos are placed in your uterus, and other factors. Performed separately, artificial insemination is the only fertility treatment that does not increase the chances of multiple pregnancy. But most women who undergo artificial insemination also use fertility drugs, which will increase the chances of becoming pregnant with twins.
6. How long / how many cycles do we have to undergo for this treatment?
The duration of treatment will depend on the type of treatment for infertility that you are taking. Some couples successfully get pregnant after completing one fertility therapy, some need to try and switch methods several times before they get pregnant, while others may not succeed at all.
7. If the first treatment doesn't work, what do you suggest next?
Treatment may include taking medication, injecting hormones, artificial insemination, until surgery (especially if you have a blockage or fallopian tube damage, or laparoscopic surgery if you have mild to moderate endometriosis).
Your doctor may recommend trying at least three to six times with injectable hormones before moving to another treatment. If artificial insemination does not help, there are other approaches that you can try, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) with your own eggs or with donor eggs. Insemination with donor eggs is not legal in Indonesia.
8. Are there long-term complications associated with treating our fertility problems?
In rare cases, fertility treatment can cause severe side effects. Your doctor must discuss this with you.
A small number of women will experience vision problems when taking fertile drugs, such as Clomid or Letrozole. If this happens to you, you will see flashes of light, sudden increases in "floaters" ("images" or flashes of color floating in the sight of your peripherals), or blurred vision. Blurred vision may be followed by severe headaches. In very rare cases, long-term damage can occur.
Uterine hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is another complication of the treatment of infertility. This condition is common in IVF therapy (and in some cases, oral treatment), where the uterus becomes too "excited" to release more eggs than usual. In rare cases, OHSS can cause blood clots and kidney failure.
Ectopic pregnancy can also be one of the long-term complications that may occur. Ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening if ignored.
9. What is the pregnancy success rate by referring to the "live birth rate" for each type of treatment?
Make sure you and your doctor have a consistent understanding when talking about the success rate of pregnancy or the birth-life level when discussing certain types of treatment so you can make a comprehensive comparison.
Pregnancy rate is the success rate for getting pregnant. This is the percentage of all efforts that lead to pregnancy, with efforts generally referring to the menstrual cycle where the patient uses insemination or other artificial efforts. The live birth rate is the pregnancy rate that has been adjusted to the rate of miscarriage and stillbirth.
For example, a treatment may have a pregnancy success rate of up to 30% per one cycle, but only has a live birth rate of 25% due to an early miscarriage.
10. Are there lifestyle changes that might help my condition and increase my chances of getting pregnant?
Sports, diets reduce (or increase) body weight, folic acid intake, and determine the right day for sex - many lifestyle changes can determine your success in planning a pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor what is best for you and your partner.
Be sure to bring along notes of any diagnostic studies and / or treatments for fertility problems that you may have done in the past if you visit a new fertility specialist. If you have a record of the date of your menstrual cycle and / or a basal body temperature chart, include this note with you. In addition, print and bring this article as your guide when consulting a doctor.
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