Infertility is hard and frustrating. Infertility can feel make you feel lonely and isolated. Hang in there. We promise you’re not alone.
Many couples face the disappointing reality of infertility. In fact, 10-15% of couples can’t get pregnant during their first year of trying. And while you would never wish to be part of this group, you can be assured that millions understand what you’re going through.
5 Questions to Ask When Considering Infertility Treatment
To help you understand all of your options, here are 5 critical questions you need to ask when considering infertility treatment.
1. What is Considered Infertility?
Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that prevents a child from being conceived. It can affect both men and women. Couples most often get the diagnosis of infertility after trying to get pregnant for at least a year.
Conception and pregnancy can only happen when all of the following are present:
Healthy eggs from a woman
Healthy sperm from a man
Unblocked fallopian tubes
The sperm’s ability to fertilize the egg
The fertilized egg implanting in the uterus
Healthy embryo
If a couple is having problems getting pregnant, they’ll need to undergo medical testing to see which of those pieces is missing. At this point, a couple will need medical assistance to conceive.
2. Where do I start?
Take a deep breath. No one wants to deal with infertility, but fortunately, there are doctors and programs out there ready to help.
The first step is to meet with your regular Ob/Gyn. They will be able to conduct necessary tests that measure hormone levels for the female and analyze semen for the male. Men with abnormal semen results will need to see a urologist.
These tests will be the first clues into why you’re not able to get pregnant on your own. From here, your doctor can start certain medications that will help stimulate ovulation. Often doctors will begin with the least invasive treatment and go from there.
3. Will I Need a Specialist?
If the medications the Ob/Gyn or urologist prescribes are not successful, the next step is to find a specialist. An infertility specialist is also known as a reproductive endocrinologist. Ask your gynecologist for a recommendation.
Take your time and talk to a few different doctors. Find one who you feel comfortable with. You will want to ask many questions along the way. Will your new doctor listen to your concerns and give you all the information available?
You’ll also want to make sure your new doctor is in your insurance plan network.
4. Does My Health Insurance Cover Infertility
Under all healthcare plans, maternity and newborn care are covered. But when it comes to infertility, there are many different interpretations of what should be covered.
Some plans cover IVF, but not the injections, while some cover both and some don’t cover IVF at all.
Men will need to check what’s covered for them as well. Infertility is considered an issue for couples, and so both partners will have risk factors involved.
5. What if Nothing Works?
Facing infertility is scary, but there’s always an answer. Many couples who have had multiple IUIs and IVF treatments fail often turn to adoption or egg donation.
Adoption can be beautiful for everyone involved, but if adoption isn’t right for you, you can always turn to egg donation and surrogacy.
Egg donation is when a mother’s eggs have been determined to be unviable; therefore, an egg donor is used. This means the mother won’t be genetically related to her baby. However, if she has a healthy uterus, she can still experience pregnancy once the egg has been fertilized and implanted.
If pregnancy isn’t an option, a surrogate can be used to carry the baby. We are sensitive to mothers who face this decision. But with egg donation, you’re still able to have a baby and grow your family. It may not be in the traditional way, but it’s still beautiful as women work together to get the baby you’ve always dreamed of.
How We Have Answers for Your Infertility Issues
We understand that facing infertility can be daunting. But we have answers. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how long you’ve been dreaming of having a family, we can make it happen.
Frozen donor eggs has the highest success rate of all infertility treatments. We screen our donors, so only the healthiest are allowed to donate their eggs. We also have tight legal contracts to protect the rights of everyone involved.
If you’re feeling frustrated with your current options, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can help you get started today. Call us today at 323-933-8918 to learn more.
