After a heartbreaking year of unsuccessful attempts at getting pregnant, a couple will consider that one of them may be infertile. It is at this time when couples will seek the help of a health care professional. A doctor can do tests to find the cause of infertility and then offer treatment plans or alternative ways to become pregnant.

A doctor will run tests, get a history from both partners, and do a physical exam.

A doctor may be able to occasionally treat infertility by helping the couple reduce stress, educating them on the reproduction cycle, changing personal hygiene habits, or even diet. More commonly what happens is that by the time a couple goes to the doctor, they have exhausted all other options like the ones listed above. After 12 long months of trying different things and reading up on infertility they are still childless.

About two thirds of couples will be able to conceive and have a baby after being treated for infertility. The treatments can consist of one of the ones listed or a combination of them:

Hormonal therapy
Surgery
Medication change
Lifestyle changes

When infertility can’t be corrected, a doctor will treat infertility by providing alternative ways for a woman to get pregnant. One of the options are medication administration. Types of medication that may be used:

Pituitary stimulating
Ovary stimulating
Ovulation regulating
Male hormone lowering
Female hormone balancing

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is another way to treat infertility. This can include the following:

IVF-in vitro fertilization
ZIFT-tubal embryo transfer
GIFT-gamete intrafallopian transfer, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection
ICSI-a single sperm is injected into a mature egg

It may take help from healthcare professionals, time, work, and money but most couples will be able to have a child. It will all be worth it and the journey will be forgotten as they gaze into their newborn’s eyes.
For those who have tried everything and still can’t conceive, often find relief when they choose to accept that infertility can’t be remedied because the rough and emotional road has exhausted them. These couples move on to a life without a child or may choose to adopt one of the many children who have no parents to care for them or to love them.

Trying to Conceive