Reproductive health refers to the functions and processes of the female and male reproductive organs. If you are experiencing challenges when trying to conceive, find a specialist for evaluation and treatment. Below are some actions individuals can take to improve their reproductive health:
Medications
Medications that help to stimulate or regulate ovulation are called fertility drugs. Your examination and test results can help your reproductive health specialist to create a customized treatment plan. Medications are the primary treatment for females who have ovulation disorders that render them infertile. They function similarly to natural hormones, such as the luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, to trigger ovulation.
Women release a single egg during a normal menstruation cycle. Fertility medications can help females who ovulate to stimulate the release of extra eggs. They help to increase the likelihood of the sperm getting an egg to fertilize. Women may benefit from fertility drugs as they also help regulate their menstrual cycle. Predicting your cycle accurately lets you know your exact ovulation period to increase your chances of a natural pregnancy. Fertility drugs can be taken by mouth or as injected treatments to stimulate your ovaries to release multiple eggs.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
If medication only doesn’t cause you to conceive, your specialist can try intrauterine insemination (IUI). During intercourse, there are only a few sperm that reach the egg in ideal conditions. With IUI, your fertility specialist places numerous healthy sperm into your uterus, closer to the egg. Combining the two treatments increases your chances of becoming pregnant. Fertility specialists use imaging tests and hormone assessments to customize an IUI process that matches your needs.
Your fertility specialist collects sperm samples and gets rid of any sperm that are not healthy or moving. They use a catheter to place the healthy sperm into the uterus. The method helps the sperm to move past the vagina and cervix, providing it with a good chance of getting to the egg to fertilize it. IUI is ideal for those who have been trying to conceive for more than a year without knowing the cause of their infertility. The procedure is also suitable for women with scar tissue on their cervix.
Assisted Reproductive Technology
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common type of assistant reproductive technology. The process involves taking fertility medications to help your ovaries to make eggs. The eggs get retrieved and fertilized in a lab with sperm. Once the embryo forms, it gets implanted into the uterus. The process can take several weeks and needs daily hormone injections and frequent blood tests. You can also get eggs from a donor to assist you to conceive using IVF.
Surgical Treatment
Your fertility specialist may suggest surgical treatment to check for problems in your reproductive organs, depending on the severity of the problem. They treat conditions that cause infertility using minimally invasive procedures like hysteroscopy and laparoscopy in an outpatient setting. Laparoscopy refers to a procedure where a fertility specialist makes a tiny incision close to the navel and inserts a narrow fiber-optic telescope into the body. The procedure helps to repair fallopian tubes, treat endometriosis, or treat pelvic adhesion.
Hysterectomy involves a fertility specialist inserting a narrow fiber-optic telescope through the cervix into the uterus to look for adhesions or fibroids and removing them surgically. The procedure also corrects any abnormalities found in the uterus, such as endometrial polyps or uterine septum.
Find a Reproductive Health Specialist
A reproductive health specialist who specializes in infertility and pregnancy can assist you in finding the proper treatment for you. Choose one with extensive training in reproductive health and infertility to increase your chances of getting the correct treatment. Prioritize one that offers a variety of treatment options and can create a customizable treatment plan for you. Contact a specialist who performs extensive testing to understand your specific fertility issues.