Nothing frustrates a married couple, like the inability to conceive. Infertility is not only a preserve for females. Males, too, can be infertile if their sperm become less viable. Expert gynecologists categorize infertility into primary and secondary. A health care professional will state you have primary infertility if you have never conceived and you have had unsuccessful conception after a year of trying without birth control. Secondary infertility happens when you cannot get pregnant again after at least a single successful pregnancy. Houston Infertility experts at Memorial Women’s Specialists offer their vast patient population various diagnosis and personalized treatment options for infertility. These professionals boast expertise in the field and will help you conceive and deliver your baby safely.
What are the medical conditions that put you at risk for infertility?
You will be at risk of infertility because of various medical conditions including:
- Ovulation disorders. These disorders are the most common causes of female infertility. They may be due to:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Thyroid problems
- Premature ovarian failure
- Poor egg quality
- Uterine problems. Your egg will find it hard to travel through to your womb if your uterus and fallopian tubes have issues. The problems could result from:
- Pelvic surgery
- Submucosal fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Past ectopic pregnancy
- Abnormal menstruation
- Medication and drugs. Various medications and treatment therapies could also lead to infertility. They include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy near your reproductive organs
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Illegal drugs
What happens when you contact your doctor for a fertility evaluation?
During an evaluation, your doctor will perform a thorough examination to determine your infertility’s root cause. He will review your sexual and gynecological history and conduct various physical and pelvic exams and your hormone levels. The doctor could also request your partner’s semen for analysis.
How does an expert gynecologist treat infertility?
Your gynecologist will devise a treatment plan depending on your condition’s root cause. The various treatments options your doctor will recommend include:
- Sexual intercourse frequency. Your doctor will recommend you have frequent intercourse, especially around your ovulation.
- Medication. The care provider could also prescribe medications to induce ovulation and egg development. The medication that you either take orally or through an injection will stimulate your ovary to develop mature eggs ready for ovulation.
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI). The procedure involves washing your partner’s viable sperm so that it is cleansed and made ready for placement in your uterine cavity. After adequate preparation, your doctor gently and painlessly injects it into your cavity with a flexible catheter.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). In IVF, your gynecologist collects your eggs and fertilizes them by your partner’s sperm outside your body. After fertilization, your doctor directly transfers the embryo to your uterus.
- Third-party reproduction. Another person will donate sperm or eggs, or another woman offers to be a gestational surrogate to help you have a child.
- Surgery. A surgical procedure is usually the last resort your doctor will recommend when other possible treatments have failed. Usually done after a complete series of imaging tests, your gynecologist could recommend surgery to correct an abnormality in your uterus.
Infertility is a common health condition affecting several women in their reproductive years. The excellent news is an expert gynecologist can treat infertility. Book an infertility appointment today with the professionals and find the help you need to conceive.
