Infertility Treatment Options

04:38 1st August 2013 | Infertility

Ovulation Induction DI IVF ICSI SSC Semen Freezing Embryo Freezing Intra Uterine Insemination Ovarian Follicles HCG

In the next few posts we’ll be discussing the various treatment options/programmes available for infertility. The treatment programme selected will depend on the needs of each individual couple, and could consist of one or a combination of the following treatment options:

Ovulation induction and cycle monitoring
Intrauterine insemination with husband’s sperm (IUI)
Donor Insemination (DI)
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Surgical Sperm Collection (SSC)
Ovum (Egg) Donation
Embryo Freezing
Semen Freezing
Access to surgical intervention

A detailed description of each of the treatment options will be given with accompanying pictures. This post will focus on the first two; Ovulation induction and cycle monitoring and Intrauterine insemination with husband’s sperm (IUI)

Ovulation Induction and Cycle Monitoring
If a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle, monitoring with ultrasound scans and hormone assessments may help to identify the fertile time of the month and so improve the chances of natural conception. If ovulation is not occurring, then drugs may be administered after the onset of menstruation to stimulate egg production. Fertility tablets, are not always effective and more powerful fertility injections may be necessary to stimulate egg production in the ovaries. With these more potent drugs, there is a greater risk of increased egg production and therefore, the risks of multiple pregnancy are greater. Women receiving fertility injections are monitored by ultrasound scans.

Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI involves the injection of treated sperm from the husband, partner or donor into the woman’s uterine cavity via the cervix. It is generally a painless procedure which takes only a few minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis i.e. no hospital stay. The chances of success are increased if the insemination is combined with ovulation induction using small doses of fertility drugs (10 – 15% per cycle). The development of the ovarian follicles is monitored with ultrasound and the insemination is timed to take place 36 – 40 hours after administration of the hormone (hCG) injection, which triggers ovulation. When ovulation has occurred, the male partner is asked to produce a semen sample. This sample is prepared in the laboratory, and is then placed in the uterine cavity by means of a fine catheter. IUI should be performed in cases where the woman has healthy fallopian tubes confirmed by laparoscopy and the sperm preparation is satisfactory.