Your fertility team will work to build your fertility plan based on their clinical experience and your preferences
Let’s explore some potential infertility treatment and options
A laparoscopic procedure
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that allows a doctor to look internally at the pelvis (including reproductive organs) with a camera to identify possible causes of fertility challenges. In some cases, they may be able to address some problems during the procedure.
Laparoscopy is common for a variety of conditions: ~13 million laparoscopies are performed each year worldwide.
Hormonal therapy
Hormone therapy involves treatment with medications to address hormone imbalance problems which may affect fertility.
Controlled ovarian stimulation, or COS, is a part of in vitro fertilization, or IVF. The goal of COS in IVF is to help multiple eggs (also known as oocytes) mature, prevent premature ovulation, and retrieve eggs for fertilization.
To help more oocytes mature, your fertility team may prescribe a treatment to increase or decrease the level of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in your blood.
Intrauterine insemination
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure in which healthy sperm is placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation.
- Sperm can be from a partner or a donor.
- Sexual intercourse is not necessary.
- IUI can be done in an office or a clinic.
ART cycles
In 2021 alone, 238,126 patients had 413,776 assisted reproductive technology (ART)* cycles performed in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is an increase of more than 25% since 2019.
*ART involves the manipulation of the egg and the sperm prior to embryo transfer.
Let’s explore assisted reproductive technology, or ART
ART involves manipulation of both the egg and the sperm before embryo transfer. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a form of ART.
In IVF, sperm and an egg are combined in a lab before transferring the fertilized egg into the uterus. This procedure is called an embryo transfer.
Chorionic gonadotropin hormone test, also called an hCG test, may be performed after the embryo transfer. This test is designed to assess for or confirm pregnancy.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is another form of ART. With ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into the center of an egg. Once fertilized, the embryo is transferred into the uterus.
Genetic testing can be common during ART. Preimplantation genetic testing or screening (PGT or PGS) involves testing a small number of cells in embryos for genetic abnormalities. Once the eggs are fertilized, the lab retrieves a few cells to test the DNA.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a screening test similar to PGT or PGS. If you have a family history of genetic disease, your fertility team may suggest this test. PGD can screen for numerous genetic conditions.
Nationwide, about 3,250 ART procedures were performed per 1 million women aged 15 to 44 years.
IVF accounts for over 99% of ART procedures performed in the US.
Let’s explore egg/embryo preservation, donors, and
gestational carriers
Egg or embryo preservation
Your team may suggest egg freezing. Egg freezing involves harvesting eggs from the ovaries and storing them, unfertilized, for later use. These eggs can be thawed, combined with sperm, and implanted at a later date via IVF.
Embryo freezing is also possible. Your eggs or donor eggs are combined with partner sperm or donor sperm to produce embryos. The embryos are then frozen to transfer at a later date.
Using a donor
You may use a donor egg, donor sperm, or a donated embryo as part of your fertility process. Donor eggs (retrieved from a
donor female) and donor sperm (retrieved from a donor male) can be used in creating an embryo. A donor embryo is created with both donor sperm and a donor egg.
Donor sperm may be used for IUI or IVF, while donor eggs or donor embryos are used in IVF only.
Gestational carriers
For some people or couples, additional options are considered when looking to expand their family, including gestational carriers.
With gestational carriers, someone agrees to physically carry a baby for someone else. There are 2 types of gestational carriers:
- A typical gestational carrier will carry the embryo(s) from the intended parents.
- A surrogate gestational carrier will provide the egg and carry the baby.
Prior to working with a gestational carrier, all parties may be required to undergo additional screenings.
Adoption may also be an option for you
every 25 US families
One in every 25 US families with children has an adopted child, according to the US census.
Same-sex married couples can adopt children in every state in the US.
Your treatment plan will depend on the cause(s) and duration of your fertility challenges, as well as other factors, including your age and personal preferences.
Download helpful questions about treatment options
as a printable worksheet
Treatment options worksheet
