Common Reasons For ART
Even though getting pregnant might seem easy for some people, the truth is quite the opposite. The process represents a delicate balance of hormones, timing, and in some cases luck. While natural conception is always the goal, some individuals will need to turn to science to build or grow a family. When pregnancy seems out of reach, fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) are the most viable pathway for having children. While multiple treatment options exist, most will require some form of medication to boost receptivity and achieve a positive pregnancy test result.
Hormone therapy
Many fertility treatments leverage hormone therapy to help both men and women create an optimal environment for getting pregnant. Hormones aren’t just prescribed to the female partner, men may need to take medications too. For example, if a man has low testosterone, the diagnosis typically means that poor sperm quality, quantity, or even mobility might be the problem. Without support, a man couldn’t provide a semen sample for the fertility treatment. However, hormone supplementation could help to reduce estrogen, which can increase testosterone levels and ideally create a prime environment for better sperm production.
Regulating menstruation
Whether trying to conceive naturally or through fertility treatments, irregular menstrual cycles can throw a wrench in those plans. For conception, intercourse needs to be accurately timed with ovulation. Having irregular or no periods means correctly predicting ovulation is almost impossible. A first step before beginning any kind of fertility treatment, or even for a couple that wants to try to conceive naturally, is to regulate the cycle. Physicians or fertility specialists will usually recommend birth control, typically in pill form. Especially with pills, the set number of doses forces a consistent menstruation cycle, allowing specialists to document a consistent pattern. Once ovulation windows are confirmed, natural conception or even fertility treatments can be planned.
Improved egg production
Another key reason to prescribe medications is for ovarian stimulation. While more closely associated with IVF or even egg harvesting for freezing, increasing egg production may also be recommended for women undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI). By boosting hormone levels in the body, the ovaries produce multiple eggs during ovulation. However, this step is most closely associated with serious side effects like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) so monitoring is required.
Improving receptivity
Another key concern with both IUI and IVF is a problem known as endometrial receptivity. The diagnosis refers to having an endometrial or uterine lining that is outside of the recommended thickness range to support an embryo, especially during early pregnancy. When the lining is too thin or too thick, implantation is less likely to occur, and sometimes, if pregnancy does happen, miscarriage is more likely. Hormone treatments can help improve lining thickness and are timed along with ovarian stimulation. Typically, estrogen, progesterone, or even aspirin is prescribed to achieve this goal.
The right choice
Even though standard fertility treatment methods are available, those processes are customized to meet the individual needs of each patient. Some people might need a blend of ovarian stimulation and endometrial receptivity, whereas another person might not. Similarly, a woman might be told to lose weight ahead of IVF, as a correlation exists between being overweight or obese and success rates. Ultimately, the best option is to speak with a fertility specialist to determine the right course of action to start or build a family.
