Pregnancy May Not Be Out Of Reach
Infertility can be a very emotional and trying time for most couples. With causes ranging from genetic to medical reasons, it is very easy for it all to become too much. There are a plethora of treatment options available to help women become mothers and men become fathers. Don’t lose hope! Many couples have found successful solutions for their infertility, despite their medical conditions. Many couples have reached pregnancy despite the odds.
Early Menopause, Advanced Age, and Donor Eggs
Menopause generally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55. In cases where women enter menopause before the age of 40, known as perimenopause or premature ovarian failure, a woman’s ovaries cease production of healthy eggs. Women who enter early menopause can still become pregnant via the use of donor eggs. And since the age and health of the donor eggs are closely monitored, the rate of success is quite high.
Using IUI/IVF as a treatment for fibroids and endometriosis
Fibroids are tumors that grow in/on the uterus. Endometriosis is a condition where part of the uterine lining detaches itself and re-attaches to another organ (as opposed to leaving the body during a menstrual cycle). The detached uterine lining then continues to thicken over the coming months as the body continues to go release menstrual hormones once a month. Solutions for fibroids and endometriosis are very similar. Removal of the tumors/endometriosis tissue is sometimes necessary to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. If the tumors/tissue are not interfering with the uterus or fallopian tubes the woman can undergo IUI or IVF. Women with either fibroids or endometriosis generally have the most success with IUI or IVF.
Using genetic screening to prevent repeat miscarriages
As if infertility wasn’t hard enough, repeat miscarriages are devastating. While the causes can range from illness to genetic abnormalities, there is still the high potential for a successful pregnancy. Pre-implantation genetic screening allows for embryos created via IVF to be screened for any potential genetic abnormalities. Couples can choose to have all or only the healthiest embryos implanted. If the cause of miscarriage is due to the shape of the uterus, this can be corrected via surgery.
The male factor: it’s not only about the woman
Low sperm count and/or no ejaculation are two of the most prominent factors for male infertility. There are many treatments options such as sperm washing, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and Percutaneous Epidydimal Sperm Aspiration (PESA). Sperm washing is a method of identifying the healthiest sperm and either implanting them via Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). While IUI involves inserting a small amount of sperm into the female reproductive tract, ICSI is a form of IVF which involves fertilizing an egg with a single healthy sperm. In the case that the issues lie with no sperm being released, Percutaneous Epidydimal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) involves removing the sperm from the epididymis and identifying the healthy sperm under a microscope.
Despite the medical odds that couples may be facing, there is hope! From early menopause to male infertility factors, for almost every medical condition that said, “I can’t”, there is a story that says “I did”! Don’t stop the goal of having a family because of a roadblock. Just change the path.
