Infertility Tips -- Finding Answers For Infertility Treatment Possiblities
Isabel Tagge
*Question: How do you test for infertility?
First, a doctor will give you an examination to rule out initial fertility problems. The fertility specialist usually starts with physical examinations and sexual and medical histories for both you and your partner.
Once the physical examinations have been completed, your physician will begin to run some tests. It is general procedure for men to undergo semen specimen tests where the sperm will be evaluated based on ejaculation quantity, its shape, and its movement (or motility). There may also be a need for additional tests such as hormone tests.
For a woman, the physician will try to try to determine whether or not she is ovulating properly every month. To determine this, she will need to either record her temperature every morning and her cervical mucous texture or she will need to use a home ovulation test kit. There may be some additional tests to check for ovulation. These tests may include blood tests to determine hormone levels and ultrasound tests for checking ovaries.
*Question: Can my infertility be treated?
Treatment for infertility depends on the physical examination and test results. In most cases, 85 to 90 percent of infertility cases are treated with prescription drugs or surgery.
There are several different fertility drugs that can be taken by women having ovulation problems. However, it is essential that you speak with your physician and let him prescribe the right drugs for your situation. He is the best person to explain to you the possible side effects as well as the possible benefits.
Surgery can be done in cases where fertility problems are caused by damage or other problems in the reproductive organs of either the man or the woman.
*Question: What kinds of medicines are used for treating infertility in women?
If a woman is having problems with ovulation, the medication Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. It is common for this drug to be used for women who are experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders that inhibit ovulation.
The hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin is the drug usually used by women who are not ovulatiing due to pituitary gland problems. It acts directly on the ovaries to help stimulate ovulation.
Additional medications for the ovaries such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) may also be prescribed for women with fertility problems. These medications usually come in the form of injections.
Metformin is often used to treat women with high levels of male hormones which interfere with ovulating. It is common for Metformin to be combined with FSH.
Also common, Bromocriptine is often prescribed for women having complications with ovulation caused by high levels of prolactin. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates mild production in lactating women.
*Question: Do insurance plans cover treatment of infertility?
Even though there are insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is usually dependent on where you are from and your insurance policy. At the time of this writing, already 12 states have enacted laws requiring insurance providers to cover some degree of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either fully or partially. These states are:
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New York
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- Texas
The laws enacted in the above states may differ in their reach and the types of things that must be covered. For additional information regarding insurance coverage on infertility diagnosis and treatment, look up the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and click on the State Infertility Insurance Laws link.
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About The Author
Isabel Tagge, a infertility specialist, gives expert advice on Infertility Insurance Coverage. As editor of Infertility-Tips.com, she offers infertility tips and writes Infertility Questions and Answers for PrettyGreatAnswers.com.
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