Infertility Tips: Understanding Treatment And Test For Infertility
The first thing that will happen is that a doctor will give you an examination to rule out initial fertility problems. It will generally begin with a physical exam and sexual and medical histories for both you and your partner.
Once the physical examinations have been completed, your doctor will run some tests. Generally, men undergo semen specimen tests where the sperm will be evaluated based on its quantity per ejaculation, its shape, and its movement (or motility). Sometimes, other tests are also conducted such as hormone tests.
For a woman, the doctor will try to determine if she is ovulating properly every month. To determine this, she can either record her temperature every morning along with cervical mucous texture or she will need to use a home ovulation test kit. Checking ovulation may also require some other tests. These tests may include blood tests for determining hormone levels and ultrasound tests to check the 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 fertility drugs are used to treat infertility in women?
If a woman is having problems with ovulation, the medication Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. It is commonly used for women who are experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders causing problems with ovulation.
The hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin is the drug most often used by women who do not ovulate because of pituitary gland problems. The drug acts directly on the ovaries to encourage ovulation.
In addition, other ovary-stimulating drugs such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) are also sometimes prescribed for women with fertility problems. These medications generally come in the form of injections.
Metformin is often used to treat women who have high levels of male hormones which interfere with ovulation. Sometimes it is also combined with FSH.
Another commonly prescribed medicine, Bromocriptine is often prescribed for women having complications with ovulation caused by high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.
*Question: Do most insurance plans cover treatments I need for infertility?
Even though there are insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is generally dependent on where you live and the type of insurance policy you have. Presently, already 12 states have enacted laws that require providers of insurance to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either in full or in part. Those states that have passed such laws include:
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New York
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- Texas
The laws enacted in each state may differ in their scope and the items that must be covered. If you need more information regarding insurance coverage on the treatment and diagnosis of infertility, you can go to the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and click on the State Infertility Insurance Laws link.
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.This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_479221_27.html
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