Fertility Help — Understanding Infertility Tests And Treatments
*Question: How do you test for infertility?
Before taking any fertility tests, a doctor will give you an examination to determine to what extent the infertility problem exists. The fertility specialist will generally begin with physical examinations and sexual and medical histories for both you and your partner.
After completing the medical examinations, your doctor will begin to run some tests. Generally, men undergo semen specimen tests where the sperm will be evaluated based on ejaculation volume, its shape, and its movement (or motility). There may also be a need for additional tests such as hormone tests.
For a woman, the doctor will try to determine if she is ovulating properly every month. To determine this, she will be asked to either record her temperature every morning along with cervical mucous texture or she will need to use a home ovulation test kit. You may need to take some additional tests to determine ovulation. These tests may include blood tests for determining hormone levels and ultrasound tests on 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 medicines do fertility specialists use in order to treat infertility in women?
If a woman has ovulation complications, Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. This drug is commonly used for women who may be experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders that cause ovulation problems.
The hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin is the medicine usually used by women who are not ovulatiing because of problems with pituitary glands. It acts directly on the ovaries and encourages ovulation.
A few other ovary-stimulating drugs such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) are also sometimes prescribed for women experiencing problems with infertility. These drugs generally come in the form of injections.
Metformin is generally used to treat women with high levels of male hormones that cause problems with ovulating. Sometimes it is also combined with FSH.
Also common, Bromocriptine is often prescribed for women who have problems ovulating caused by high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.
*Question: Which kinds of insurance plans cover treatment of infertility?
While you will find insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is dependent on where you live and the type of insurance policy you have. Presently, twelve states have enacted laws that require providers of insurance to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either in full or in part. The following states have enacted these laws:
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New York
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- Texas
Laws passed in the above states may differ in their scope and the items that must be covered. If you would like further 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.
Infertility expert Isabel Tagge gives expert advice on Ivf Treatment. As editor of Infertility-Tips.com, she offers infertility tips and writes Answers to Infertility Questions for PrettyGreatAnswers.com.