Infertility Treatment Options At A Glance
By Carol Andrews
There are limitless possibilities for treatment options. There are natural means for improving a couples chances of becoming pregnant, and there are medical or surgical treatment options. There are treatment methods that originate in Eastern medicine practices- and are considered alternative forms of treatment in Western medicine. So many options, how do you know what to try?
Your doctor will have recommendations for you, and what types of treatment methods might give you the best success and ultimately, help you conceive a healthy baby. Before you see a doctor, however, you may want to try some of the natural treatment methods, and some of the alternative treatment methods. These are techniques you can try at home to improve your odds and do not require drugs or surgery.
Natural and Alternative treatment methods include:
* Improving your diet and exercise
* Quitting smoking, keeping yourself away from others who smoke
* Increasing vitamin & mineral intake
* Aromatherapy oils with massage
* Acupuncture
* Herbal supplements
* Reduction of Stress
* Improving emotional, physical and mental health
* Predicting ovulation cycles, timing intercourse
Each of these treatment methods can be done at home, or through specialists (acupuncture and aromatherapy). If they are unsuccessful for you and your partner, you may seek the advice of a medical professional.
Doctors will run tests to see if there are problems with the female egg creation or problems
with the male sperm, and will likely suggest one of the following treatment options based on the results of the testing:
* Artificial Insemination
* In vitro fertilization
* Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer
* Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection
* Zygote intrafallopian transfer
* Donor eggs & sperm
* Gestational carriers (surrogate mothers)
Regardless of the treatment method that you and your doctor select, it's important that you prepare yourself emotionally and physically for the procedure. Just as important as the science behind some of the surgical treatment options are the emotions you have deep inside you- and the belief that you can in fact become pregnant and deliver a healthy baby.