Should I Consider Fertility Treatment?

It's honestly shocking that infertility affects over 15-20 million Indians every year.

To add to the weight of the statistics, there’s an emotional bit to it as well. To hear, see or experience their journey along with all its ups and downs, is to understand the pain that comes with the diagnosis.

That’s what ultimately led infertility to be classified as a disease by the WHO in 1993.

That reclassification might seem like a rather abrupt change in labels, but for many couples and individuals, it finally meant they would be able to seek infertility treatment under their insurance provider for the first time in history.

Better insurance and access also meant that people were looking for better solutions, leading to landmark innovations in the field of reproductive support.

None of this answers your question, not yet. But understanding the history and events that led to infertility treatment as we know it today, allows us to also see the future potential. And while it may not happen today, there are options to build your future family. 🤎

Ok let’s get down to it.

When should you consider infertility treatment?

By definition, if you’re unable to conceive after a year (or 6 months, if you’re 35+) of regular unprotected sex, you can seek an infertility diagnosis from a doctor which can then lead to treatment, options, etc.

However, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.

The best thing you can do to take care of your fertility is to be proactive, so if you’re noticing signs or just feeling anxious about it, there’s no harm in seeking a consultation sooner rather than later. That way, you’ll have access to more potential treatment options too.

What do treatment options for infertility look like?

Depending on the underlying causes, there’s a range of treatment options available for both men and women. Clinical treatments come with varying side effects, time of recovery, level of support needed, and invasiveness.

Whereas holistic treatments like lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, etc. can also have varying degrees of success, depending on the underlying issue. (That’s exactly what we believe at, at Arva! If you’re interested to learn more, The Arva Care Team is always available to to discuss those options, personalised for you)

Now, back to common treatment options:

Medication

Different types medication can tackle different symptoms and outcomes like stimulating egg development, triggering ovulation, enhancing implantation, boosting sperm production, etc. Overall, people have had success with using medication to adjust fluctuating hormone levels and enhance fertility. A few commonly prescribed medicines are:

1. Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) - This is a commonly prescribed oral medication that can stimulate the production of testosterone and sperm in men, and of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone), which are both responsible for ovulation in women.

2. Letrozole - Similar to Clomid, Letrozole stimulates ovulation through FSH production.

3. Metformin - Those with PCOS might be prescribed Metformin to tackle any built-up resistance to Insulin, which impacts ovulation.

4. Gonadotrophins - Gonadotropins include LH, FSH, HcG. These are fertility injectable commonly used during IVF to enhance egg production and maturation.

5. Anastrozole - Anastrozole is a type of oral medication inhibits the conversion of testosterone to Estradiol, leading to improved sperm count in hypogonadal, subfertile men.

   
   

Surgical Intervention

Fertilisation and Implantation can be hampered by any number of physical obstacles in the reproductive system like fibroids, varicocele, blocked vas deferens, endometrial polyps, blocked fallopian tubes, etc. Surgery can address these challenges effectively. Some surgical interventions such as TESA may also be needed for people undergoing IVF.

Assisted Reproduction

Any processes that might involve handling eggs, embryos, sperm, etc. externally come under assisted reproduction. IVF is one of the most commonly known methods.

1. IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization)

IVF involves the direct retrieval of mature eggs from the ovaries using a lengthy needle. The removed eggs are combined with sperm in a lab to create 1 or more embryos, ready for uterine implantation.

2. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

This procedure involves placing sperm directly into the patient’s uterus instead of their vagina (which is what usually happens during intercourse). IUI helps sperm bypass the cervix and vagina and gives them a head-start in the race towards the egg. 🥸 Nerd it out: Wondering what’s the difference between these two procedures? Learn all about IVF vs IUI here.

3. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

If there are concerns about severe male infertility, a single healthy sperm can be directly injected into a mature egg in a lab environment using ICSI.

4. IMSI (Intracytoplasmic morphological sperm injection)

IMSI is very similar to ICSI, but just has an added step before the fertilisation bit. It involves using a specialised microscope to view the sperm at 6000x magnification (Yep, you read that right!), to ensure that the sperm with the least defects is picked up for ICSI. This is usually recommended when majority of the sperm have morphological defects.

5. IVF with Donor Eggs or Sperm

If there are concerns about low egg quality/count, eggs from a donor can be collected, fertilised and implanted into the patient’s uterus. Similarly, donor sperm can also be used. Many might also opt for surrogacy, wherein the fertilised egg is carried to term by a surrogate.

Fertility testing made easier- with Arva

Regardless of the outcome, receiving an infertility diagnosis or just suspecting that something is wrong can feel overwhelming.

But we hope you can see that it’s not the end of your journey toward conception. Infertility treatment is being used successfully by millions of people across the world today.

We get it, taking the first step can be daunting. But you can get started with something as simple as a fertility test. This can be the start to understanding your body in a more holistic manner when trying to conceive.

And remember, having an understanding support team on your side helps (count us in too!)

You’ve got this🤎

TL;DR:

• If you’re unable to conceive after a year of regular unprotected sex, you can seek an infertility diagnosis from a doctor which can then lead to treatment, options, etc.

• But if you’re noticing signs or just feeling anxious about it, there’s no harm in seeking a consultation sooner rather than later.

• There are a range of treatment options available for both men and women which fall under:

  • Medication - Can be used to tackle hormonal imbalances or to stimulate processes

  • Surgical Intervention - Can be used to remove any physical barriers to conception like fibroids or blockages

  • Reproductive Assistance