TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR FEMALE INFERTILITY AT A DENVER FERTILITY CENTER

Infertility affects about ten percent of couples in the United States. About one in three cases are due to female infertility factors, and about half are due to a combination of female infertility and male infertility factors. There are a number of reasons why a woman may have infertility problems.

Age affects a woman’s reproductive ability, and the chances of having a successful pregnancy decrease about three to five percent each year after the age of thirty. This reduction is much more pronounced after age forty.

Causes of female infertility

A number of factors can contribute to female infertility. These include:

• Damaged fallopian tubes that prevent sperm and egg from contacting. Fallopian damage can be caused by endometriosis, infections, or surgery.

• Hormonal imbalance can affect a woman’s ability to ovulate regularly – or at all.

• Uterine problems, such as the presence of polyps and fibroids on the uterus, can cause infertility.

• Ovarian issues including Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can cause irregular menstruation and problems with ovulation.

• Cervical causes that prevent sperm from passing through the cervical canal affect a small percentage of women.

• Unexplained infertility affects about 20% of couples.

Treatments for female infertility

Depending on the cause of infertility, there are a number of different treatments available. They include:

• Laparoscopic surgery to reconstruct reproductive organs, treat endometriosis, remove ovarian cysts, or reopen blocked tubes.

• Hysteroscopy can remove polyps and fibroids on the uterus or reopen blocked passages.

• Medications such as Clomiphene, Letrozole, or gonadotropins can help treat women who are having problems with ovulation. These medications can also help enhance fertility by causing multiple eggs to develop during ovulation. Gonadotropin is often prescribed when infertility is unexplained. Metformin is a medication that can help normalize ovulation in women who have PCOS.

• Intrauterine insemination is an outpatient procedure in which a partner or donor’s semen is collected, processed, and placed in the uterus with a catheter while the woman is ovulating.

• In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure in which a woman’s eggs are fertilized in a culture dish and then transferred to her uterus. Gonadotropin is usually prescribed with IVF to stimulated ovulation.

• Gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT) and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) are similar to IVF, in that an egg is retrieved from the woman, combined with sperm in the lab and transferred back into her fallopian tube.

• Egg donation is an option for women who are unable to produce eggs normally, but who have a normally functioning uterus and can support a pregnancy.

Rocky Mountain Fertility offers comprehensive treatment options for those dealing with infertility. Treatment is provided with a top notch fertility specialist at locations in Colorado and South Dakota.