When You Are Trying To Have A Baby: Understanding How Infertility Treatments Work

If you have been trying to have a baby with your partner for about a year and you haven't had success, it might be time to talk with an infertility specialist. If you are young and otherwise healthy, it may simply take you and your partner a little more time to get pregnant. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the best time for a woman to be pregnant is in her 20s. By the age of 30, a woman has a 20% chance of getting pregnant every month that she attempts to. By the time a woman reaches 40, she is only likely to get pregnant 5% of the time. But with advances in reproductive medicine, these numbers don't have to mean a childless future.

Ovulation Slows Down Way Before Menopause Occurs

Ovulation is when an egg is released by the ovary and sent down into the uterus to be fertilized. Fertility specialists can prescribe medications that will stimulate follicle production in an attempt to help the woman produce viable eggs. The eggs can then be retrieved by the physician under local anesthesia and fertilized in the lab to produce embryos. While this may not be your first step when it comes to treatment for your fertility, this is a common procedure done for many couples struggling with fertility.

What Happens Once Embryos Are Created

Embryos that are fertilized in the lab are kept safe until your physician is ready to transfer an embryo into the uterus of the female partner. The transfer can occur within a few days of the egg harvest, as embryos are going to grow best when in the uterus of the female. With many couples, transferring a viable embryo into the uterus is successful, as the creation of the embryo in the first place is the main hurdle to pregnancy. When you have healthy sperm and healthy eggs, this step is usually successful.

Sometimes the Problem Is With Sperm Motility

Sometimes it's the male partner who has a low sperm count or sperm that doesn't swim well. If the sperm are alive, the lab may be able to fertilize the viable eggs using the ICSI procedure. This process takes an individual sperm and injects it directly into the egg to fertilize it. This can result in successful embryos that can then be transferred.

If you are trying to have a baby and are ready to try infertility treatments, it's time to talk with a specialist who can help you. For more information, contact local professionals like Missouri Center for Reproductive Medicine.

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