Infertility

Infertility is one of the most sensitive and challenging aspect of women’s reproductive health. Infertility, according to medical experts is the condition pertaining to the inability to conceive a child within one year of trying to conceive. Even those who have met with a series of miscarriages can be categorized as infertile. Also referred to as sub-fertility, infertility can be regarded as a condition of a certain physical incompatibility which though not impossible to be treated can be an enduring process.

The causes of infertility may vary in each woman thus preventing a pregnancy from occurring or continuing. Infertility may be initiated due to any hindrance in the pregnancy process. Problems with ovulation are generally found to be the most common cause for infertility. Irregular or absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) is also familiar reason for infertility in women. A few symptoms indicating abnormality in ovulation process may to attributed to factors such as:

• Uterine Fibroids
• Blocked fallopian tubes (due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy) that prevent the egg released from the ovary to move into the uterus.
• Physical complications regarding the uterus.

Women as a preventive measure should consult their respective health care provider in arising of any of the conditions

• Iirregular or absence of menstrual periods
• Painful periods - endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Multiple cases of miscarriage

Infertility Treatment
There are many treatment options available for all types of infertility. A suitable treatment method is applicable once the diagnosis of the cause and nature of infertility is known. There can be male or female factor leading to infertility, so once the diagnosis is done, reason for infertility can be ascertained.  Also there are assisted reproductive technologies and pills to help and treat female infertility problems.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Ovulation Induction
Ovulation Induction Medications
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Egg Donors

Fertility drugs
There are few fertility drugs available on prescription as primary treatment for women who are infertile due to ovulation disorders. These medications induce ovulation or exert actions designed to work like natural follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

Commonly used fertility drugs include:

• Clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene)
• Letrozole (Femara)
• Bromocriptine
• Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG (Ovidrel, Pregnyl)
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) analogs
• Human menopausal gonadotropin, or hMG (Repronex, Pergonal)
• Follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH (Gonal-F, Follistim, Bravelle)