As a woman, you have many options when it comes to fertility treatments. With so many choices, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Here’s a look at some of the most popular fertility treatments and what the research says about their effectiveness.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI):
IUI is a popular fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside the uterus. IUI can be done with or without fertility drugs. There is some evidence that IUI may be more effective when done with fertility drugs. One study found that IUI with fertility drugs resulted in a pregnancy rate of 26% per cycle, while IUI without fertility drugs resulted in a pregnancy rate of 12% per cycle. However, other studies have found that IUI is no more effective than no treatment at all. One large study found that IUI did not increase the chances of pregnancy in women who were not using fertility drugs.
In vitro fertilization:
IVF is a complex and expensive treatment, but it is often the most effective Women’s Fertility treatment available. The success rate of IVF depends on many factors, but it is generally high. One large study found that the live birth rate for IVF was 40% per cycle in women under 35 years old. The success rate decreased with age, but was still relatively high in women over 40 years old, with a live birth rate of 18% per cycle. IVF is not always successful the first time, but many couples are able to have a baby with IVF after multiple cycles.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI):
ICSI is a variation of IVF that is often used when the man has a low sperm count. ICSI involves injecting a single sperm into an egg. The fertilized egg is then implanted in the uterus.
- ICSI is a complex and expensive treatment, but it is often the most effective fertility treatment available for couples with a male factor infertility problem.
- One large study found that the live birth rate for ICSI was 37% per cycle in women under 35 years old. The success rate decreased with age, but was still relatively high in women over 40 years old, with a live birth rate of 20% per cycle.
- Like IVF, ICSI is not always successful the first time, but many couples are able to have a baby with ICSI after multiple cycles.
Fertility drugs:
Fertility drugs are often used in conjunction with other fertility treatments, such as IUI and IVF. Fertility drugs can be used to stimulate ovulation or to improve the quality of eggs. The most common fertility drugs are clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins. Clomiphene citrate is a pill that is taken orally. Gonadotropins are injections that are given subcutaneously. There is some evidence that fertility drugs may increase the chances of pregnancy in women with fertility problems. One large study found that fertility drugs increased the live birth rate in women with ovulation disorders from 9% to 25%. However, another large study found that fertility drugs did not increase the live birth rate in women with unexplained infertility.
Conclusion:
Fertility treatments are often expensive and complex, but they can be very effective. If you are having trouble conceiving, talk to your doctor about the best fertility treatment for you.