Which fertility treatment is most effective

The National Infertility Association has more information on surrogacy-friendly states. Insurance coverage for fertility treatments can vary dramatically depending both on your employer and where you live. Nineteen states have passed fertility insurance coverage laws with 13 of those including IVF coverage , but how this plays out in actually helping you pay for your treatment is complicated. Which treatments must be covered and who must qualify for coverage is different in each state.

The National Infertility Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for fertility rights, can help you navigate coverage in your state. The good news, says Dr. Omurtag, is that more employers are realizing the importance of providing fertility treatment benefits, and more employees have become comfortable asking for them. Employee-led letter-writing campaigns to ask for fertility coverage have been successful at some employers, he adds.

Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional. Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards.

To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. Marissa Conrad, a freelance journalist based in New York, is the former features editor at Natural Health magazine. Her recent work includes stories on plant-based meat, wellness-branded beverages and how to get a better night's sleep.

Select Region. United States. United Kingdom. Health family. Advertiser Disclosure. By Marissa Conrad. Medically Reviewed Dr. Commissions we earn from partner links on this page do not affect our opinions or evaluations. Our editorial content is based on thorough research and guidance from the Forbes Health Advisory Board. Know Your Numbers Check your levels from the comfort of your own home.

What Are Fertility Treatments? Who Might Need a Fertility Treatment? This evaluation typically involves: A review of your medical history A physical exam A pelvic exam Bloodwork analyzing for health or hormonal abnormalities An x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes called an HSG A sonogram looking at the uterus and ovaries Patients who are candidates for fertility treatments may have: Polycystic ovary syndrome Endometriosis Blocked fallopian tubes Low egg count Unexplained infertility Your sperm-providing partner will also undergo a fertility evaluation to assess the health and motility of their sperm.

Featured Partners. References Infertility FAQs. Indian J Med Res. Should my partner and I get tested for infertility?. Planned Parenthood. Oocyte or embryo donation to women of advanced reproductive age: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertil Steril. Fibroids or polyps inside the uterine cavity can interfere with implantation and removing them can restore fertility.

Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes can also cause infertility. An x-ray test called a hysterosalpingogram is often used to determine if the fallopian tubes are normal. Women who are overweight or underweight may ovulate less frequently and this can contribute to trouble conceiving. Women who are underweight can also see a return of regular menstrual cycles with weight gain. Polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in reproductive aged women and many women with PCOS also experience problems with ovulation.

A common treatment for women with irregular ovulation is ovulation induction OI. With OI treatment, a woman takes an oral medication, like clomid or letrozole , and then may have an ultrasound to determine how the ovaries responded to the medication. OI can be combined with intercourse timed around expected ovulation or coordinated with an intrauterine insemination IUI procedure. The same medications used for OI can be used for superovulation in women who ovulate regularly, but are having difficulty conceiving.

Clomid or letrozole treatment in ovulatory women will usually stimulate two to four eggs to develop. IUI has a very different price point. Medication adds another cost. Learn more about the cost of fertility treatment. But we can look at general statistics for comparison. An unmedicated IUI cycle has virtually no side effects; the risk of infection from the IUI itself is about 1 in 10, The side effects of Clomid are typically mild.

Other less common side effects include bloating, nausea, breast tenderness, weight changes, headaches, blurry vision, and mood swings. Common side effects include hot flashes, headaches, and breast tenderness. The medication protocol with the highest chance of side effects are injectable gonadotropins FSH such as Follistim and Gonal-F. About a quarter to a third of patients on injectable FSH will experience side effects, including headaches, mood swings, insomnia, hot or cold flashes, breast tenderness, bloating, or mild fluid retention.

Additionally, the injection site could become sore, red, or slightly bruised. Again, these side effects should resolve without additional care after the cycle is over. OHSS is associated with swollen, enlarged ovaries and the collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Surgical procedures There are several types of surgical procedures that may be used to investigate fertility problems and help with fertility. Fallopian tube surgery If your fallopian tubes have become blocked or scarred, you may need surgery to repair them.

The success of surgery will depend on the extent of the damage to your fallopian tubes. Endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS Endometriosis is when parts of the womb lining start growing outside the womb. This involves using either heat or a laser to destroy part of the ovary.

Read more about laparoscopy. Correcting an epididymal blockage and surgery to retrieve sperm The epididymis is a coil-like structure in the testicles that helps store and transport sperm. Surgical extraction of sperm may be an option if you: have an obstruction that prevents the release of sperm were born without the tube that drains the sperm from the testicle vas deferens have had a vasectomy or a failed vasectomy reversal Both operations take a few hours and are done under local anaesthetic as outpatient procedures.

You'll be advised on the same day about the quality of the tissue or sperm collected. Any sperm will be frozen and placed in storage for use at a later stage. Assisted conception Intrauterine insemination IUI Intrauterine insemination IUI , also known as artificial insemination, involves inserting sperm into the womb via a thin plastic tube passed through the cervix. Read more about IUI. Read more about IVF. Egg and sperm donation If you or your partner has an infertility problem, you may be able to receive eggs or sperm from a donor to help you conceive.