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What is Infertility? How Can Infertility be Treated?

Whether people are becoming more vocal about infertility or because many of us have witnessed friends, family, or our self struggle with it, infertility seems to be more common than ever. A statistic from Mayo Clinic found that a substantial 10-15% of couples who are trying to conceive experienced infertility. Fortunately, many couples that struggle with infertility are able to have a child through reproductive assistance. If you have recently been diagnosed with infertility, you are not alone and there are many options to explore that can help you achieve a healthy, happy pregnancy! As part of National Infertility Awareness Week, Park Avenue Fertility is dedicated to helping our patients understand infertility and the treatment options that can help you best it.

What is Infertility?
There are many causes of infertility. In most cases, infertility is determined once a couple has failed to become pregnant after a year of unprotected sex. Infertility can be due to you, your partner, or a blend of causes that result in infertility. Some of the more common causes of infertility include:

  • Ovulation disorders, including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), hypothalamic dysfunction, too much prolactin, and premature ovarian insufficiency are responsible for nearly 25% of infertility.
  • Low sperm count or poor sperm quality accounts for one third of infertility.
  • Cervical or uterine issues such as benign polyps or tumors, endometriosis, an abnormally shaped uterus, cervical narrowing, or poor cervix mucus can prevent implantation or even result in a miscarriage.
  • Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic tuberculosis, or by a previous surgery in the abdomen or pelvis.
  • Endometriosis can cause scarring which can block fallopian tubes or disrupt implantation.
  • Unexplained infertility is diagnosed if there is no clear cause of infertility. Occasionally, unexplained infertility corrects itself over time.

 

Infertility Treatments
Infertility is becoming increasingly more treatable. Many patients of Park Avenue Fertility are able to successfully achieve pregnancy and go on to have a healthy child with the help of our Connecticut fertility center. Infertility treatments may involve:

  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) works by stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs which are removed, fertilized, and then (in many cases) tested for chromosomal abnormalities. Embryos are then implanted into the patient and/or frozen for a later procedure. View Park Avenue Fertility’s impressive IVF success rates.
  • Ovulation Induction helps patients who do not regularly ovulate to grow and develop a single egg. Blood tests and ultrasounds help track the development of the egg.
  • During Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment the patient is given medication to help develop a single or multiple eggs.
    Once ovulation takes place a semen sample is prepared and injected through a soft catheter into the uterine cavity. Some patients may require multiple IUIs before experiencing a success.
  • Egg donation is ideal for patients who cannot use their own eggs due to genetics, egg quality, or severe tubal damage.
  • Traditional and gestational surrogacy is another option for patients who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term. During traditional surrogacy the surrogate becomes pregnant using the sperm of the father and her own eggs. During gestational surrogacy, the couple undergoes IVF to create embryos, which are then implanted into the surrogate.

 

Additional treatment options include advanced laparoscopy surgery, treatment for recurrent miscarriages, and treatment of endocrine disorders. As medicine advances, treatment for infertility continues to improve. At Park Avenue Fertility we provide the most personal, innovative one-on-one care available. We are dedicated to helping you achieve your goal of pregnancy. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Andrew Levi at one of our Fairfield, Norwalk, or Trumbull offices, call us at 855-901-BABY.