Answers From An Infertility Expert... Understanding How Infertility Tests and Treatments Work

Infertility Tips... Getting to Know Infertility Treatment Possiblities

*Question: How is infertility tested?

First, you will receive an examination to determine the presence of infertility. The fertility specialist usually starts with physical examinations and sexual and medical histories for both you and your partner.

Once the physical examinations have been completed, your physician will run a few tests. Generally, men undergo semen specimen tests where the sperm will be evaluated based on ejaculation quantity, its shape, and its movement (or motility). There may also be a need for additional tests such as hormone tests.

For a woman, the doctor will try to try to determine whether or not she is ovulating properly every month. To determine this, she can either record her temperature every morning and her cervical mucous texture or she will need to use a home ovulation test kit. Additional ovulation testing may be necessary. These tests may include blood tests for determining hormone levels and ultrasound tests for determing the health of the ovaries.

*Question: Can my infertility be treated?

Treatment for infertility depends on the physical examination and test results. In most cases, 85 to 90 percent of infertility cases are treated with prescription drugs or surgery.

There are several different fertility drugs that can be taken by women having ovulation problems. However, it is essential that you speak with your physician and let him prescribe the right drugs for your situation. He is the best person to explain to you the possible side effects as well as the possible benefits.

Surgery can be done in cases where fertility problems are caused by damage or other problems in the reproductive organs of either the man or the woman.

*Question: What kinds of medicines do doctors use for treatment of infertility in women?

If a woman is experiencing ovulation problems, the drug Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. Clomiphene Citrate is often used for women who are experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders causing problems with ovulation.

The hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin is the medicine generally used by women who do not ovulate due to pituitary gland problems. hMG acts directly on the ovaries to help stimulate ovulation.

Other ovary medications such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) may also be prescribed for women experiencing problems with infertility. These medicines usually come in the form of injections.

Metformin is also commonly used to treat women with high levels of male hormones that cause problems with ovulation. It is common for Metformin to be combined with FSH.

Another common fertility drug, Bromocriptine is often prescribed for women having ovulation problems caused by high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactation and producing milk.

*Question: Do most insurance plans cover treatment of infertility?

While you will find insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is dependent on where you are from and your insurance policy. Presently, there are 12 states that have enacted laws that require providers of insurance to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either in full or in part. These states are:

- Arkansas

- California

- Connecticut

- Hawaii

- Illinois

- Maryland

- Massachusetts

- Montana

- New York

- Ohio

- Rhode Island

- Texas

Laws passed in each of these states may differ in their reach and the items that must be covered. If you need additional information regarding insurance coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment, look up the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and click on the State Infertility Insurance Laws link.

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