Fertility Treatments 101 – Types, Steps, and Cost [INFOGRAPHICS]
Male and female infertility is a problem that is relevant throughout the world. According to statistics, every fifth couple faces the inability to conceive a child. Therefore, more than 50 million couples of reproductive age require the use of assisted reproductive technologies. Unfortunately, the number of infertile couples is growing every year. Luckily, modern fertility treatments are allowing us to resolve almost every issue. Let’s overview them as well as their types, steps, and cost of medications in different countries.
What Is Infertility?
Infertility is the inability to conceive a child after a year of regular unprotected sex. If pregnancy does not occur within 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without contraception, a couple should contact a specialist and start the examination. Patients over 35 years old should consult a specialist after six months of unsuccessful attempts to become pregnant. The sooner a reproductologist determines the cause of infertility, the higher the chances are of a long-awaited pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Forms of Infertility
Infertility can arise due to the health problems in both women and men. Male infertility is the reason for the inability to get pregnant in 46–48% of couples. The indicator of female infertility is slightly higher and amounts to 52–54%.
There are also cases of combined infertility. In this case, both partners have problems that do not allow them to conceive a child. Reproductive dysfunction in both partners occurs in 30% of cases.
A certain percentage accounts for infertility of an unclear genesis. No study can determine why pregnancy can’t occur.
Why Can’t I Get Pregnant – Causes of Infertility
The World Health Organization has identified 22 causes of female and 18 causes of male infertility. Ovulation disorders can cause infertility in women. Other reasons include absence or obstruction of the fallopian tubes, uterine tumors, inflammatory diseases of the female genital area after infections or unsuccessful abortions, various metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, etc.), as well as the age.
In men, frequent causes of infertility are hormonal or genetic disorders, obstruction of the vas deferens due to acute and chronic sexually transmitted infections, etc.
Fertility Treatments
Very often, male and female infertility is just a temporary inability to conceive a child. In recent years, fertility treatments for women and men have been developing so intensively that they can help even in the most challenging cases. But each pair goes its path to the desired result. Sunshine IVF can go this way with you! We will make sure that you feel calm and comfortable in our medical centers, receive professional help, and advice. Here are the most effective known fertility treatments.
Hormonal Stimulation
Doctors prescribe hormones to stimulate a woman’s ovaries. It is the most effective fertility treatment for PCOS.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Specialists deliver washed sperm to the uterus, where fertilization takes place. IUI is the best fertility treatment for women with a hostile uterus and an effective conception way for men with low sperm motility.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization takes place outside of the woman’s body. During the first step of this fertility treatment, doctors retrieve the eggs of the intended parent or use donor eggs. Secondly, they fertilize eggs that grow into embryos in a laboratory. Thirdly, they transform embryos into the woman’s uterine cavity, where pregnancy starts.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI works the same,e way as traditional IVF. The only difference is that doctors inject single selected spermatozoid into the oocyte. This fertility treatment is the best choice for patients with ejaculation problems, low sperm quality, or quantity.
Fertility Treatments Cost
Medical fertility treatments cost will depend on the medications prescribed by the doctor. Meanwhile, one visit to the gynecologist will cost you around $50-$125.
Surgical female fertility treatments are considered one of the most effective and, at the same time, affordable. Prices for laparoscopy range from $4000 to $10000. An average hysteroscopy cost is $550 to $3500. In both cases, the cost will depend on the type of operation that you have to take.
Those who wish to receive psychological fertility treatment can count on the qualified help of a psychotherapist, which can be found in many clinics. In this case, a specialist consultation will cost $50-$125 per session.
In vitro fertilization has also become quite affordable today. The cost of this procedure ranges from $3600 to $15000. At the same time, some clinics are ready to offer their customers significant discounts. Moreover, they offer free first consultation of a gynecologist-reproductologist, which is a great way to choose and plan the appropriate fertility treatment.
Compared with IVF, the cost of intrauterine insemination is lower – about $500-$100. This is primarily due to the fact that during this procedure, patients do not require expensive medications.
The cost for egg donation depends on the donor choice, number of oocytes, their quality, as well as other details of the procedure. Meanwhile, the average egg donor IVF cycle costs $6000 – $15000.
IVF Is the Only Effective Method for These Cases
- Fully or partially blocked fallopian tubes.
- A severe male factor of infertility – Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), cryptozoospermia, azoospermia.
- Diminished ovarian reserve.
- Genetic pathology in parents requiring Preimplantation Genetic Diagnostics (PGD).
Fertility Treatments Statistics for IVF
- More than 5 million children in the world have been born as a result of IVF.
- The average success rate of the 1st IVF cycle is 45%, for some patients, it reaches 70% for one treatment cycle.
- Annually more than 1 million women undergo infertility treatment with IVF.
- The possibility of twins is 30% when transferring more than one embryo into the uterine cavity.
IVF Fertility Treatments Facts
- IVF does not lead to the reduction of a woman’s ovarian reserve.
- Children born as a result of the IVF program are as healthy as when conceived naturally.
- Conception by IVF does not affect the ability to conceive independently in the future.
Infertility Treatment Steps for IVF
The IVF program lasts three weeks and requires 5-6 visits to the clinic.
- First step – ovarian stimulation;
- Second step – oocyte collection via ovarian puncture;
- Third step – oocyte fertilization in a petri dish;
- Fifth step – embryo cultivation and growth;
- Sixth step – embryo transfer into the uterine cavity.
All procedures are as comfortable as possible for the patient. You can know the results in two weeks after the embryo transfer.
How to Start Your Fertility Treatment?
Sign up for a free first consultation with a reproductologist using the contact form or by calling the information center at +1 213 423 0531
You can find and share the full infographics below. We hope that it will be helpful and show you all the necessary information about fertility treatments. Be healthy with Sunshine, we are always here to help you!
