Talking About Infertility

Infertility issues are becoming a more common topic of discussion, which is a good thing. Just a few years ago mainstream news sources noted that many couples struggled with infertility in silence. Infertility problems have always existed but now there’s less stigma surrounding the conversation. For couples that are dealing with infertility this could be the difference between starting a family or forgoing the experience all together.

Confronting fertility issues is the healthier, more productive option. Once you start embracing the reality you’ll realize you aren’t alone. According to the CDC 12% of women have difficulty getting pregnant. Understanding that many others are going through the same thing can help you mentally cope with the situation. Opening up and talking about it with others that are also experiencing fertility problems can provide an invaluable support system when you need it most.

The stress of not being able to conceive can actually lower your chances of getting pregnant. Instead of letting the situation get the best of you, and decreasing your odds of having a child, it’s time to start looking at viable alternatives to traditional conception.

Surrogacy

There are a number of reasons why a woman can’t conceive. Sometimes her eggs are perfectly fine, however other issues within the reproductive system prevent the egg from being fertilized and implanting.

When this is the case there is often no way for a woman to become pregnant. However, her eggs can still be used and conception can occur with the help of a surrogate mother.

Surrogacy using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a viable solution for couples that are experiencing fertility issues due to:

• Medical conditions that put a woman’s life at risk during pregnancy
• Absence, loss or damage of reproductive organ(s)
• Hysterectomy (without removal of ovaries)
• Tubal Ligation
• Blood disorders
• Heart conditions
• Unexplained infertility

Surrogacy can also be done using a donor egg if the woman isn’t able to produce eggs or the egg quality prevents fertilization. This option is also popular among gay male couples that want a biological child in lieu of adopting.

Using a Donor Egg

The reverse of using a surrogate mother can also be the case. If a woman doesn’t have viable eggs, but can physically carry a child they can become the surrogate themselves.

The donated egg is fertilized with a man’s sperm (presumably your partner) to create an embryo. The embryo is then implanted in the woman’s uterus by way of in-vitro fertilization. Recently there have been some amazing discoveries for women that decide to go this route. Researchers in Spain found that DNA is passed on to a child by the woman who is carrying the child, even if a donated egg was used.

The uterus fluid contains DNA material. During pregnancy the genetic material can influence the development of the baby. This is fantastic news for infertile women who are hesitant to use an egg donor because they believe they won’t have a genetic connection. However, it also increases the need for finding the best surrogate mother possible if you use surrogacy to conceive.

Artificial Insemination

Artificial Insemination (AI) has actually been around since the 1700s. It’s a procedure that involves manual semen insertion into the uterus by a physician during a woman’s ovulation cycle. The ovulation can be natural or it can be medically enhanced if a woman’s is having difficulty ovulating naturally.

Infertility Treatments

Depending on the issue, including the 20% of cases that involve unexplained infertility, fertility treatments could help you conceive. Each year over 1 million women enlist the help of fertility specialists for this very reason.

Today there are a number of treatments that can be used based on the fertility issue. Some of the more common fertility treatments for women include:

• In-vitro fertilization using the woman’s egg and her partner’s sperm.
• Hormone therapy. This can also be used for men that are experiencing fertility issues due to hormone imbalances.
• Medications that stimulate ovulation.
• Surgery to repair fallopian tubes or remove a blockage.
• Surgery that removes endometriosis patches.
• Surgery that removes uterine scarring, fibroids and/or polyps.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI). This is also an option when men have fertility issues.

However, treatments can be extremely expensive and there’s no guarantee they’ll actually work. The overall success rate of fertility treatments is about 50%. If the problem involves ovulation issues the success rate is slightly better.

The older a woman is the lower the chances are of IVF working. Estimates at a Spanish fertility clinic show that it’s 20 times harder for women 44 and older to get pregnant through IVF compared to a woman that’s 39 or younger. That’s one reason why specialists stress that women over 35 should enlist the help of a fertility specialist after just 6 months of trying without conceiving.

Adoption

If all else fails adoption can be a wonderful alternative way of becoming a parent. There are millions of children across the world who are looking for loving parents. Without people who are willing to adopt they’ll grow up without a family.

Today there is no “normal” when it comes to families. Our culture has become much more open to the idea that family goes beyond a biological connection. You will still be a child’s parent whether or not they have your DNA.