Care for Infertility

We work with you to find answers

• For Men
  
  
• For Women
  
  
• Treatment
  
  
• Insurance and Financial Issues

The first step in achieving your dream of a baby is to find out what's causing your infertility. Remember, it's not anybody's "fault." And it's certainly not one person's problem. Infertility is always a couple's issue.

As a general rule:

• One-third of infertility is related to the man
• One-third is related to the woman
• One-third has a combination of causes—or we just don't know the cause

Some of the health factors that could contribute to your infertility are:

• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic adhesions
• Structural problems with the reproductive tract
• Polycystic ovarian disease
• Fibroids
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Age of the woman
• Shape, number and movement of sperm

Because there are so many possible causes, we test both of you. We take detailed health histories, then perform specific individual tests. Because women's reproductive systems are more complicated, there are more things we need to look for.

For Men: Problems usually relate to quantity, quality or movement of sperm. Sperm may be immature, abnormally shaped or unable to move properly. Or, normal sperm may be produced in abnormally low numbers or seemingly not at all.

These problems may be caused by many different conditions, including:

• Infectious diseases or inflammatory conditions such as mumps
• Endocrine or hormonal disorders such as Kallman's syndrome or pituitary problem
• Immunological disorders- Some men produce antibodies to their own sperm.
• Environmental and lifestyle factors
• Genetic diseases - Most are associated with sperm abnormalities, either directly or indirectly.

The goal of testing is to find out whether the man's sperm is able to fertilize the woman's egg. We conduct a thorough assessment of male fertility in our andrology laboratory. We analyze the sperm and the semen (fluid the sperm travels in) for:

• Semen volume
• Consistency and pH
• Sperm count, movement and shape

For Women: Problems often relate to ovulation, or egg production. Stress, diet, physical training or hormonal problems can cause fluctuations in ovulation. A woman with ovulation problems will have irregular menstrual periods or no periods.

The number and quality of a woman’s eggs declines as she ages. This is often a major factor for women over 35. In fact, if you are 35 or older, don't wait a year to seek help. If you have tried to get pregnant for six months without success, it's time to see a specialist.

Other causes of infertility in women are:

• Blocked fallopian tubes caused by endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Other physical conditions

Testing usually includes:

• Hormonal studies
• Ovulation tests
• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), an X-ray of the fallopian tubes and uterus

Treatment

Infertility treatment is no ordinary medical procedure. There are too many emotions involved. The best care blends progressive technology with honesty, empathy and caring. You have the best chance for success when you are relaxed and comfortable.

We offer a private setting where we treat you with respect and confidentiality. We'll help you understand your options and get answers to your questions. We're here to support you emotionally as you try to fulfill your dreams of becoming a parent.

Depending on your diagnosis, you may have a number of treatment options.

Ovulation induction—Women normally produce one egg each month. If you are having trouble producing eggs on your own, medications may help you produce several mature eggs each month. These medications may be oral or injections.

Intrauterine insemination—Sperm are specially prepared and placed directly into your uterus. This increases the chance for conception. We can do this in conjunction with ovulation medications. If you need donor sperm, we'll help you select high-quality sperm through a national sperm bank.

Fertility surgery—Our surgeons offer the highest level of expertise in reproductive pelvic surgery. In most cases, we are able to use tiny laparoscopic incisions, allowing for faster recovery and less scarring. We also perform microsurgery and laser surgery. Surgical treatments for infertility include:

• Tubal ligation reversal
• Hysteroscopic removal of fibroids
• Endometrial ablation

In vitro fertilization (IVF)—When other infertility treatments aren't an option, IVF may be able to help. We remove eggs from the woman's ovary and fertilize them with her partner's sperm in a test tube. The embryo(s) that are created are placed in the uterus.

A variation of IVF is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This can help overcome male factor infertility. Sperm are injected directly into the egg. The embryo is then transferred into the woman’s uterus.

Insurance and Financial Issues

Some plans treat infertility like any other health condition, but others do not. Your health plan may cover all, some or none of our services. We can help you determine what services your plan covers.

If your insurance doesn’t cover all the care you want or need, we have an affiliation with a local bank that provides special financing rates to our patients.

Meet Our Specialists
Click the link above for photos and information about our infertility experts.

This page last updated 11/29/10 09:54 AM