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Infertility In Practice: Reproductive Medicine And Assisted Reproductive

Julian Powell

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Published in Infertility In Practice (Reproductive Medicine And Assisted Reproductive Techniques Series)

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Infertility in Practice (Reproductive Medicine and Assisted Reproductive Techniques Series)

by Adam H Balen

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	49663 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	516 pages

What is infertility?

Infertility is the inability to conceive a child after one year of regular unprotected intercourse. It affects approximately 10-15% of couples worldwide.

There are many different factors that can contribute to infertility, including:

Age
Weight
Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Drug use
Environmental factors
Medical conditions
Genetic disorders

Reproductive medicine

Reproductive medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Reproductive endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in reproductive medicine. They can help couples identify the cause of their infertility and recommend the best course of treatment.

There are a variety of reproductive medicine treatments available, including:

Ovulation induction: This treatment helps women who are not ovulating regularly to ovulate. It can be done with medication or surgery.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This treatment involves placing sperm directly into the uterus. It can be done with the woman's own partner's sperm or with donor sperm.
In vitro fertilization (IVF): This treatment involves fertilizing an egg in the laboratory and then transferring the embryo into the uterus. IVF can be done with the woman's own eggs and partner's sperm, or with donor eggs or sperm.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): This treatment involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg. ICSI is often used for couples who have severe male factor infertility.
Surrogacy: This treatment involves another woman carrying and giving birth to a baby for a couple who is unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves.
Egg donation: This treatment involves using eggs from a donor to fertilize with the partner's sperm. Egg donation is often used for women who have poor egg quality or who are unable to produce eggs themselves.
Sperm donation: This treatment involves using sperm from a donor to fertilize the woman's eggs. Sperm donation is often used for couples who have male factor infertility.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART)

ART refers to the use of medical techniques to help couples conceive. ART treatments can be used to overcome a variety of fertility problems, including:

Tubal factor infertility
Ovulatory disorders
Male factor infertility
Unexplained infertility

ART treatments have helped millions of couples conceive and have a child. However, it is important to remember that ART treatments are not always successful. The success rate of ART treatments depends on a number of factors, including the age of the woman, the cause of infertility, and the type of treatment used.

The emotional impact of infertility

Infertility can have a devastating impact on the emotional well-being of couples. It can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. Couples may also experience financial stress and relationship problems.

It is important for couples who are struggling with infertility to seek support. There are many resources available to help couples cope with the emotional challenges of infertility, including support groups, counseling, and online forums.

Hope for the future

Infertility is a challenging experience, but there is hope. Reproductive medicine and ART treatments have helped millions of couples conceive and have a child. If you are struggling with infertility, talk to your doctor about your options. There is help available.

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