Fertility services refer to various medical treatments and procedures to help individuals and couples overcome infertility and conceive a child. These services can include ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Your San Diego director of fertility services, president, may recommend fertility services for various reasons, such as age-related infertility, hormonal imbalances, male factor infertility, genetic disorders, or unexplained infertility.
Intrauterine insemination
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves placing sperm directly into your uterus to increase the chances of fertilization. This treatment aims to increase the number of sperm that reach your fallopian tubes and increase the likelihood of fertilization. IUI is effective in cases with mild to moderate male, unexplained, or cervical factor infertility.
Before the procedure, your doctor may prescribe medication to stimulate ovulation and increase the number of eggs released. Your partner then provides a semen sample, which the team washes and prepares to concentrate the sperm. They then place concentrated sperm directly into your uterus using a catheter. After the procedure, you may need to rest briefly before resuming normal activities.
HSG
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) helps identify potential issues that may impact your ability to conceive. During an HSG procedure, your Gen 5 Fertility provider injects a special dye into your cervix, which then flows into the uterus and fallopian tubes. They then take X-rays as the dye moves through your reproductive system, which can help identify any blockages or other abnormalities that may be present. HSG is a non-invasive procedure that can be performed in an outpatient setting. It is typically done in the first half of a woman’s menstrual cycle, as it requires that the woman is not pregnant. HSG can help diagnose fertility issues, including blockages in the fallopian tubes, uterine abnormalities such as fibroids or polyps, and structural problems such as a septate uterus.
In vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves combining an egg with sperm in a Petri dish to create an embryo. Your provider then transfers the embryo into your uterus. IVF can treat various fertility issues, including fallopian tube damage, ovulation disorders, male infertility, and unexplained infertility. It is also effective in cases where other fertility treatments have failed.
The technique typically involves several steps, including egg retrieval to collect mature eggs from your ovaries, fertilization of the eggs with sperm in a laboratory dish, and embryo transfer into the uterus. Additional procedures, like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), may be necessary in male infertility cases.
Ovulation induction
Ovulation induction increases the chances of pregnancy for women who are having difficulty ovulating. This treatment involves taking medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce one or more eggs, which can then be fertilized by sperm. The medications can include oral or injections that you must take for five to ten days at the beginning of your menstrual cycle. During this time, your doctor will monitor you to determine when ovulation will likely occur and may give you additional medications to trigger ovulation.
If you are struggling with infertility, call the Gen 5 Fertility office or book your spot online for diagnosis and treatment.