University Healthcare: Infertility

University Healthcare: Infertility

Up to 10 percent of couples experience infertility, and individuals who are unable to conceive go through a mixture of emotions such as feeling a loss of control and self-esteem, fear, embarrassment, frustration, resentment, depression and hopelessness. Matt Peterson, M.D., Clinical OB/GYN and Infertility Expert from the University of Utah Health Care, points out options.


After pregnancy hasn’t been achieved within a year (12 months)…

· A woman may feel comfortable beginning the evaluation with her OB/GYN, where they may conduct a basic evaluation. The assessment will determine if the woman’s uterus is normal, whether the tubes are open, how ovulation is working and order a semen analysis.

· After six months of treatment attempts with an OB/GYN and no results, the couple may look into seeing a reproductive endocrinologist.

Helping families grow…

· The fertility experts at University of Utah Health Care’s Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine (UCRM) offer every known effective fertility therapy possible including in vitro fertilization (IVF).

· IVF is not the only treatment option. The UCRM customizes a course of action for each individual family, sometimes offering fertility treatments, artificial insemination, sperm or egg donors, and the option for gestational surrogacy.

· As a national leader in infertility, the UCRM’s success rates are typically between 50 and 60 percent depending on the treatment and the age of the woman.

· Currently the UCRM has two studies underway: the Endo and the Eager studies. Both are studying ways to carry out pregnancies for couple’s struggling with infertility.

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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Process

· The first step in IVF is helping a woman’s body produce multiple eggs each month by injecting hormones. These hormones will also help in starting the process of ovulation.

· From there on out the woman will be tested to determine the right time the eggs must be retrieved. It is important to have proper time or the eggs will not develop normally.

· After determining the right time the eggs will be removed, sterilized and kept in a laboratory to ensure optimal growth.

· Once the embryos are ready, the doctor will place one or more back into the uterus. This will then increase the woman’s chances of getting pregnant.

Infertility affects men and women equally, but the majority of patients don’t require high-tech procedures. Some ways to optimize your chances of conceiving are to stop smoking, control your weight, and limit caffeine intake. However, when there are no obvious reasons for infertility and there is a clear need for advanced fertility care, couples may consider seeking treatment.


For more information and to contact the different studies the University of Utah Health Care can give you contacts otherwise listed below.

University of Utah Health Care

(801) 581-2121

Healthcare.utah.edu

ENDO study

(801) 585-2585

Endostudy.utah.edu

EAGER study

1-866-912-1967

http://medicine.utah.edu/obgyn/Research/EAGeR%20Trial.htm

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