Fertility Interventions
MANAGEMENT OF INFERTILITY

The management of infertility often involve a combination of the following two major interventions

          1. Medical and Surgical Interventions (including drugs, procedures). These interventions will be carried out by your fertility specialists.

         2. Therapeutic Intervention (focusing on the psychological components). This is the area that we (ASSIST-FERTILITY UK) are involved with.

1. MEDICAL & SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS

 FERTILITY DRUGS (The information provided here is also a guide. Please consult your doctor for more detailed and current information)

Clomiphene and Gonadotropins, the most commonly used fertility drugs. They are used to regulate the female reproductive hormones and trigger the release of one or more eggs in each ovulation cycle. Most women use them for three to six months before conceiving or trying an assisted method.

Success rates
Studies suggested that about 80% of women who take clomiphene ovulate in the first three months of treatment. Of them, 30% to 40% conceive by their third treatment cycle. The pregnancy rate for gonadotropins with timed intercourse is 15% per cycle.


SURGERY
Surgical procedures can be used to:
- correct genetic defects, 
- open blocked Fallopian tubes, 
- remove fibroid,
- remove the tissue of endometriosis, and 
- treat PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome). 

Two surgical procedures commonly used to treat gynaecological problems are: 

 1) Laparoscopy and

 2) Laparotomy. 

Laparoscopy uses thin instruments and a lighted camera inserted through several small incisions in the abdomen. 

Laparotomy is done through a larger abdominal incision.

Success rates
Success depends on the condition and the surgery used to treat it.
• Women with minimal or mild endometriosis are shown to have about a 40% chance of getting pregnant by eight to nine months after laparoscopic treatment.
• Between 21% and 59% of women whose Fallopian tubes are opened are reported to have conceived.
• Women with PCOS who have ovarian drilling surgery are shown to have a 50% chance of getting pregnant within one year.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES DURING FERTILITY TREATMENT

Fertility Treatments and Possible Psychological Experiences

In order to normalize the various emotions experienced by many couples during the course of the fertility treatment, it is vital that fertility patients are informed of these potential emotions and opportunities offered for them to discuss contingency plans to management such emotions. 

From our experience, couples that have prior knowledge of the potential emotions associated with each stage of the fertility programme are better equipped mentally and so are more able to cope with the treatments stresses. 

Below are some of the frequently experienced emotions during fertility treatments. 
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