Fertility Choices

How do you pursue further fertility choices after completing the initial fertility evaluation?

Women and couple with unexplained infertility (no fertility factor detected) or mild male factor:

Choices are timed intercourse (if not done before), followed by ovarian stimulation and IUI for 2-3 cycles followed by IVF. IVF with single embryo transfer may be preferred in women not accepting twins or fetal reduction.


Women who do not ovulate regularly:

Choices are ovarian stimulation with oral or injection medication with IUI for 2-3 cycles followed by IVF. IVF with single embryo transfer may be preferred in women not accepting twins or fetal reduction.


Women with blocked fallopian tubes:

IVF is the best option for achieving a pregnancy. In some women laparoscopic surgery to correct the fallopian tubes can be considered.


Men with moderate to severe male factor:

IVF with ICSI yields the best chances for pregnancy.


Women with prior unsuccessful fertility treatment:

May require careful evaluation of prior treatment to improve response to stimulation, mild stimulation IVF, PGD and other interventions.


Women with markedly diminished ovarian reserve:

Can parent children through donor eggs with partner or donor sperm.


Single women interested in extending their fertility:

Using egg freezing or embryo freezing using donor sperm.


Same sex female couples:

Can parent a child through donor sperm and IUI.


Same sex male couples:

Can parent a child through using a donor oocytes and a gestational carrier.


Women desiring to extend their fertility:

Can use egg freezing or embryo freezing with partner or donor sperm. Eggs or embryos can be used years later to conceive.


Women at risk for reduced fertility:

Due to a disease or disease treatment: options are egg freezing or embryo freezing using partner or donor sperm.


Women with recurrent pregnancy loss:

May require surgery to correct the uterine cavity, ovarian stimulation and IUI or IVF with PGD.


Women desiring pregnancy with a specified sex:

For family balancing requires IVF with PGD, embryos are tested for X and Y chromosomes to determine the sex of the embryo.