Infertility QA – Tips On Treatment And Testing For Infertility

Posted by Isabel Tagge on April 30, 2008
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* Question: How do you test whether or not you are fertile?

On your first visit to a fertility specialist you will receive an examination to determine to what extent the infertility problem exists. The fertility specialist usually begins with a physical exam. You will most likely be asked to provide a history of the medical and sexual histories of your partner and yourself.

After these examinations, your physician will begin to run some tests. Men usually undergo semen specimen tests where the sperm will be evaluated based on its quantity per ejaculation, its shape, and its movement (aka motility). Sometimes, other tests are also conducted such as hormone tests.

For a woman, the physician will try to discover whether she is ovulating properly every month. To determine this, she can either record her temperature every morning and her cervical mucous texture, or she can use a home ovulation test kit. Checking ovulation may also require some other tests. These tests may include blood tests for hormone levels and ultrasound tests on the ovaries.

* Question: What kinds of medicines do doctors use for treating women’s infertility?

If a woman is experiencing ovulation problems, the drug Clomiphene Citrate is often prescribed. It is commonly used for women who are experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or other disorders that cause ovulation problems.

For women who are having troubles ovulating due to problems with the pituitary glands, hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin) is prescribed. This medication encourages a woman to ovulate and acts directly on her ovaries.

In addition to hMG, women experiencing infertility problems may be prescribed medications such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). You will most likely receive these medications in the form of an injection.

Metformin is often used for treating women who have high levels of male hormones which create complications with ovulating. It is common for Metformin to be used along with FSH.

Another commonly prescribed medicine, Bromocriptine is prescribed for women who have problems ovulating caused by high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactation.

* Question: Will my insurance plan cover treatment of infertility?

Even though there are insurance plans that cover infertility treatments, such coverage is generally dependent on where you live and the type of insurance policy you have. Presently, there are 12 states that have enacted laws requiring insurance providers to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatments, either fully or partially. These states are:

- California

- Texas

- Connecticut

- Hawaii

- Rhode Island

- Connecticut

- Massachusetts

- Montana

- Illinois

- Ohio

- Montana

- Texas

The laws enacted in each state may differ in their scope and the items that must be covered. For more information regarding insurance coverage on infertility diagnosis and treatment you can go to the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and click on the State Infertility Insurance Laws link.

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