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There are various options available for treatment of infertility such as fertility drugs, surgery, artificial insemination, assisted reproductive technology, or a combination of these, and obviously the treatment of choice will depend on the causes of infertility as well as on the couple’s personal preferences. The success of the various infertility treatment options may differ and is dependent on each individual case.

Infertility Treatment for Women

Drugs

Fertility drugs help by inducing or regulating ovulation in women who are infertile due to ovarian dysfunction. These drugs include :

1. Clomiphene which is taken orally and helps to stimulate ovulation in women. It is particularly useful in cases of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other ovulation disorders and works by acting on the pituitary gland.
2. Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) is given in as an injection and directly stimulates the ovaries in case of pituitary gland failure.
3. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the ovaries to mature egg follicles.
4. Human chorionic gonadotropin HCG).
5. Metformin is used when insulin resistance is the cause of infertility.
6. Bromocriptine inhibits prolactin secretion and is helpful in cases of hyperprolactinemia causing infertility.

The main side effect of fertility drugs is the possibility of multiple pregnancies.

Surgery

Surgical intervention may be considered in the following cases :

1. Blockage in the fallopian tube.
2. Genetic defects in the reproductive system.
3. Endometriosis.
4. Uterine fibroid.
5. Ovarian cysts

Assisted reproductive technology (ART)

This form of treatment for infertility allows couples to have their own biological baby, and chances of success are more in a woman with a healthy uterus, with a good response to fertility drugs, who ovulates normally or uses eggs from a donor. Healthy sperm from the male partner or a donor is necessary. The various forms of ART include :

1. Artificial insemination where a concentrated amount of healthy sperm from the partner or a donor is introduced into the uterus by means of a catheter.
2. In vitro fertilization (IVF) where mature eggs are fertilized with sperm  in a laboratory dish, and is then implanted into the uterus three to five days after fertilization.
3. Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) or Tubal Embryo Transfer is similar to IVF but the embryo is transferred to the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
4. Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) when eggs and sperms are transferred to the fallopian tube so that fertilization occurs inside the woman’s body.
5. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the method where a single sperm is injected into a mature egg to obtain fertilization and is especially helpful in men with low sperm count.
6. Embryo donation is where an embryo or egg from a donor is fertilized with sperm and implanted into the uterus.
7. Surrogacy is when a couple’s embryo or a donor embryo is carried by a surrogate mother.

Infertility Treatment for Men

Difficulty in conceiving may lie with the male partner and may require similar procedures as for women. The main approach to treating infertility in men includes :

• Treating sexual problems such as impotence or premature ejaculation by medicines or counseling.

• Hormone treatment, surgery, or assisted reproductive technology (ART) can help treat infertility in men, depending upon the cause.