Infertility: Do You Know Your Options?

 Infertility. It’s a word that no man or woman wants to hear when they have been hopefully trying to create a life. It’s a word that makes someone feel as if they have failed. It’s a word that can engulf you like a dark cloud, making you feel unworthy of love if you can’t provide a baby for the person you love the most. The thing is, all of these ugly feelings don't have to be permanent. The word infertility doesn't have to be one that breaks you down. There are so many options that you can consider today that weren't available years ago. There are more options now, in fact, than there ever has been before.

Before you start diving into information about an IVF procedure and looking at which clinics work for you, you should think about grief and how to work through it. It’s not an easy thing to hear that you may need help to conceive a child, even if it may have been something you expected to hear from the doctor. You must give yourself a moment to pause. That pause will be the difference between whether you feel you want to go ahead and try other options, or whether you want to leave things as they are. And plenty of women decide to wait some time. In the meantime, researching your options is important, and there are many of them. Let’s take a look at some of the options out there:

1. Fertility Medication. Whether it’s to stimulate your ovaries or to make your uterus a better environment for an embryo, fertility medication is the first place your doctor will turn to when you are struggling with infertility. The goal here is to make natural conception as easy as possible.

2. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF is a longer process as it requires you to have medication to regulate your cycle, a trigger shot to help time your ovulation and your eggs to be retrieved. These are then fertilised in a lab with the best possible swimmers, and reimplanted back into you to hopefully grow into a healthy baby. If your uterus isn't the best environment, you can use a surrogate to help you out.

3. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). This is like the halfway point in IVF. Your body is prepared for optimum implantation by the doctor, with timed ovulation. Instead of the eggs coming out and being fertilised, your partner's sperm is put back into you right into the uterus, which can help to bypass the cervix and the less than favourable vaginal environment.

4. Sperm or Egg Donation. If your eggs aren't viable, or your partner’s sperm isn't viable, you may choose to get a donation and go through IVF. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a great option if you have the chance to grow your baby yourself.

No matter what you do, you need to research, talk to a therapist and be comfortable with your next steps. There are options for you to be a parent.