Infertility treatment

In men, infertility treatment is carried out with the help of:

• -Surgical intervention if the cause is varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum) or blockage of the vas deferens – the channels through which sperm move;
•  Antibiotics to treat infections of the reproductive organs;
• Medications and counselling to treat problems with erection or ejaculation.
• Hormone therapy, if the problem is low or high levels of certain hormones.

In women, infertility is treated with the help of:

• Medications for the treatment of infertility and hormonal preparations that promote ovulation or restore hormone levels;
• Surgery to remove tissue that prevents conception (for example, endometriosis) or to open blocked fallopian tubes.

Infertility in a couple can also be treated with the help of assisted reproductive technologies, or ART. There are several types of ART:

• IUI (intrauterine insemination): the sperm is collected and placed directly into the woman’s uterus at the time of ovulation.
• IVF (in vitro fertilization): the sperm and egg are obtained and then brought together in a laboratory. The fertilized egg grows for 3-5 days. The embryo is then placed in the woman’s uterus.
• GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) and ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer): the sperm and egg are collected and quickly placed in a fallopian tube. With GIFT, both the sperm and eggs are placed into the fallopian tube. With ZIFT, the sperm and eggs are brought together in a lab and then a fertilized egg is placed into the tube at 24 hours.