ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (ART) 
If the old-fashioned way of getting pregnant isn’t working - even after trying meds or corrective surgery - ART may be the answer.

Artificial Insemination (AI) is often the first step taken. This is when the man’s sperm is collected and placed inside the woman’s uterus with a thin, flexible tube. Perhaps not the most romantic method, but it is simple, relatively inexpensive, and has high success rates - especially when combined with hormone treatments.

Intracervical Insemination (ICI) is one common type of artificial insemination. ICI is a relatively quick, painless process that deposits sperm directly into the cervix, dramatically increasing the chances that the sperm will make its way through the uterus and fallopian tubes, where it can fertilize the egg.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is the most commonly performed method of AI and places sperm directly in the fallopian tubes. When combined with ovarian stimulation, IUI produces high fertilization success rates. It is often a good choice for couples with unidentifiable sources of infertility as well as for couples in which the man has some sperm deficiencies or the woman has cervical mucus problems.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a more complicated (and more expensive) procedure where the man’s sperm is mixed with the woman’s eggs in a lab - sometimes donor sperm or donor eggs are used. If the egg and sperm join, the now fertilized egg (embryo) is placed inside the woman’s uterus so that it can grow. Usually more than one embryo is placed in the uterus to increase chances that one will develop into a baby. IVF procedures can cost $10,000-$15,000 per cycle and it may take several cycles before a healthy baby begins to develop.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a micromanipulation process used to overcome severe male factor infertility or to assist couples who have not had success with IVF alone. The technique involves very precise separation of a single live sperm that is injected directly into an egg. The procedure requires that the female partner undergo ovarian stimulation with fertility medications so that several mature eggs develop (IVF). The semen sample is prepared by centrifuging (spinning the sperm cells through a special medium), which separates live sperm from debris and most of the dead sperm. The micromanipulation specialist picks up the single live sperm in a glass needle and injects it directly into the egg.

HYPNOSIS AND ACUPUNCTURE
Stress can often play a large role in problems with fertility. Even couples who otherwise have no infertility factors can experience problems due to stress - which then causes more stress - and a vicious cycle begins. There are countless stories of couples trying to have a baby, getting all worked up as they try different procedures, and giving up. Then once they settle on adopting a child, they discover that they’re pregnant.

Stress in women disrupts the hormonal communication between the brain, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries, interfering with both the maturation of an egg and the ovulation process. With men, stress can affect sperm count and ejaculation.

Many women have had success relieving stress with the use of hypnosis and acupuncture. Hypnosis has been used to treat stress, facilitate conception, and has also been used in conjunction with other fertility treatments to improve success rates.

Acupuncture is another alternative way of boosting hormone levels. It is most effective when used to treat functional problems, such as irregular ovulation, rather than structural problems like blockage in the fallopian tubes or sperm ducts.

When do you stop fertility treatments? 

This is an extremely personal question that can only be answered by you and your partner. There are so many factors affecting the pregnancy process that couples should consider the big picture while attempting to focus on any specific problem.

Factors that increase a man’s chances of infertility include: alcohol consumption, drugs, smoking, environmental toxins, health problems, and age. All of these things effect women, as well, and may contribute to ovulation problems (the most common cause of infertility).

Poor diet, rigorous athletic training, or being overweight or underweight can also affect women.

When to stop searching for solutions all depends on your personal and financial resources. Many couples discover during this exploratory process that adoption is their best answer - not as a last resort by any means, but as another path to parenthood.

Pregnancy is a complicated ordeal and to be put in the position of questioning one’s ability to have a baby adds a heavy emotional layer to the process. If you’re having trouble, you already know about some of the stressors. But thankfully, there are a number of possible solutions to explore. And if there is a silver lining contained within this experience it is this: you can’t take any of it for granted. Becoming a parent - whether through birth or adoption - is a great privilege.

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