We should not discriminate, and societal benefits and the burdens they carry should be distributed fairly. In other words, anyone in need should be able to have their needs met regardless of what society thinks. This is often overlooked when it comes to insurance for infertility treatments. It is unfortunate that state laws and/or personal situations (age, marital status and sexual orientation) may determine how far their insurance will allow them to go in their quest for a biological child. These situations can also determine the lengths they are able to go even in adoption. Until things change, doctors are forced to make recommendations based on what the couples can afford financially through their insurance.

It is quite unfortunate that infertility is not seen as a medical condition that most insurance companies are willing to pay for. They do not view it as being a reimbursable expense. Treatment for infertility has been compared to having cosmetic surgery, looked at as extravagant and even frivolous. As of now only ten states in the United States have insurance mandates either to cover or to offer infertility treatments. Even if treatment is offered, and not covered, a lot of people will still not benefit because their employers may not have opted for a plan that covers infertility. In the rest of the states, most of the United States, there is no coverage at all. Even the states that are mandated, they will not provide coverage to those who are insured through certain programs such as Medicaid. Therefore many infertile individuals or couples, who would in fact make great parents, do not have the option to seek medical care because the financial cost, especially if it had to be assisted reproduction, can be prohibited.

Not having the ability to have access to these treatments, are considered by many to be unfair and less than equal. However, this can also raise the question of whether any couple/person-regardless of the situation, should be able to have access to any treatment if it is being paid for by someone else. The success rate of a woman over forty, using the treatment of in vitro, goes way down, after forty-five the success rate is just about zero. So, should an insurance company pay out close to ten thousand dollars when the odds of success are slim to none.  Infertile couples face many challenges, and it can be a long daunting  journey.  Those who find the patience and the courage to ask questions are generally rewarded.

There can be several reasons behind the causes of infertility in women but one of the most common causes of infertility are horomone levels. There are different tests that are available to diagnose the imbalances present in hormone levels. Some of the most common fertility hormone level tests are as described below:

FSH or Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: It is very important to measure the levels of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone before starting any treatment and prior to evaluating the reasons behind a woman’s infertility. By measuring the FSH levels, the measure of the follicles and the eggs that are remaining in the ovarian reserve and also the quality of the occytes can be determined. If a person has a high FSH level, then it indicates that the oocytes are low in number and are of poor quality.  The FSH test is usually done on the second or third day of the menstrual cycle. There are three levels that FSH can come under and they are: borderline which is between 10-12 microIU/L, abnormal which is greater than 12 microIU/L and the normal level which is less than 10 microIU/L. if a borderline result is encountered, then it indicates that the ovarian reserve is very poor and there is a need for intensive treatment.  If an abnormal FSH level is the result, then it indicates that the ovarian reserve is poor and that there is a low likelihood of the woman being able to conceive with her own eggs. The FSH results vary according to the laboratory the analysis is done in and the standards used by the laboratory.

E2 or Estradiol:  Estradiol is a type of estrogen which is present in the ovaries after being produced by the follicles. If a high level of E2 is the result of the test which is usually done on the third day of the menstrual cycle, then it could indicate that there are abnormalities associated with the ovarian reserve in spite of the person having a normal FSH level.

Progesterone: Progesterone is one of the most important hormones needed for the entire fertilization process to happen and to find one of the most common causes of infertility in women. The corpus luteum produces progesterone and when an embryo develops, a similar action is performed by the placenta. A blood test is performed to check if the corpus luteum is functioning properly. The main function of the progesterone is to develop the lining of the uterus and to prepare it for implantation of the embryo. If the amount of progesterone that is produced is insufficient then the endometrium may not have the ability to sustain the implantation process. Progesterone testing is typically done after a week or eight days after the suspected period of ovulation.

Prolactin: Prolactin is a hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland in order to stimulate the production of breast milk.  If the prolactin levels are found to be high (>25ng/ml), then it might cause infertility problems.

These are a few of the hormone level tests that are performed on women who experience or suffer from causes of infertility in women.

Most of the women who experience infertility problems, suffer from anovulation. Urine tests are done to detect the surge of LH with the help of ovulation predictor kits. Fertility monitors and also a detailed chart of cervical mucus are used to identify the ovulation pattern. Basal body temperatures are also used to identify ovulation. Also, after a period of seven days after ovulation, serum progesterone in mid-luteal phase is measured. Women, who are overweight and have anovulation, usually are suggested to improve their diet and cut down their weight in order to regulate their ovulation. If even the weight loss treatment does not work, then FSH and clomiphene citrate are used to treat infertility. For women, who show no improvement to clomiphone or diet treatments, ART or assisted reproductive technology) procedures which include controlling of hyperstimulation with the help of FSH injections and IVF (in vitro fertilisation) are used. However, women who have PCOS can run the risk of suffering from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome which is a dangerous medical condition. A recent development has been the facility to allow occytes which are in found in various follicles to be extracted and matured in natural cycles without use of simulation. This technique is known as In vitro maturation (IVM). Ovarian drilling is also done to treat polycystic ovaries at times.

To reduce hirsutisum, a standard contraceptive pill is used by many women. It is usually observed that In vitro maturation (IVM) is observed in almost all the contraceptive pills used by women for this purpose as it is supposed to have the ability to block male hormones that contribute to excessive hair. Menstruation can also be regulated with a contraceptive pill. The correction and regulation of menstrual period is recommended as it contributes greatly to the well being of the woman. Thus, these are a few of the treatments that are available to treat PCOS. Several women who have been experiencing trouble conceiving because of this problem can avail any of the above mentioned techniques and reduce their problems to a great extent.

According to various studious done on this subject, the first marked decrease in fertility is noticed around the age of twenty seven, with a clear indication at the age of 35. The reason behind this is that over time both the quality and quantity of eggs seems to decrease. In case of a child being conceived at this time, there is a danger of chromosomal abnormalities being present in the child. Hence, it is absolutely essential for women to start infertility treatment as soon as possible in order to ensure a higher degree of success as well as to prevent chromosomal abnormalities from being present in their child.  For women who are above the age of 44, it might not be possible to conceive naturally without the aid of donor eggs.

One of the most important parts in the female reproductive system is the ovaries. Every month, one of the two ovaries that are present produces an egg which slowly develops in a sack that is filled with a fluid which is known as a follicle. When the egg is ready, it is transported with the help of fallopian tubes to initiate the fertilization process. The ovaries also produce progesterone and estrogen. The hormones produced in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland along with the hormones produced by the ovaries is responsible for regulating the ovulation and also the menstrual cycle. According to reports, approximately 25% of all female infertility cases occur because of irregular ovulation as any problems or irregularities in the ovulation process make the fertilization process harder.  Ovarian problems can occur due to either hormonal imbalances or conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

For women who suffer from irregular menstrual cycles, it is necessary to get some hormonal evaluations done. The testing for hormones that are responsible for menopause such as FSH and estradiol, testing of testosterone levels and prolactin and for thyroid hormone or TSH are done. Then the hormones which are imbalanced and are the cause of problems are determined and the necessary treatment is given.

There is no single way of infertility treatment. There are different methods of treatment available and depending on the health of the patient, the age and family history, a detailed study is performed and a preferable mode is determined. Multiple treatments can also be done if needed and even surgeries are performed to correct certain abnormalities.

The entire medical history of the patient is also examined as well as the family history and if they along with the semen analysis prove to be normal, then the doctor shifts to examining the women and making sure that her health and medical conditions are proper.  If at times, a further analysis of male infertility factor is required, then several other laboratory and sperm analysis tests are conducted. A few of the tests are mentioned below:

Sperm agglutination:  it is a laboratory test in which the sperm is placed under a microscope and studied to determine if the sperms are clumped together which usually prohibits sperms from travelling to the cervical mucus.

Sperm penetration assay: it is a laboratory test where the eggs of a hamster are used to determine the ability of a sperm to  penetrate the egg. This is an outdated test.

Hemizona assay:  it is a laboratory test where a human egg which is in a non-usable condition is cut into half and then it is checked if the sperm is able to penetrate the outer layer of the egg.

Acrosome reaction: It is a laboratory test where it is determined if the sperms are capable of undergoing the required chemical changes that are needed in order for them to penetrate into the outermost layer of a egg.

Hypo-osmotic swelling: it is a laboratory test that makes use of a special salt and sugar solution to study the tail of the sperm and its capability of penetrating the egg. The sperm tails of healthy sperms swell in this specially made solution whereas others do not swell.

These are a few of the tests done to determine the male infertility factor.

Amenorrhoea is also a symptom that can lead to PCOS. It causes the complete absence of menstrual cycles in women of reproductive age. It is caused due to different factors such as an absence of uterus and an inability of the ovary to either maintain egg cells or the receive egg cells. PCOS can cause infertility in women because it affects the ability of a woman to conceive. Anovulation is a condition where the ovaries do not manage to release an oocyte in one cycle and hence, ovulation does not take place. Chronic anovulation is one of the most common factors causing infertility. It can also cause other conditions such as hyperandrogenism or osteopenia.

Hirsutism is one of the symptoms of PCOS. It causes excessive hair growth in women in areas or regions where usually there is an absence of hair such as chest or the chin. It is caused to high levels of androgen in the woman’s body as a majority of the male hormones lead to growth of hair. People should also get themselves checked for PCOS when they experiences excessive hair loss or thinning. Androgenic alopecia is a condition that causes hair loss in men, women and animals. Hair is usually lost in well defined patterns and it might lead to complete baldness.

Acne is also one of the symptoms of PCOS. It is a skin condition that occurs because of variations in pilosebaceous units and severely affects the skin causing blemishes and spots. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is also a skin condition that could indicate the presence of PCOS. It causes scaly or itchy skin and affects the scalp, trunk and face regions.

Every one out of two women suffering from PCOS are obese hence, obesity can be counted as one of the most prominent symptoms of PCOS. There are also several psychological symptoms such as depression which can indicate the onset of PCOS. Deepening of the voice and an enlargement of clitoris can also be suggestive of PCOS. Conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure are also symptoms of PCOS. Occurrence of batches of dark skin on the thighs, breast and arms can also point to PCOS. Other symptoms of PCOS also include pain in the pelvis area, sleep apnea, anxiety, resistance to insulin, oily skin, dandruff, high cholesterol, cysts in the ovary and skin tags.

Typically there are five steps involved in the procedure. In the first step, the ovulation period of a woman is monitored and medications are prescribed to control the timing of the egg release in order to collect numerous eggs in one cycle itself, so that the chances of fertilization increase. This is known as ovulation induction. An u

ltrasound is done to monitor the stages of egg development and the ovaries. In step two a surgery is done to retrieve the eggs. A needle is placed through the pelvic cavity with the help of ultrasound imaging. Follicular aspiration is the procedure to remove eggs from ovaries with the help of a needle. This has some side effects which include cramps and pain. In stage 3 the sperm is kept ready for fertilization. In step four both the sperm and eggs are kept in incubators in laboratory to help the process of fertilization. If the chances of fertilization are considered to be low, then intracytoplasmic sperm injection is used. In this method, a single sperm is injected into an egg for fertilization purpose. The eggs are monitored constantly and once it is established that fertilization has taken place, the eggs are termed as embryos.

In step 5, the embryos are transferred to the uterus in a time frame of one to six days after the fertilization process. A speculum is inserted into the vagina in order to expose the cervix and a fixed number of embryos are placed in a fluid and with the help of a catheter are placed into the womb. Ultrasound is used to help in this procedure and women usually experience mild cramps when it is performed. Complete rest is advised after the procedure and then a period of wait follows, where a blood test and an ultrasound test are done to determine the success of the procedure and the occurrence of pregnancy. The success rate of IVF depends on a number of factors. The health of the patient, the age of the patient and the different procedures used in the treatment all determine the outcome of IVF. The success rate is 30-35% for women under the age of 35 in U.S, 25% for women in between the ages of 35-37, 15-20% for women in between the ages of 38-40 and 6-10% for women who are over the age of 40.

According to the estimates of the US bureau, there are 60.18 million women in U.S between the ages of fifteen and forty-four. There are at least 20,000 less women of reproductive age in 1999 that they were in 1995. In 1995, it is estimated that only 15% of the women consulted a doctor for infertility treatment as compared to 12% sought treatment in 1988.  In 1996, there were approximately 64,036 ART cycles, an increase of about 5000 cycles as compared to the year 1995.  About 20,600 women gave birth with the help of ART, doubling the rate as compared to 1995. There are several factors that can cause infertility. Among the numerous conditions, the most prominent ones include tubal factor (31%), endometriosis (14%), male factor (18%), uterine factor (1%), unexplained factors (15%) and other factors (18%).

As of 2002, 11.9% of women or 7.3 million women received treatment for infertility. About 6.1% women sought advice, 5.5% sought medical help to prevent miscarriage, 4.8% underwent tests along with their partner, 3.8% took ovulation drugs and 1.1% underwent artificial insemination. The typical procedures performed in ART include in vitro fertilization (IVF) (71%), zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) (2%), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) (5%), frozen embryos (14%), medical procedures (11%) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for fertilization purpose (11%).

According to race, 6.4% of white women are infertile, 10.5% of black women are infertile and 7% of Hispanic women are infertile. As of 1995, 7.1% or 2.1 million of people who were married were infertile.  10% of married couples or 6.1 million people had impaired fecundity. The reproductive age or peak childbearing years for women in U.S range from 25-29. The National Institutes of Health have determined that from 1938 to 1996, the sperm rate has decreased by 1.5%. 85-90% of all infertility cases can be solved with treatment or medication. The ART treatment accounts for 0.07% of the entire health care costs accounted in U.S. About 25% of cases are due to STDs in the US. 15% of all infertility cases are due to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in the US. 30-40% of all cases are caused by male infertility and the rest due to female infertility. Thus, as we can observe there has been a great change in the number of people seeking treatment for infertility and if this trend continues, then we can decrease the infertility rate among people by a good margin.

Then, they are checked for a sperm antibody test, hamster egg test that is done to determine the strength of the sperm penetration which is important because if the sperm does not have enough strength to penetrate the egg then fertilization will not occur, blood tests to determine hormone levels, testicular biopsies to check if the person is sterile, fructose test, bovine cervical mucus test that is done to determine the ability of the sperm to penetrate the cervical mucus and a vasography to check for obstructions.

If the results of all the tests mentioned above are normal, then the other partner is referred to a gynecologist specializing in reproductive endocrinology. The doctor would prefer to view the ovulation charts initially and then speak to the couple. All information regarding previous treatments and surgeries, medical history and conditions should be revealed to the doctor. The doctor then interviews the couple either individually or together. Several questions will be asked to the couple about their relationship, the time span they have been trying to conceive and previous pregnancies, miscarriages or abortions. It is very important that the couple answers all questions honestly as the doctor needs to know the correct information to determine the causes of infertility as well as the correct choice of treatment for the couple.

A complete pelvic exam, exam for STD’s, a pap smear and several other examinations are performed. The doctor has to gather all information regarding thyroid hormone levels, reproductive hormone levels and the condition of the pelvis, heart and lungs. The doctor will then ask the woman several questions

about excessive body hair, obesity, skin problems, regularity of menstrual cycles and certain habits. After understanding the complete menstrual and intercourse history, the doctor then proceeds to prescribe the most suitable treatment for the couple. This is done after taking several factors into account and if the couple undergoes or follows the treatment properly, then most of the time, they can successfully conceive a child.

FertilAid is a fertility supplement that provides the necessary supplements for both men and women. FertilAid when used by women contains vitamins along with herbal supplements to help in the balance of hormones and regular ovulation whereas FertilAid when used by men improves the male fertility and strengthens the mobility and movement of the sperm along with their quality. Fertility Blend, a fertility supplement contains a combination of different vitamins that can help to reduce infertility. FertiliTea Fertility Tea is prepared especially for women who want to conceive. It contains all organic elements and does not have any preservatives and additives. It is made up of several herbs such as raspberry leaf, peppermint leaf and green tea.

Evening Primrose Oil, a fertility supplement can help in balancing female hormone levels and improve fertility. It also improves the cervical mucus quality. The Micra Home Sperm Analysis is one of the only home sperm tests available for men. It needs a sample of the sperm and then monitors and analyzes it to determine the sperm presence, the concentration and count of the sperm and the mobility and movement of the sperm. The Male Fertility Sperm Test also needs a sample of the sperm and then it determines if the concentration of the sperm is above or below twenty million sperm cells per milliliter.

The Digital BBT thermometer is one of the most common fertility aids. It provides readings of the temperature that are accurate to 1/100^th of a degree. It can be used to prepare ovulation charts, peak periods of fertility and monitoring of menstrual cycles. The Non-Mercury BBT thermometer is a much more accurate version of the previously mentioned thermometer. It is ultra sensitive and can be used to determine the ovulation period and to prepare BBT charts. There are also several kits available in the market that can help determine the ovulation period and the most favorable time for conceiving a child. This can be of great help to a couple who has been trying hard to conceive. Thus, with so many fertility kits available in the market, couples can explore many new options to help them reduce their infertility problems and to help them conceive a child successfully.

DES or di-ethyl-stilbestrol used to be given to women to reduce the chances of miscarriage. Later, it was determined that it does not help in reducing the chances of miscarriage but leads to embryological abnormalities. It can cause numerous problems in the upper vaginal region, irregular lining of the uterus, ectopic pregnancy, hypoplastic uterus and cervical dilation. Usually it is not easy to treat this condition and a cerclage or a stitch around the cervical neck is placed to help women with a weak cervix.

Intrauterine adhesions which indicate the presence of a scar tissue in the uterine cavity can also lead to infertility. In cases where the entire cavity is scarred, then it is possible to experience complete absence of menstruation. This is also known as Ashley’s syndrome where the rich lining of the uterus is lost. It is not very easy to spot this condition and a hysterosalpingogram or HSG is done. Hysteroscopic surgical procedure is done as a part of the treatment process to remove the scar tissue and also to provide estrogenic hormone support. At times, an IUD is placed to prevent this condition from re-occurring.

Adenomyosis is another condition where the parts or components that should be restricted to the endometrium are discovered within the myometrium also. This condition is similar to endometriosis as the lining of the uterus spreads to regions it should not and it continues to grow. Women between the ages of 40-50 are affected by this condition. Pelvic pain and uterine bleeding also occur because of adenomyosis. Approximately 60% of women with this condition experience abnormal uterine bleeding which is a result of either metrorrgia or hypermenorrhea. Hypermenorrhea is performed on women suffering from this condition, hormone supplement GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone) is also given to women to decrease the size of the uterus and to improve the chances of conceiving.

Fibroids are usually benign in nature and are of three types: subserosal, intramural and submucous, out of which the submucous fibroids can cause infertility. They can push into the uterine cavity which leads to several problems including infertility. Laparoscopy is done to remove them.

These are few of the conditions that can occur in the uterus and can lead to infertility. It is important that women seek treatment as soon as possible in order to eliminate the conditions that lead to infertility.

Most of the women suffering from PCOS do not even know that they have it. Less than 25% of women have been diagnosed with it. Most women learn about the condition after undergoing a diagnosis to determine the causes of them experiencing an inability to conceive. PCOS can affect a woman’s menstrual cycles, hormone production and levels, appearance and fertility.  During PCOS, excess of male hormones are produced in the body and these come in the way of ovulation. Most of the follicles of a woman suffering from PCOS do not mature because of her inability to generate enough hormones. They may grow and accumulate fluid but do not mature enough for ovulation. Progesterone which causes the lining of the uterus to be thick is not produced in good measures and without adequate amounts of progesterone in the body, it is tough or not possible for a woman to experience regular menstrual cycles.

The most common symptoms of PCOS are irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, increase growth of hair on face, chest or back, multiple cysts on ovaries, thinning of hair, obesity, Type II diabetes, acne and PMS or pelvic pain. Determining the ovulation period of a woman suffering from PCOS is very difficult as there is a lot of variation among the hormone levels. The exact causes of PCOS are not known at this time.  It is reported that PCOS can occur due to family history and hence could be genetic in nature. However, the symptoms of PCOS vary a lot among generations in a family and hence, there are other factors also involved. A combination of environmental factors and genes are said to be the most likely cause of PCOS. There are a lot of treatments available for PCOS. Women can choose to lose their weight to balance their hormones and get back normal menstrual cycles. Metformin which can reduce the number of male hormones in the body and restore normal ovulation is also prescribed for this condition. Clomid is used for PCOS related infertility.  Ovarian drilling is also done to regulate ovulation. IVM or IVF is also performed on women who do not respond positively to drug therapy.

It is a progressive condition and its impact on the body increases with time. It can also reoccur after treatment. The endometrial tissue that is outside the uterus responds to menstrual cycle in the same way as the tissue inside the uterus does. It swells and becomes thick and starts to shed to indicate the beginning of the menstrual cycle.  The blood generated by these actions, does not have a proper place to go, and accumulates, causing an inflammation that damages or affects the fallopian tubes and the entire process of ovulation.  Ovarian cysts can also be formed, in a condition known as endometrioma and they may restrict and interfere with ovulation.

The exact causes of endometriosis are not known and there are only theories available for researchers to work on. According to one theory, during menstruation a part of the menstrual tissue moves from the fallopian tubes to the abdomen from where it starts growing. According to another theory, during fetal development itself, endometrial cells develop outside the uterus and start growing.  There are several reasons about the impact of endometriosis on infertility. Women experience a lot of pain because of this condition during intercourse and they may choose to not have intercourse often, reducing their chances of becoming pregnant. The scar tissue which is formed due to endometriosis adheres to the ovary, thus restricting the overall area available for egg release.

These adhesions can also be found around the fallopian tubes and can hinder their ability to transport eggs from the ovary to the uterus.  It might even block the fallopian tube on certain occasions, making fertilization a distant possibility. The peritoneal fluid in women suffering from endometriosis contains a large number of scavenger cells, which destroy sperm cells and reduce the chances of fertilization. Endometriosis is also the cause for pelvic pain and is the reason behind people opting for laparoscopic surgery and hysterectomy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed for women to help reduce pelvic pain and cramping during periods. NSAID’s are also prescribed for relieving pain. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH analogs) are also used to reduce pain and the size of endometriosis implants. They lead to a lot of side-effects such as hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue and osteoporosis. Oral contraceptive pills and also progestins are used to treat endometriosis. Aromatase inhibitors and even surgery are options that are considered for the treatment of endometriosis. Thus, endometriosis is a serious condition and can lead to infertility in women.

Events or activities that cause a lot of strain and stress also reduce sperm count in men. Emotional stress can significantly reduce sperm count and in some cases conditions such as impotency, premature ejaculation and relationship problems lead to infertility. Testicular Overheating which can be caused due to infections, exposure to high temperatures in saunas and hot tubs can reduce sperm count. Use of drugs, narcotics, and smoking can reduce sperm count by almost 50%. Deficiencies in vitamins E and C, zinc and folate can cause infertility. The pressure exerted on the body while bicycling can have an effect on blood vessels and also nerves that trigger erections. 19% of all sperm count problems are basically genetic in nature and can lead to infertility. Sometimes, men are also observed to have a high count of damaged sperms.

Disorders such as Cystic fibrosis, Klinefelter syndrome, Kartagener syndrome and Polycystic kidney disease which are all genetic disorders cause infertility.  Infections and exposure to free radicals or oxidants, as a result of environmental hazards also lead to infertility. Exposure to Estrogen-Like and Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals decrease the sperm count and cause infertility problems. Exposure to heavy metals, radiation treatments, medications and surgeries can all contribute to infertility. Hypogonadism which refers to a deficiency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) can cause low levels of testosterone. Autoimmunity refers to a condition wherein, antibodies present in the body mistake sperms to be foreign bodies and launch an attack on them. Vasectomy is reported to have caused infertility in some people, and definite evidence for this report has not been found yet. Retrograde Ejaculation occurs when the urethra muscles do not work properly and the sperm traverses back into the bladder during intercourse rather than coming out of it.

Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome occurs because of three specific conditions – reduced sperm production, testicular cancer and genital tract abnormalties. Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism) is a condition wherein, the testes malfunction and it can have a severe affect on sperm production. Hypospadias, Anorchia, Syringomyelia and Blockage in the tubes that transport sperm are birth defects that lead to infertility in men. Infections such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Mycoplasma, mumps, glandular infections in the urinary tract or the genital areas and cancer treatment can all lead to infertility. Diabetes, HIV, heart conditions, liver or kidney problems and anemia can all cause infertility. Several medications, especially those used by weight-lifters and athletes are known to reduce sperm count and lead to infertility.

Ovulation Prediction Kit: One egg is produced by every woman every month. Determining the ovulation period can prove to be a good step for a couple trying to conceive. Ovulation kits determine the LH hormone level. It is observed that women experienced a surge in the LH hormone before the ovulation period and this can be observed in the urine. Women can use these predictors to determine their ovulation period and improve their chances of conceiving.

Pre-seed: A woman’s body responds to variations in the cervical mucus during the ovulation period. It is essential that the cervical mucus is clear, slimy and stretchable as having cervical mucus that is thick can actually block the sperms or slow them down and prevent fertilization. Pre-seed will provide extra cervical mucus and makes sure that the sperm travels smoothly.

Vitex: This has being used by women for a very long time to regulate their menstrual cycles and help combat premenstrual syndrome. It should not be taken along with other medications as it might affect the fertility adversely.

Evening Primrose Oil: It is used by women to help with pre-menstrual syndrome and to also enhance the quality of the cervical mucus. It can also lower cholesterol levels and natural labor induction.

Robitussin: Robitussin is used for the same purpose as Pre-seed. It can help smooth the cervical mucus as it not only thins down the cervical mucus but it also makes it slippery and helps to reduce infertility.

Instead Softcups:  A softcup is inserted after intercourse to prevent sperms from escaping. By doing so, sperm is kept near the cervix. The more time sperms stay close to the cervix; the more sperm will reach the egg.

The Conception Kit: The conception kit is a new product that has been developed to help couples to conceive. This kit includes several components such as ovulation kits, lubricant to help in the movement of sperm, pregnancy tests, semen collector and conception cap. Couples need to use the semen collector in a manner similar to that of a condom during intercourse and then shift the semen to the conception cap.  The cap is inserted into the woman’s vagina and kept near the cervix. This is useful in many ways as it can create a favorable environment for the sperms, help men who have low sperm count and mobility problems and also enhance and improve the chances of conception in women who are experiencing a lot of trouble conceiving.

These are a few of the many fertility kits available in the market and different people choose kits according to their various requirements and needs.

Acupuncture treatment is given to patients for at least three to four months prior to an insemination in IVF transfer.  Receiving acupuncture treatment is said to provide a relaxing effect on the patient and helps to prepare him in a much better and calm way for the process ahead. Women are requested to have acupuncture treatment both before and after the embryo transfer. Usually a combination of herbal medicine, other medical practices and acupuncture, are found to yield the best results.  Patients are given acupuncture treatments until the very last week of their pregnancy to relieve their stress and to prevent miscarriage.

Pressure is also applied to specific points on the hands and feet to stimulate the ovaries, uterus, thyroid glands, pituitary and parathyroid glands to help balance the hormone production in the body. The spots where acupuncture treatment is given are identified with respect to the organ and a number assigned to them. The acupuncture points that are mostly used to provide relief during the preconception stage include the spleen (3), large intestine (11), triple warmer (7) and conception vessel (3).  Even liver 3, spleen 6 and stomach 36 are used to improve blood circulation and are regarded as important acupuncture points.

According to the five element theory in Asian Medicine, water element and the earth element cause infertility. The water element is present in the kidneys and the bladder and the earth element is present within the spleen and the stomach. This is the reason many acupuncture points are concentrated among these areas. There are several resources available for acupuncture treatment. There are people specializing in acupuncture treatment that we can consult for help and this can even be done at home. Acupuncture manuals and videos are widely available; it is an easy procedure to perform and can easily be done at home at your convenience. The effectiveness of acupuncture on infertility is not exactly determined to date and still being studied by researchers all over the world. Though the exact impact remains undetermined, acupuncture cannot be simply dismissed as many people have experienced good results and have conceived after receiving acupuncture treatment for a period of time.

As much as you want to be pregnant, the idea of taking massive doses of fertility drugs and then having your eggs plucked out of your ovaries might paralyze you with fear.

In addition to the fear there are three other major roadblocks encountered by most people considering ART;  fertility cost (insufficient finances), job stress, and lack of support from family and friends.

In deciding to take a more advance approach, you now need to remove the roadblocks to ART and get psyched up for the rigors of high-tech treatment. Like you need to:

Educate yourself about medical insurance for infertility

Manage your social life by garnering the support of your family and friends

Make effective decisions, and…

Motivate yourself to hang in despite setbacks: Don’t Give Up

By the time you’ve begun thinking about ART, you’ve probably gotten use to having blood taken out of your arm for various tests. While parting with a vial of your blood has become second nature, parting with your money for infertility cost gets more and more difficult as infertility treatment goes on. Even if you are insured, many polices have limited benefits for infertility treatment. For most people, the high cost of advanced reproductive treatment becomes the major roadblock to getting pregnant when they thought they couldn’t.

In interviews of patients, money (cost) ranked as the number one or number two factor (behind psychological or physical trauma) that prevented them from pursuing ART. Every aspect of high-tech treatment costs money: drugs, hormonal studies, ultrasounds, interpretation of results, professional fees, the operating room, freezing and thawing embryos, and sperm washing, to name a few.

You can’t completely begrudge infertility doctors and technicians for charging so much. Thanks to their knowledge and training, many infertile couples are getting pregnant. Certainly you want your doctor to be the best that money can buy. But you also wish the cost of infertility weren’t so steep. When presented with the bill, it is easy to succumb to the unfairness of it all.

Although there is no simple explanation for the inequities of life, you can, however, be encouraged to face the issue of infertility cost in a pragmatic manner, separating your grief over your infertility from a rational approach to money management.

For many couples, ART is simply too costly to try more than once, if at all. Other couples who can afford ART fail to investigate the various ways of keeping cots as low as possible. They may be embarrassed to work with their doctor and insurance company to enhance their reimbursements. Instead of fighting for what rights or services are theirs, they withdraw, give up, and mourn their predicament.

In conclusion, you are urged to Be Assertive and leave no avenue unexplored that might help you loosen ART’s financial pinch.

We do not have a high fertility potential. Time chips it away, bit by bit.

Not to say there is no hope. Life itself is hope. There are infertility solutions. It’s like a dream or a wish that comes true. Right now you are wishing you’ll get pregnant and have a viable pregnancy with a healthy baby at the end of it all. There’s nothing wrong with that wish, because you should always, always have hope. Yes, you might be getting older; you might have health issues. It doesn’t mean you give up. Just be sure you balance that wish with reality. It’s all right to push hard as long as you know what you are fighting against. The questions you have about your fertility potential have just been answered in a brief way. It is a start. The real stakes are still to come.

But for now, your bags are packed. Hopefully, you’re mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared for the road that lies ahead. Before you move forward, let’s not forget the most important thing of all: love. After all, love is what is driving your journey. It’s love for the child you hope to welcome into your life, love for the ability to become a mother and extend your energy to the next generation. And then there is love you feel foe your husband or your partner or for whomever is sharing this journey with you.

Nurture that love. It will be your ultimate strength.

As part of your fertility solutions program, start imagining. Daydream, come up with a mental picture that conjures up life and growth. Imagine a forest throwing off warmth and moisture. Or imagine a rain forest deep in the tropics. Everything grows there; everything gets fertilized and implanted. There is something to be said of the mind/body connection, particularly how it relates to fertility. It’s about getting centered and peaceful, and letting go of stress. Understanding how the mind and the body interact can be helpful in finding that center.

In addition, there are eight areas of your life that you can work on to help increase your fertility, and will enhance the likelihood of conceiving and supporting a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is not just terrible for your health, it has strong adverse effects on fertility potential in both men and women.

Sleep Well

Consistently getting eight hours of sleep, uninterrupted sleep per night is essential; to optimal fertility.

Reduce Work and Work-Related Stress

Your body detects if you are under a lot of work stress and reduces your chances of getting pregnant. It’s the body’s way of protecting you.

Manage Stress about Getting Pregnant

Infertility is stressful and stress reduces fertility. It is a catch-22 condition. Do not let it be all-consuming, it doesn’t have to be. By reducing your stress, you increase your natural fertility potential.

Good Nutrition and Health

Nutritious eating can increase your fertility potential. The key to good fertility is to consume a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

Increase Intimacy

When we are closer with family, friends, or pets, this can increase our sense of well-being and increase fertility potential.

Embrace Nature

A serene natural environment such as a park, a beach, or the mountains can provide a wonderfully soothing healing power.

Practice Visualization. Affirmation and Meditation

Positive thinking brings good energy to your body. A relaxed body will be more fertile than a tense body.

For women with too little body fat from dieted too much or exercising too much or both, experience an assortment of reproductive problems. This could be a reason for infertility. Their periods can stop or become very irregular or never started at all. Possibly wanting to have a child but they aren’t able to become pregnant. It just seems that their reproductive system has “turned off”. This is could be because they are too thin.

As doctors have learned more about these super lean dieters and athletes, they have found that the disruption of reproductive ability is not an all or nothing process; the “turning off” occurs in stages. As a woman eats less or exercises more, the deleterious effect on her reproductive system increases. Doctors call this relationship a dose response.

If everything else is normal, women with amenorrhea (absence of cycles) can reverse these disruptions of reproductive ability by gaining weight or decreasing athletic activity or both. The time it takes to resume normal, regular cycles usually depends on how long the cycles have been turned off. The longer they have been turned off, the longer it takes for them to turn on.

What about too much fat? Very obese women are also infertile. So are overfed heifers, sheep, pigs, and mares. When over feeding was reduced in these animals, they became fertile and weight loss restores the fertility of excessively fat women. They are not yet sure what the mechanisms are that cause the infertility attributed to excessive fatness; it is still a relatively new phenomenon in the history of our spices to have so much food that we can become too fat.

If a women’s weight fluctuates up and down, or yo-yos, in the range where she is losing and gaining fat, her brain will also turn off her reproductive ability. To reproduce, the body apparently needs to maintain a steady supply of stored energy. It is as if the hypothalamus can’t figure out who you are when you body composition fluctuates wildly: are you grown up enough to reproduce or are you still prepubertal? This is the disruptive effect of having too little or too much fat.

So, what is a desirable weight for good long term health? What is a desirable weight to maintain fertility? These questions can be answered simply with a combined measurement called the body mass index (BMI).

There are arrays of different types of infertility, the problem and symptoms range from female to female or can even crossover the gender gap and affect the males involved.

A woman needs to make an appointment with her physician if they have not conceived a child even though they are actively trying to get pregnant. They should have been trying to conceive for one to two years of unprotected sex and have had averaged intercourse 3 times per week.

The couple, needs to see first their family doctor or their regular OBGYN in order for a correct diagnoses of infertility. The physician then can refer the couple to a specialist if there is reason to believe that a problem exists.

There are many possible signs and symptoms of infertility. The most common is an irregular menstrual cycle for the female patient. An irregular menstrual cycle maybe one of the signs of infertility; it could point to many other things and does not necessarily prove that the female is infertile.

Another symptom of infertility could be a weight problem due to the female being too thin or over weight. Some females may be too thin and bordering on emaciation which can create a problem in conceiving because due to the lack of certain nutrients. On the other side of the spectrum, females who are obese can suffer from hormonal imbalances, which in turn may ultimately affect their ability to become pregnant.

Drug and alcohol abuse can also lead to infertility problems. But these are causes of infertility and not signs of infertility because they can make a woman incapable of conceiving. Women who regularly use illegal drugs and other substances can harm their bodies which affects the way it works at conception The women are high risk candidates and may not be capable of becoming pregnant, due to substance abuse.The drugs and alcohol abuse can stop the proper growth and conception of a fetuses and cause other disorders if a child is conceived.

The signs of infertility can also be seen in the male. Physical problems or anatomic may be signs of infertility in the male. Males with un-descended testicles can be a factor of causing infertility.

Sometimes a sign of infertility in a male may and can be due to a foreign cause. Males who wear tight briefs or jeans may have an inability to produce potent amounts of sperm for conception.

The exposure to heat or cold on their gonads or scrotum can also lead to impotent sperm to produce a pregnancy.

A number of the signs of infertility that occurs in the male and female are identical. Both male and female can have an inability to produce a pregnancy due to weight problems like obesity or because of substance abuse. The same way in how a female’s body can malfunction as not being able to produce a pregnancy, a man might be altered because they may not be able to produce the right amount or potent sperm to conceive.

When a couple has been trying to get pregnant with no positive results, rather than jumping to the conclusion of infertility, the couple should educate and take steps to having intercourse at the time the woman is ovulating. Often times, the couple is not having intercourse at the right time of the month. The woman should track her basal body temperature to take advantage of the opportune the time to have intercourse or she can use an ovulation kit to know when she is ovulating.

Maintaining your health can also help you in staying fertile and avoid infertility risks, like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Also the male reproductive system is also very complex and delicate to changes throughout the body. Men need to be living a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of infertility.

Acupuncture is being recognized as a valid treatment in helping women increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

Acupuncture has been around for three thousand years but only in the last twenty years has been widely practiced, in the western world. Although acupuncture has been helpful in treating many ailments, such as pain management and to stop smoking. But it has shown in recent studies, that acupuncture has produced beneficial results for women experiencing infertility problems.

Acupuncture Treatment is based on Chinese belief (known as qi and chi) that there is a balance that exist in the energy flow through the body that is needed to stay healthy. If a blockage or imbalance occurs the flow is impounded and the result negative flow that decrease your health. Acupuncture pathways contain 20 major lines  that qi / chi  travels along. These lines, or meridians, are attainable through 400 various acupuncture points.

Why acupuncture works; because it produces changes to the regulation of blood pressure and flow, Acupuncture can boost your body’s natural ability to heal by releasing neurohormones and   neurotransmitters, through stimulation to the central nervous system.

Acupuncture Treatment reduces pain through releasing the endorphins, that naturally occur in the body’s pain control system and that extends, into the central nervous system.

People with bleeding disorders or heart, stroke patients using blood thinners, should not have acupuncture procedures conducted.

Acupuncture can be thought of as an alternative way of treating fertility problems. It is  seen as a complementary therapy to modern fertility treatments. If acupuncture is only  used alone, it will benefit those couples that are experiencing a functional problem, like irregular ovulation, or the blockages in the sperm ducts.

If you using herbs while receiving other medical treatments, it is advisable to inform your doctor. There are some herbs that can interfere with the function of fertility drugs.

Most acupuncturists say that acupuncture regulates your body’s system by increasing  blood flow to the reproductive organs, this aids in stabilizing your hormone levels.

This will help raise the ovarian function of women. Acupuncture will also increase the sperm production in men. Acupuncture helps relax women going through fertility treatments and lowers stress levels associated with treatment.

The studies have shown that acupuncture positively increases the success rate of pregnancy; among women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

A large number of medical doctors conduct acupuncture in their everyday practice. These doctors need 200 to 300 hours of acupuncture training to be allowed to practice on their patients.

Erectile Dysfunction Is Troubling and Confusing – Started with this one, but not yet based on particular keywords, Will finish tomorrow for an hour then do the submissions of the two articles I passed.

Erectile dysfunction is viewed differently between the sexes, but the affects are troubling and confusing in nature for both.

Women often try to figure out; what they did wrong or what they could have done better as a mate.

Women start trying to analyze the problem. The first notion is that their lover is having an affair. Secondly they assume that their husband is losing interest in them and  start thinking or investigating cosmetic augmentation or last but not least is start complaining to all of her friends and your mother about the problem.

The most important part is open communicate with your partner about how you can deal with the problem as a couple. This is a team problem and you have to work together to solve it for the sake of your relationship.

The wife needs to let her husband / lover know that she loves him and finds him desirable.

The husband needs to be forth coming  about the dysfunction and reassure his wife that it is not her fault.

Sex is a process that relies on the central nervous system to generate arousal and sexual response. The  damage to nerve pathways caused by degenerative processes can affect an individual’s sexual arousal and response times. Fatigue, and numbness can also create sexual problems for men living with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, MS and stroke victims.

It is estimated that 85 to 91 percent of all men will experience some degree of sexual dysfunction in their life.

If it was your problem you would probably feel like a failure.  Please show him love and act like it is no big deal because you love him and would love to be with him in any way that you can.

Also understand that your husband still has a desire to please you to use a sex toy or oral sex.  If this is not your deal you may have to please your self when you are alone if it is creating a problem for you.  But, please don’t make him feel bad about himself.  That is not all there is to marriage.

Men with health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart trouble and diabetes, the medications can play a significant role in causing erectile dysfunction. Remember doctors only treat the clinical side, not the whole person.  Sex is an important part of our lives and your doctor needs to know the importance it means to you. The doctor only sees that the medications are working and that is the end result. But they aren’t the ones who haven’t been able to have sex. If you have tried Viagra, Levitra and Cialis and nothing has worked, talk to your doctor about changing your medications.

It would be hard for anyone to imagine never being able to make love again. Most of us want to show our wives how much we love them and sex plays a major role in the quality of life we live.

If you address the problem of ED aggressively at the onset and included your mate in the process you can achieve results providing a much better sex life.

In a women’s normal menstrual cycle, a number of follicles grow within the ovaries. Each of the follicles contains an egg and the menstrual cycle revolves, only one follicle and one egg will remain during ovulation. Then after the egg has matured, the LH levels will rise substantially causing the egg to erupt from the follicle, this event causes ovulation. The women with PCOS do not naturally produce enough female hormones to complete the ovulation. The follicles do not reach maturity to become eggs. The follicles may develop into a cyst (s). They look like a string of pearls on ultra sound inside the ovaries; these are the follicles that have not fully developed. Some small cyst may grow on the outside of the ovaries. When ovulation does not happen, progesterone is not created, when this occurs the lining of the uterus begins to thicken, in most cases.

PCOS, the first noticeable symptom may be the absence or an irregular menstrual cycle. As woman grow older, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can become worse. Typically a woman may ovulate irregularly or not at all. About 5 to 10 percent of the women, within their childbearing years will Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Most women are unaware that they have developed PCOS. The fact is less than 25 percent of women with PCOS have not been diagnosed. Some women are fortunate enough in conceiving while having an irregularity in their ovulation cycle. Symptoms may include increased of hair growth on their face, acne, thinning hair, obesity, a significant rise of insulin levels associated with type II diabetes or pelvic pain. The symptoms and conditions for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can vary greatly with each woman. The only symptom may be an irregular period.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can affect a woman’s ability to be impregnated due to the lack of a normal ovulation cycle. But, there are steps that can be taken to correct the problem and producing a positive outcome. A woman may simply change her diet and activity to lose weight, to treat their PCOS.

Weight loss may improve hormonal imbalances to increase the possibility to conceive. Sometimes medications are used like the drug Metformin it will enhances the body’s ability to absorb insulin effectively. It can be taken by women who do not have diabetes and it is safe. Metformin affects only the insulin levels and will not directly lower blood sugar. Clomid is another medication used for the treatment of infertility associated to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome . Clomid actually blocks estrogen receptors in the brain; it signals the brain to think there are low estrogen levels the result of lower estrogen levels will trigger the body to increase production of FSH and LH which signals and produces ovulation in the women’s body. Clomid medication brings about ovulation, but only 30 to 40 percent of the women who ovulate from Clomid will actually become impregnated. Other options of women with PCOS, the treatment techniques and procedures of In vitro Maturation or In vitro Fertilization.

In vitro Maturation (IVM) is a procedure where young eggs are harvested early in the woman’s ovulation cycle. The eggs actually mature in a laboratory and can be used later for fertilization. In vitro Maturation is used for women who are not successful with medication treatments.

In vitro fertilization. (IVF) the eggs are harvested after they are mature. The eggs are then fertilized and placed inside the woman’s uterus. In vitro Fertilization treatments will include medications that help the eggs develop from implantation.

The Endometriosis-Infertility Connection

Medical scientists have found several different mechanisms through which endometriosis can affect your fertility.

Extensive scarring from adhesion’s and bleeding from old lesions that causes further adhesion’s can interfere with the normal anatomy of the reproductive tract. Adhesion’s have been found to freeze the reproductive organs in place and prevent the transfer of an egg to the fallopian tube. Adhesion’s create abnormal connections between normally separate parts. Thus, adhesion’s may cause the fallopian tubes and ovaries to adhere to the lining of the pelvis and to each other, restricting their movement. Additionally, endometriosis can obstruct the inside of the fallopian tubes, impeding the path of the egg to the uterus.

Abnormalities in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis may ac-count for endometriosis-associated infertility.

Women with less severe forms of the disease may have more time as well as more treatment options available to them to aid conception. One such method is expectant fertility management, or becoming more aware of your fertility through natural family planning techniques. By becoming more aware of your body’s changes during the menstrual cycle, you will be better able to determine when ovulation occurs. Additionally, if no other problems are apparent that may reduce your chances of becoming pregnant, expectant management techniques will be beneficial.

Fertility awareness techniques include:

Calendar (Rhythm Method
This method requires vigilant tracking of your menstrual cycle to estimate your most fertile days. Not too reliable given the fact that very few women with endometriosis have regular menstrual cycles.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Method
Basal body temperature (BBT) is the lowest temperature that a healthy per-son experiences on any given day. This would require monitoring your body temperature before getting out of bed every morning, to estimate when you are ovulating. This method can also be unreliable because many women do not exhibit a drop in BBT.

Cervical Mucus (Billings) Method
This involves observing and recording the appearance of your cervical mucus over several menstrual cycles to estimate when you are ovulating.

Ovulation Prediction Kits
These kits help identify your most fertile days during a menstrual cycle by testing the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in your urine.

Combined Method
This method involves monitoring your body’s changes for optimal fertility days by combining all the methods above and making special note of your body’s signs of ovulation.

Whatever may be the causes of endometriosis associated infertility, the thought of not being able to have children can be psychologically traumatic.

When thousands of men and women were asked to rate how stressful they found the experience of infertility, women rated the stress levels much higher than men.

The study was rated in units (100 unites being the most stressful). After extensive studies it was found that women who were not currently in treatment rated the stress of infertility as 60 units. Women doing relatively low-tech inseminations rated infertility as 68 units, and those doing the most high-tech treatments rated it as 67 units. This concluded that in fact women find the experience of infertility stressful.

The stress of infertility is both long and short term. Like other long term, or chronic, stressful situations, such as poverty or cancer, there may be little you can do to change your situation. You may feel as though you are running on a treadmill and keep failing in your attempts to jump off.

Then there are short-term, or acute stresses that last from a few minutes to a few days. For example, waiting for the results of a test, receiving a bill you can’t afford to pay, getting invited to a baby shower. All are examples of short term, or acute stress.

Do men and women react differently to infertility stress than to other sources of stress? It was found that women do but men do not. Stress resulting from infertility or from other major life problems taxed women’s martial relationships, but the infertility stress was a significantly greater contributor than stress from other life problems. Not so for men. They were not immune to the effects of stress. They too experienced martial strain because of stress.The difference, however, is that fertility stress is no more disruptive than other forms of stress for men.

What about infertility was contributing to this stress? Researchers found that treatment costs were an important contributor. Having to undergo numerous tests and treatments was another important source of stress. And a concern that the couple would have to use a donor rather than their own eggs or sperm was another important source of stress.

In times of stress, so called fight or flight hormones kick in. It happened when your cave dwelling ancestors confronted a lightning storm. And it happens when you confront your pregnant sister-in-law. Eventually, the fight or flight response can exhaust you mentally and physically. It can even make you sick or more prone to physical pain. The adrenaline flowing through your body makes you tense up during an endometrial biopsy, for example.Unlike your prehistoric ancestors, however, you can acquire the knowledge to analyze, evaluate, and even challenge erroneous assumptions about your infertility. You can learn to employ a variety of adaptive techniques that can reshape your responses, low-er pain and keep your self-esteem intact.

Infertility stress affects your body by hormonal, neuromuscular and cognitive activation, which results in impairment of health and functioning. Workout techniques can reverse these effects.

Changing your thoughts to take positive action can also help tocombat infertility stress.

Beware of what you are thinking

Change your erroneous beliefs

Learn various methods and techniques to assist you, and

Carry out these skills in daily life.

The major infertility causes lie within the woman. There happens to be many causes of infertility,but an approximately  fifty percent of the problems of infertility are of female conditions. The oth-er cases are due to the man, such as sperm disorders and medical condition causes. For awoman to become impregnated, her body must properly cycle during menstruation. The mostcommon cause of infertility is due to ovulation problems. Also women may have a tubal block-age, urinary tract problems. The problem could be the result of a previous tubal ligation whichcan cause infertility.

There are several medical reasons and conditions relating to infertility, the couple also needs tohonestly exam their lifestyle for causes of their infertility. Things like overweight and being underweight, consuming too much alcohol, using illegal substance, smoking, STDs. or even exces-sive exercise or stress in a man, are all factors contributing to infertility.

First hormone levels should be checked if a couple is experiencing a difficult time conceiving achild. The hypothalamus, pancreas, ovaries, testes and the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands,produce hormones. Any function or diseases which affect these things can lead to infertility.

One of the causes of infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder. PCOS dis-turbs the woman’s natural ovulation cycle. The inability of the female to ovulate correctly as ovu-lating irregularly PCOS is a condition in women that causes infertility. PCOS is treatable, withmedications such as Metformin, which reduces the symptoms of PCOS by helping correct hor-mone levels in the body and allows absorption of insulin.

Another major condition causing infertility is the Pelcic Inflammatory Disease (PID). This is avery serious pelvic area inflammation, it is mostly caused by vaginal or cervical infections thatare not treated like gonorrhea and chlamydia. The scarring can block fallopian tubes and occursbecause bacteria travel through the uterus and enters the fallopian tubes, ovaries and adjoiningtissue areas. After a successful treatment for Pelcic Inflammatory Disease PID, pregnancy isusually accomplished by IVF procedure.

A woman’s age plays a large role in how fertile they may be at this stage in life. The woman’sability to conceive a child decreases over time, which is a part of the natural aging process. Alsowomen lose about 1000 eggs every month. Other conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, evensome sexually transmitted diseases get worse over a period of time and may cause the woman to become infertile.

Trying to conceive a child can be a very stressful time for both women and men if it does not oc-cur right away. If physicians can not diagnose any particular infertility problems within the cou-ple; the diagnose condition labeled as unexplained infertility. Most  often, the couple  needs tolighten the pressure and stress resulting from trying too hard to conceive. Then educating them-selves to get a better understanding of the woman’s ovulating time in order to become impreg-nated, to fulfill their dreams of having a baby. The most important step is to eliminate all thestress.

There are different fertility treatments available to couples but the costs are truly expensive. In-vitro fertilization option is a very effective but only one in-vitro treatment can cost the couple ten thousands or more dollars. Most of the time, it will take more than a single treatment to become impregnated. Also some of the fertility medications can be costly at around one thousand dollars a month and the assisted reproductive technology procedures can run over four thousand dollars.

Many times a couple is unable to afford or to finance fertility treatments by themselves. But luckily there is supplemental infertility insurance for couples having infertility problems the insurance coverage will provide them the treatments needed without creating a financial burden for them. Usually the coverage is very affordable and in most cases it is available from your existing insurance company. But each policy is different in coverage and cost, so the couple needs to shop around before settling on one insurance plan. The payment of a monthly premium benefits the couple in spreading the cost over time; insurance providers will provide you an insurance plan that will cover fertility treatments.

These treatments usually provide coverage for diagnostic fertility tests, other types of assisted reproductive technology and for artificial insemination. Also the plan may cover diagnostic test procedures and laparoscopic surgery. Usually, infertility insurance plans only cover the inexpensive treatments but normally have a high rate of success for the couple. The infertility insurance provider will most likely only cover treatments for a pre determined number of cycles, normally between three to five times. Most often, the use of donor eggs and donor sperm is not usually covered by the infertility insurance plans.

The three types of standard infertility insurances:
(1.) Standard health insurance requires a monthly payment for a specified plan for fertility insurance coverage for procedures.
(2.) Refund plans often require paying upfront for all the fertility treatments in advance. In the event of an unsuccessful attempt at pregnancy then between seventy percent and one hundred percent of the money you have paid out will be refunded.
(3.) A fertility loan pay or infertility coverage; will allow the couple to borrow an amount covering the infertility treatment and programs.

If the couple does not have a baby, the loans do not need to be paid in full and can be paid back over a period of time.

But unfortunately, not every couple can or is able to purchase infertility insurance. All policies vary from providers to insure but the plans have certain qualifications to meet before being approved for infertility insurance. Normally, one qualification is that the couple already holds an existing insurance policy. Usually an age requirement exists for fertility insurance, they must be under the age of forty. They must be having difficulty with infertility problems for 1 to 5 years. The policy must be enforced at least 1 year before using the coverage.

Although there are many variables for the couple to research and there are specific requirements that need to be met. Infertility insurance for a couple that has been struggling with infertility is a great idea. After the fertility treatments are successful, the couple will need money in order to provide for their new born child. Infertility insurance provides the means for couples to become pregnant without a financial assistance breaking the bank.